The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-04-22

Hi ROS6eH = HAM,.
Let me See" began Mr.. Worden, in
response to q request to tell story, while
we were seated around the stovein Hills
bar room, one clustering night last
winter Let me see Twenty-Five
wears ago entered the store OF Day u,
Co. as clerk, and twenty-One years ago,
on the night of the first Of February,
had an adventure which | shall never
forget
We drew our benches nearer the stove
and the retired merchant, who we knew
had a good storyin store forus. Atmy
side. on the oaken settee, sat a man
Judging bv his silvered hair-about five
and-sixty. He was a traveller, and a
stranger to our entire party, and during
our conversation previous to the mer-
chants narrative, had been taciturn and
moody. But when Worden began his
story his ewes were fixed upon his face.
Il was not seventeen, confined the
narrator, when | became clerk, and
it was great event in my life. The firm
told me that would have to sleep in the
store. | felt proud of being allowed to
do so; it showed that they had great
faith in my honesty. SO a lounge was
brought in and placed under the counter,
and there, after locking the door, |
would lie and dream till daylight
During the first part of the winter
of AZ, our neghboring county (Herki-
mer) was infested with a gang of daring
robbers, whose dcpredations were both
bold and alarming. The good people
became excited; and well they might,
for the villains scrupled not to take the
life of anv one who dared TO defend his
property.
Vigilance committees were formed
and the gang broke up. Several Of the
villains we're captured, and their cases
decided by Judge Lynch. Those who
escaped the committee went into neigh
boring counties, and ours received few.
During January several bold robberles
were committed in Dalton, which threw
our citizens into the highest state Of ex-
citement; but all etlorts-and those
made were strenuous ones-to catch the
robbers were unavaillng.
'Dav a. Co, during the excitement,
sat back in their easy chairs laughing at
the peoples scare They fancled their
store secure, and when ! asked to be per
mitted to keep q gun at my bedside,
tw;,ted me NJ what thew termed my cow
ardice. 1t was not cowardice, boys but
| wanted to give the robbers bold re-
ception if they paid me visit. l
thought they would not fail to do tins,
for nv employers held in their hands
many sums of money beiongingto other
people; in short, they were the bankers
of the village. ThemOney was enclosed
in safe which | knew would not resist
an experienced burglar. But Day &Co:
thong Int their safe secure, and refused
to grant my request.
Il had made up my mind TO arm my
self, let the firm call me what 1T wished.
| lived in Montduk then, few miles
from Dalton, and one Sunday night,
the last of January, when | returned
from a visit home, brought along an
old sabre, which my grandfather had
| nsed against Saraton, atSander 8 Creek
That Sabbath night, a. well remem-
ber ] did not retire untilnear midnight,
for | sat up polishing the old blade At
last when the light shining upon it
blinded me, put ii in the sheath and
stood it against the head of the lounge
and went to sleep, feeling that | could
overcome dozen of the tiercest robbers
that ever made woman or child tremble
at the mention of their deeds.
1.-THE following morning ushered IN
the last month of winter, and / forgot
to stow the old arm away out of sight
of the firm. When Devices, the Junior
partner, stepped behind the counter my
prepartions for defense met his gaze.
dWen, john he said, Selling the
Revolutionary relic, what in the world
are Won going to do with this ?
al intend to defend the safe and my
self against robbers ANSWERED, blush
ing. 1,,Lo
said; would like to see you WELD this
clumsy old thing. Take il home, or sell
it as trash. Day and will have hearty
laugh at your expense.
a. l do not care for your laugh, MT
Devices | answered, and as for the
sabre, it shall remain here.
"Do as you please, John; and, lfyou
say 80 shall purchase dozen cemetery
lots in which you can enter your dead
But, boy, look at the doors; suppose a
robber should pick the locks, the strong
bolts would remain, and ten men could
never remove them.
True l replied : but breaking bolts
is not the work Of an experienced rob
Der. He would cut a hole through the
door and insert his hand and push back
the bolts.
"'No use to talk to you, John, he
said, turning to rearrange some boxes on
the shelves; but if a robber should at
tempt to enter, I'll increase your wages.
1.-The old weapon was replaced, and