Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-08-25
!. RODBING HlIlSELE,,.
A Midnight Adventure

visit the Land Ofnce at jackson, MO. MY
route lay through the county Of G.
Two years before the date Of my adventure,
my niece, Miss Il, was married to Mr.. NJ,
who had moved to c. county, Of which
he was now sheriff. As had not seen my
niece since her marriage concluded to
make it convenient to stay with her one
night while on my way to Jackson.
On the morning of the second day after
leaving home, reached the home Of my
friends in..the town Of s.. My niece,
Mrs. NJ, was delighted to see me; and, after
the ordinary salutations were over, she re-
ouested me to stable and feed my horse, as
Mr. NJ was absent from homo. Immediate
Iy complied, for the comfort ofmy horse is
always my first care, Having madef Bob"
as comfortable ns horse flesh could reason.
ably wish to be, returned to the house,
where hastily prepared supper was al
ready waiting me. These who have ridden
all day over rough country, without stop
ping for "the inner comforts can under
stand how readily dispatched the delicious
light bread, cold sweet milk and rich yellow
butter, together with good things "too
tedious to mention" that my tidy little
niece had set before me. In the course OF
the evening, which passed pleasantly and
rapidly, L learned that Mr. M. had left
home on the same morning that had left
mine, and that he would be gone two days
longer This | regretted, as very much
wished to see him. | promised myself,
however, that would stop again on my
return, when the sheriff would be at home,
Before retiring for the night, Mrs. NJ. con-
iided to me that there was large sum Of
| :, Nod al, in
of which her husband, as collector Of the
county, had charge, and with which he was
to start for Jefferson city in q few days;
and, ALSO that he had charged her not to
let any one stay in the house during his
absence. aughingly replied that the no.
tice came too late, as had already taken
up my quarters, but that would stand
guard over the money-bags till morning.
With that / took candle and retired to my
room.
took out my two pistols, laid them on
the table by my bedside, and undressed for
bed The possibility of danger, however,
strongly impressed my mind. The great
risk of so large sum of money being
guarded by only helpless woman i'm
pressed my mind more and more. the long
er | thought about it. became so rest
less that l arose from my bed, reliGhted
my candle, examined my pistols to see that
they were dry reprimod and recNpped the
tubes, and having placed them under my
pillow in such position that [ could grasp
them at q moments warning, | again re-
tired 10 my bed almost disposed to laugh
at my folly SoonI fell asleep, How long
/ slept don't know. / slept long enough
for my mind TO indulge i'll one Of those
strange, mysterious freaks that We call
dreaming. Three men seemed to enter by
force. | heard the screams Of my neice,
heard the robbers demandth money, heard
them advancing mp the stairway, and saw
the bright flash of lights as, with candle in
hand, they entered my chamber. During
all this time | lay utterly helpless. /
knew that if [ could shake of this ter
rible spell that bound me could
save ali; but my body refused obedience to
my will-not q hand, not a finger could l
move. The robber, for there now seemed
to be but one in my chamber instead Of
approaching the chest containing the
money, walked directly toward my bed. l
wonder that the agony that then suffered
didn't turn my head gray at once. The
Tobber who approached me seemed to be
man of gigantic stature, and in features
more terrible than anything mymind could
imagine He seemed clad in n loose-hOw-
ing robe parted at the neck, in his left
hand he held what seemed to be flaming
torch, and in his right strange-looking
weapon of huge size. As he almost reach
ed my bedside, byN prOtracted and terrible
effort broke the spell that bound me, and
in moment was awake. Instead of my
grim, gigantic visitant, with his flaming
torch and hinge blunderbuss, alittle woman,
none other than my niece, stood before me,
with her long white gown reaching almost
TO the hoOr the very counterpart of that
worn by my imaginary robbr. Ia her left
hand she held candle, in her right the
key of the money chest. In short, she was
the giant of my dream; and my excited
imagination had converted a very pretty
woman into friGhtiul monster. ~.
Ina momentI was pysef again; and
significant motion of my niece'a head and
hand imposed silence, ] was not htue
puzzled. What could ii mean2 | didn't re-
main long in uncertainty, for my niece dis.
closed in q whisper that three men had en-
tered the house, and ordered her nt the
| peril of her life, TO deliver them all the
money III her possession.
Danger frequently quickens our wits, aud
in this case think it had that effect with
me, / had it all in n moment. Snatching
mp an apron that chnncod to be lying in the
chair by my bedside, directed Mrs M. to
tie it around her body, and in this to place
the money. Then cooking one of my pis.
tolls placed il in her right hand, and di-
rected her to hold the apron in her left, and
with the pistol firmly held in her right and
concealed in the folds of her apron, she
was TO descend, and to whichever of the
robbers came forward TO receive the money
she was TO give the contents Of the pistol.
/ was to follow carefully down the stairs,
and conceal myself behind the stair dool
until she fired; then ] was to spring ont oil
my hiding place, and with my remaining
pistol, give salute to ono of theremaininq
two, leaving the disposition Of the third
one to be detcrminedby the circumstances.
In far less time than il takesto tell t,thiG
plan was carried into execution. The few
moments that elapsed after | reached the
foot Of the stairs before / was sgnaled 10
the scene OF action, seemed almost endless.
Would the little woman have nerve enough
to fire ? That was tho rub. So intense was
my excitement, that / feared tie violent
beating Of my heart would betray my pres
ence. Afew seconds, however, answered the
question. A stunning report told me that
Mrs. M. had done her part, and signaled me
to do mine As leaped from my place Of
conCealment, I was Just in time to see the
forms Of two men rushing out of the door.
discharged my pistol at the flying forms,
but, so far as / ever heard, without effect.
Mrs. M. had made better shot, AMI had
secured her game, The wounded man lay
upon the floor, QrOanlnp hideonslv ar,lor.