The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-08-11
Gales, sksttbrs, 9nttNotcs, Et.
4 TRUE sT0RY.
BY J VI. KIRKPATRICK.

In The autumn of 1847 had occasion
to visit The land office at jackson, Mis-
souri,. My route lay through the county
of G. Two years before the date Of my
adventure, my neice, Miss H. was mar
ried TO Mr.. NJ who had moved to c.
county, OF which he was now the sheriff.
As | had not seen my ncice since her
marriage, | concluded to maze ii convc-
nient to stay with her one night while on
my way to Jackson.
On the morning of the second day after
leaving home, | reached tie home of my
friends in the town of s.. My neice,
Mrs. NJ was delighted to see me; and,
after the ordinary salutations were over,
she requested me TO stable and feed nv
horse, as Mr. III. was absent from home.
Immediately complied, for the comfort
OF my horse is always my first care
Having made bob as comfortable as
horse-hesh could reasonably be expected
TO be, | returned to the house, where
hastily prepared supper was already wait
ing me. Those who have ridden all day
over rough country, without stopping
for the thinner comforts" can understand
how readily | despatched the delicious
light bread, cold, sweet milk, and rich
yellow butter, together with good things
''tUO tedious TO mention" that my tidy
little neice had set before me. In the
course Of tue evening, which passed pleas>
antly and rapidly, l learned that Mr. NJ
had left home the same morning that |
had left mine, and that he would be gone
two days longer This l regretted, as l
very much wished TO see him.
l promised myself, however, that l
would stop again on my return, when the
Sheriff would be al home. Before retir~
ing for the night, Mrs. NJ. confded to me
that there was a large sum of money in
my bed-chamber, mostly in gold, of which
her husband, as collector of the county,
had charge, and with which he was to
start for Jefferson City in a few days !;
and also that he had charged her not to
let any one stay in the house during his
absence. l laughingly replied that the
notice came too late, as L had already
taken up my quarters, but that | would
stand guard over the money bags till morn
ing. With that took candle and re-
tined to my room.
/ took out my two pistols, laid them on
the table by my bedside, and undressed
for bed. The possibility of danger, how-
ever, strangely impressed my mind. The
great risk of SO large sum of money be-
ing guarded by only helpless woman,
impressed my mind more and more the
longer / thought about it. | became SO
restless that l arose from my bed, reIight-
ed my candle, examined my pistols TO see
that they were dry, re-primed and re-
capped the tubes, and having placed them
under my pillow in such position that
could grasp them at moments warning,
| again retired to my bed, almost disposed
to laugh at my folly. Soon fell asleep.
How long l slept don't know. [ slept
long enough for my mind to indulge in
one of those strange, mysterious freaks
that we call dreaming. Three men SEEM
ed to enter by force. heard the screams
of my neice, heard the robbers demand
the money, heard them advancing up the
stairway, and saw the bright flashes of
lights, as with candle in hand they enter
/ ed my chamber. During this time l lay
utterly helpless. ] knew if could shake
off this terrible spell that bound me l could