Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1869-04-23

u
to accept the accommodations, an they
were much cheaper than could be
had elsewhere. a# asa .aesl Gaaa@
II entered the bar-room, and after
eating light supper / asked to be
shown to my room, and was conduct
cd up n flight Of rickety old stairs to q
small, square room, where my guide
left me, Proceeding to examine the
apartment found that 1t contained
one small window, which looked
outupon dark back alley. The
furniture consisted of a bed,a couple
ofchalrs, a stand, and a heavy oaken
cupboard, some three feet high aud
abont six feet long, with strong side
doors. the appearances of the room
did not disperse the gloomy feelings
of 'listrust that 1 experienced when
first saw the building. However
determined to make The best of it
while was there. #.aa- as
II noticed, before coming to the
reoul, that thick masses of clouds
were gathering over the sity, and the
distant rumbltng of thunder, with
sharp, quick flashes of lightning,
that quivered across tho western ho.
rizon denoted an approaching storm.
Being very tired, immediately
dlsrobed and jumped into bed, and
was fast falling into a dreamless
slumber, when q low, scrat ching
sound attracted my attention, 1t
seemed TO come from some place in
the room, but could not tell exactly
where. My nervousness increased
as the sound continued, till / deter
minedto ferret out the cause of the
disturbance. jumped from the bed
and looked cautiously around the
room for some time, but could liscov-
er nothing. The sound had entirely
subsidized, and nothing could be heard
save thewind which whistled mourn-
fully by the windows, or the distant
VI thC Whltl
noted the approaching storm. Hhs
AT last concluded it must be the
window blind or some other object
driven by the force of the wind
against the house. Arriving at this
conclusion, again jumped into bed
and lay for a long time, vainly en-
deavoring to sleep; butflnding IL inn
possible, Ibusied myself watching
the expiring flames of the taper, TIL
a stray gust of wind whistled through
the broken window and extinguish-
ed the object of my attention. gaa
The storm which long had been
threatening, now burst forth In oil
its wild grandeur. The rolling thun-
der grew louder at each successive re-
port, vivid flashes of lightning dart
ed across the heavens, illuminating
the room with lurid flame, so that ey-
cry object was plainly visible; the
next moment perfect darkness fol-
| lowed $50 impenctrable that the most
prominent objects were perfectly hid
en from tile eye. While lying there,
looking out from under the bed
clothes, trembling with fear, the
scratching sound commenced with
renewed yigor, making the room
sound with the peeuliarnoise which
had long before annoyed me. ~ sE
Large drops Of perspiration stood
upon my brow, and rising to a sitting
posture, l tremblingly gazed out into
thedarkness, trying to discern the OBJ
jeets as the lightning flashes penetra-
ted the room. a1a faaR4H a5 ali
AT that moment n livid sheet OF ra-
dience passed before me, and in an in-
slant i beheld mans arm protru-
ding from the cupboard, while the
hand grasped, as ifsfor support, the
strong, 'oakeff door. II realized my
situation Immediately, andispringing
1 from Tho bed, !. grasped heavy boot
which lay near, and brandishing n
over my head, breathlessly awaited
for the lightning again to appear
It was but a moment ere living
flash of flame quivered througl the
air, revealing the head and should-
ers of as villianous a looking man as
| ever before beheld. The left hand
supported the creeping form, while
4 the other elutclied tightly a large re-
yolver, The hand was uplifted, and
our eyes met. AS quick as thought
| bounded Straight for the rascal, yel.
ling .4.se -.r. sfs ... t....
"You internal william ~ r
| The only answer / received was
the sharp crack Of a pistol, the ball
whistlipg by and lodging in the wall
near me. The next moment the
heavy boot came down with terri,
BILE crash on the rascal's face, making
him yell something that could not
understand for q loud peal of thun.
der drowned the sentence.
i He fierceiy struggled to free him
self from the cupboard, but by my
repeating the blow, he was obliged t
push back into his hiding-place.
! With movement certainly com
Emendable, closed the heavy doors
grasped the oaken structure by tn,
top and pulled 1t over on his face ant
isprang upon it, while the cursinl
which came from within coule
scarcely be heard above the raging o
! the storm. which kept up an inces
lsant. roar. 49, a5..
I Undressed and trembling with fea
for one long hour I sat yelling at tn,
top of my voice for assistance, bu
was unheard on account Of tho ra
Iging elements without.
i At last the storm gradully abated
and my cries were heard by the Irisl
chamber-maid who came runnin,
into the room, but ON seeing me IL
such an nnenviabie position, sh,
| frantically ran down stairs yellint
''murder!" with all the vehemenc,
that her vigorous lungs would per
nit. This brought to my room 1
/ crowd of excited individuals, all en-
\ ger to find out the cause of the dis
turbancc.
i Iexplained the case az well as my
shattered faculties, would permit, bu
was frequently interrupted by th,
/ blasphemous harangue which the