The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-03-16

The Sandman government had station
ed widow there for the greater accom-
mediation Of travellers had given her
the exclusive privilege OF all that could
be made from the position, and only
required her to act as guide to all who
wished to 90 through the cave. The
widow had a young girl to help her, and
the latter was called out to show the
three gentlemen the sights Of the locali-
ty and to guide them in the tour Of the
grotto. Shortly after the party had dis
appeared in the cave another traveller
with single servant stopped and de-
manding the usual courtesies, the
widow herself took him under her d.
rection and began the tour of inspection.
When the three young men who had
arrived first came out Of the cave, the
young girl handed them the travellers
register, asking them to write their
names on it, as they had neglected to do
so before entering. One Of the three
answered that they never did this. The
speaker seemed TO occupy position Of
superiority among his comrades,
although there was nothing in
his age or in his dress to indicate a
cause for this. The young man, though
refusing to sign, kept the book for few
moments, running over its pages and
reading aloud some OF the names, while
they laughed and joked about some Of
the registered travellers. But when his
eye fell at last upon the final name in
the list, his face flushed instantly, and
he asked if the stranger who had just
written his name was still in the cave.
The young girl answered that he was.
They had met him once or twice in the
tour, but had not been able to distin-
guish his features by the Pickering light
of the torch, and had only caught oc-
casional words OF bad French, at which
they laughed moderately.
The young man who was looking
over the book now called his compan-
ions, who, as soon as they saw the name,
looked at each other with mingled ex-
pressions Of rage and establishment.
Suddenly the first one snatched the
book out Of their hands and cried out.
Good has thrown him in our way,
that we may punish hi9 for his villainy
as he deserves"
Lets 90 after him at once, cried
another; and he had scarce spoken be-
fore all three sprang towards the en-
trance OF the grotto, one of them snatch
ing the torch from the young girls
hand. Such was their haste that they
struck themselves against the rocks and
stalactites so forcibly as to draw the
blood, but they rushed on without pay
ing any attention to this. The girl was
almost frightened to death, for she felt
that there was something wicked in
their intention. The three friends came
back almost Immediately, seized her,
and forced her to 60 along with them,
in order that they might not lose them
selves in the cave.
All four hurried for a time through
the different galleries without meeting
the stranger, when the sound Of voices
in their vicinity told them that the man
they were looking for was separated
from them only by the distance of a
pathway.
The poor girls heart beat wildly, for
she feared the worst Indeed, the three
friends pushed forward as soon as they
heard the voices, and throwing her on one
side, sprang upon the strager.
The next thing the girl heard was a
piercing scream for help, and pressing
forward as rapidly as possible, she saw
that the three young men had seized
the stranger by the throat and were
shaking him with all their might, he
himself crying out piteously for help,
and his servant, trembling in every
limb, begging for mercy for his master
Into the abyss! Throw him into
the abyss" cried the leader Of the men.
The others. obedient to the command,
threw off the servant, who was hanging
on their garments, and dragged their
victim toward the gulf at the back OF
the cave. With all the power Of des-
peration the stranger endeavored to
make resistance; he made an effort to
grasp at every projecting crystal, and
hold on to every stone. Then, oc-
casionally, he would reach out his two
lacerated hands to the woman, ard
make heart-rending appeals for assist
ance. 1t was all in vain. The two
woman were overcome with fright, and
the stranger, who was an old man,
could not hope to accomplish anything
against the united strength of the three
young men, with their original powers
increased by their rage.
The man was thrown to the ground,
and was dragged along in spite Of all he
could do. When they reached the ter
rible yawning gulf, he made another
effort to soften the rage Of his persecu-
tor by his supplications, and he prayed,
by all that was holy and dear to them,
that they would not consign him to so
horrible death. This seemed only to
increase their savageness.
"You internal scoundrelF they cried,