The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1872-02-09

and with my knife, cut a piece suf
dciently long to make q brace from
the lower clete of the door to thu
floor. Then, with my pocket knife
bored holes in the casing ct tbs
upper end, and drawing severa
nails from the wall, drove them IN
with the handle of my large knife
Having examined the walls, and ap.
pretending no treachery from them
secured the window, and then
turned my attention to the floor
Beneath the bed i discovered q trap
door, and the discovery made my
hair stand on end. / found it open
ed downward, and the probability
OF securing it strongly seemed
hopeless. ,...s
Once I thought of removing the
bed, and then watching, as trap
! per does a hole In the ice for game.
But that would not do, for should
successfully repulse the first intru-
der-for had no longer doubt OF
being in Robbers Roost--it would
leave hole open which would ex-
pose me to their fire. At length 9
plan came to my relief moved
the bed from over the door, and
| taking. the clothes of, ] throw the
chaf bed upon the floor, and direct
! ly over the suspected trap. But,
| oh, horror! what q discovery
made. The bed was saturated with
blood, and in many places, hard
from the gore which had dried
in 1t. pAe
Having thus fortified myseIf, /
took seat on one end of the bed,
with my saddle bags close to nae,
my knife in one hand, and my re-
voiver in the other, and my ammu-
milton convenient, in case ! should
need it. 1 blew out my light, and
in the darkness awaited the denoue-
ment of the plot. How long ]
waited, 1 could not tell; but in spite
of my perilouss situation, my eyes
grew heavy, and ! was almost over
come with sleep. But an easy NOV
ceptiye faculties, and in an instant l
was wide awake. It moved several
times, quite easy and then all be-
came quiet. i listened . few mo-
ments, but could hear nothing.
Presently there came faint whispers
from an adjoining room; my eyes
followed the direction, and / saw a
email stream of light pouring
through an opening in the partition.
l stole softly TO the spot, and listen
ed moment. i then put my eye to
the opening, and had fair view of
the operations inside. ~
So horrible was the sight then
behold, that its recollection will
never be erased from my memory.
Hanging from the bed, and with
his head nearly severed from his
body, was an old gray-headed man,
while the purple current of life was
steadily streaming from the cash. ]
reeled moment with dizziness, and
was about to withdraw from the
scene, when the door softly opened,
and person entered. looked
again, and three of the men 1 had
seen in the bar-roon1, were standing
near the dead man.
"Why, Hans said one, ~ thought
you had fixed him by this time"
"We,l have trouble with that Gus
TONER" replied Hans, shaking his
head !" he is up to something, he
put his bed over the trap"
''The deviilc they both exclaim-
ed, and looked at each other in sur
prise.
ave must manage him somehow"
said Hans ''for he has got money!
am certain of that"
"Hadn't we better attend to that
ere gal, firstlD suggested one.
eyes, the old man is fixed, now
for the gal !" and picking up the
light, they left the room.
''What girl?s thought /. ais it
possible some person as unfortunate
as myself has been compelled to stop
herel'
I listened eagerly, and presently
a crash came, followed by q shrill
scream. / sprang toward my door,
but Feeollected that I had it well
secured. ! hesitated q moment,
when another scream more terrific
than the first, followed by the sharp
report of a pistol. 1t was but the
work of moment to unfasten the
door and dash out. AS l sprang
into the passage, met two men,
who fired simultaneously, but with
out effect. ] levelled my revolver,
and sent theicontents Of one barrel
through the head of one, who tum-
bled heavily down stairs, dragging
his companion with him.
Crushed into the room, and found
the girl sheltered behird the bed,
keeping Hans at bay it'll q revolt
yer. As entered, Hans sprang at
me with a fiendish expression, and
in spite of my efforts, seized me in
his Observation-Disclosures. My pistol
now was Of no use, so hurting it
from me, drew my knife, and soon
put an end to the struggle. ] gath
cred up my pistol, and hurried the
girl into my own room, and soon
had the door securely barricaded.
then explained to her our situa-
ton, and how came to discover
she was to be a victim. But when
told her of the old man, she faint
ly gasped, at Is my father!D and
the next moment lay senseless on
the floor. Now was in 8 trying
position. j expected every moment
the attack OF the robbers would be
renewed, and IN all probability
they would oyerpower US, and then
our dooms would be sealed. I in
voluntarily cast my eyes towards
the window, as If it would afford
some point of escape. But then the
robbers would have a fair chance,
could surround us, and murder us
without q show of defence. ! had
all this time counted on my fair
companion as an assistant, not re-
flectfHg that she was q woman, and
/ essayed to protect her. When
this thought crossed my mind, all
my combative powers were arous-
ed, and felt strong and competent
to contend with q host.
l heard. whisperings, and foot
steps gently stealing up the STAIRS
A dim light shone beneath the door,
and revealed several large holes and
cracks. / kept my eyes intently
in that direction, while my heart
palpitated so loud, that its vibra-
lions could be distinctly heard.
A slight shuffiing of the feet, and
crash, crash, went several reports,
while bullets whizzed sharply about
my head. The girl gave q shriIl
scream groaned, and crept closer
to the door, which was riddled
with bullets, aud through the holes
/ could plainly discern their &C
tions.
/ still had five shots in my revol-
yer, and determined to use them to
the best advantage. -
saHHe's done for now,1 said one, as
he stood cycling the door.
stBut the gall" replied 3 little,
short, thick-set man, 'tshe fights like
thunder"
aha! you coward, who would fear
q woman p returned the first speak
er, with sheer,
'Jim Bates, III make you smell
powder for that afore mornin," said
the little man, savagely.
eve must have this ere door
open = and s1iting the action to the
word, assault was made upon it
i leveled my pistol and fired
when, with an oath, the man fell
back upon the floor. / gave them
two mere shots, when they retreat.
=