The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-01-29

SiS'Su VI pCu, Couplt Ol Cudifs
stand, and a heavy oaken cupboa
some eight feet high and about thl
feet wide, with strong side doors
The appearance of the room did /
disperse the gloomy feelings of
trust that 1 experienced when / Fl
saw the building. However, l
termined 10 made the best Of it n
was there.
l noticed before coming to t
room, that thick masses of clou
were gradually gathering over
city, and the distant rumbling
thunder, with sharp quick flashes
lightning, that quivered across t
western horizon, denoted an 8
preaching storm.
Being very tired, 1 immediate
disrobed and jumped into bed, al
was fast falling into a dreamle
slumber, when a low scratchil
: sound attracted my attention.
seemed to come from some place
: the room, but l could not tell exact
where. My nervousness increase
as the sound continued, till dete
mined to ferret out the cause Of Il
disturbance. 1 jumped from Il
: bed and looked cautiously arour
a the room for some time, but coul
discover nothing. The sound ha
entirely subsidized, and nothing coul
: be heard save the wind which whis
led mournfully by the window {
: the distant rumbling of the thundt
which denoted the appSQachin
storm.
At last l concluded it must be til
window blind, or some such objec
driven by the force of the win
against the house. Arriving at thi
conclusion, l again jumped into bed
and laid for long time vainly er
deavoring to sleep; but finding i
impossible, l busted myself watchin,
the expiring flames of the taper til
a stray gust of wind whistled througl
the broken window and extlnguishec
the object of my attention.
The storm, which had long beer
threatening, now burst forth in al
its wild grandeur The rolling
thunder grow louder at each sue
cessive report; vivid flashes of light
ming darted across the heavens, il
Eliminating the room with the lurid
flame, so that every object wa:
plainly visible; the next moment
pitch darknes followed, so impene.
trable that the most prominent oh
jects were perfectly hidden to the
eye. While lying there looking out
from under the bed clothes, tremb-
ling with fear, the scratching sound
but with new vigor, making the room
sound with the peculiar noise which
had befored annoyed me.
Large drops OF perspiration stood
upon my brow, and rising to sitting
posture, 1 tremblingly gazed out
into the darkness to discern the OBJ
jects as the lightning flashes pene
trated the room.
At that moment livid sheet OF
radiance passed before me, and In an
instant i beheld a mans arm pro
trudiDg from the cupboard, while the
hand grasped as if for support, the
strong Oaken door.
| realized my situation Immediately,
and springing from the bed grasped
a heavy boot which lay near, and,
it over my mead, breath
lessly awaited for the lightning
again to appear. 1t was but mo
ment ere a living flame quivered
the air, revealing the head
and shoulders Of as villainous a
man as l ever before beheld.
The lett hand supported the creeping
form, while the other clutched tight
a large revolver. The hand was
uplilted, and our eyes met. AS
quick as thought l bounded straight
for the rascal, yelling
"You internal villain =
The only answer / received was
The sharp crack of a pistol, the ball
whistling by and lodging in the wall
near Inc. The next moment the
heavy boot came down with a terri
ole crash on the rascal's face, making
him yell something that was unable
% understand, for loud peal of
thunder drowned the sentence.
He struggled fiercely to tree him.
'elf from the cupboard, but by my re-
,eating the blow he was obliged to
push back into his hiding place.
With q movement certainly COM
closed the heavy doors,
md grasped the oaken structure by
he top and pulled it over on its face
md sprang upon it, while the ours
ng which came from within could |
carcely be heard above the raging
torn, which kept up an incessant
oar.
Undressed, and trembling with
ear, for one long hour l sat yelling
t the top Of my voice for assistance,
,ut was unheard on account of the
aging elements without.
At last the storm gradually abated,
nd my cries were heard by the
rish chambermaid, vino came run
ing into the room, but upon seeing
ne in such an unenviable position
he frantically ran down stairs, vel
nc murder with all the vehe.
,ence her vigorous lungs would
ermit. This brought to my room
rowd of individuals all eager to find
ut the cause of the disturbance.
l explained the case as well as my
battered faculties would permit,
ut was frequently interrupted by
he blasphemous harangue which the
obber was holding forth within the
cupboard. ,
After concluding 1 jumped from
~ seat and stood a few steps away,
reathlessly waiting while my friends,
Y the aid of a dim lantern, dragged
,rth, hatless and bleeding, his locks {
isheveled, and his face all bespa,-
,red with blood, the would-be muir
erer-my trusted friend, the preach
:.
l recognized his face Immediately,
nd springlng back, I threw up my '
ands in horror and astonIshment. +,
he villain gazed steadfastly at me, I
lth sickly smile, which told plain
. than words, that / was not the first |
ictim of misplaced confidence. L
A person was Immediately sent to
form the authorities, who took him +
ito custody, and afterwards SEN q
'nced him to a long term in the I
toto Panitaptiorv q