The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-08-09

meath the bed / discovered trap
door, and the discovery made my hair
stand on end. I found it opened
downward, and the probability of Sc
curing it strongly seemed hopeless.
Once / thought of removing the bed,
and then watching as trapper does a
hole in the ice for game. But that
would not do, for should | successful.
ly repulse the first intruder-=for had
no longer a doubt of being in Rob
ber's Roost--it would leave an opening
which would expose me to their fire
At length plan came to my relief
/ moved the bed from over the door,
and taking the clothes off, threw the
chaff bod upon the floor, and directly
over the suspected trap. "But, oh,
horrorl" What discovery l made
The bed was saturated with blood
and in many places, hard from the
gore which had dried in it.
Having thus forfeited myself, took
a seat on one end of the bed, with my
saddle. bags close to me, my knife in
one, hand, and my revolver in the
| other, aud my ammunition conveh-
lent, in case | should need it. blew
out my light, and in the darkness
| awaited the denoument of the plot
How long l waited. could not tell
but in spite of my perilous position,
my eyes grew heavy. and ! was nj.
most overcome with sleep. But an
easy moving of the bed aroused all
my perceptive faculties, and in an in
stant | was wide awake. II moved
several times quite easy, aud then all
became quiet. | listened few mo-
ments, but could hear nothing. Pres
emily. there came faint whispers from
an adjoining room; my eyes followed
the direction, and | saw small
stream OF light pouring through an
opening in the partition. / stole soft
ly to the spot, and listened moment.
then put my eye TO the opening, and
had fair view of the operations i'll
side.
So horrible was the sight then be-
held, that it, recollcction will never
be erased from memory. Hanging
from the bed, and with his head near.
ly severed from his body, was an old
gray-headed man, while the purple
current of life was steadily streaming
from the cash. | reelcd moment
with dizziness, and was about TO with
draw from the scene, when the door
softly opened, and person entered.
| looked again, and three of the men
| had seen IN the bar-room, were
standing near the dead man.
why, Hans said one, II thought
you had fixed him by this time"
We'll have trouble with that cns.
TONER" replied Hans, shaking his
head; "he is up to something, he put
his bed over the trap"
The devil!" they both exclaimed,
and looked at each other in surprise.
1--WE mnst manage him somehow.
Hadn't we better tend TO that ere
gal, first:" suggested one.
Yes, the old man is fixed, now. for
the gall and picking up the light
they left the room.
"What gal Z" thought l. us it pos
sible some person as unfortunate as
myself has been compelled TO stop
| her Z"
/ listened eagerly, and presently q
crash came, followed by shriil
scream, sprang toward my door, bn,
recollected that | had il well secured
| hesitatcd moment, when another
scream more terrific than the first, fol
lowed by the sharp report of pistol
1t was but the work OF z moment tc
unfasten the door and dash out. A.
| sprapg into the passage, met two
men, who fired simultaneously, but
without effect. leveled my revol
yer and sent the contents of one bar
rel through the head of one, who
tumbled heavily down stairs, drag
ging his companion with him.
l rushed into the room, and found
the girl sheltered behind the bed, ane
keeping Hans at bay with revolver
AS | entered, Hans sprang at me will
fendish expression, and in spite o
my efforts, seized me in his Hercular
clutches. My pistol now was OF NJ
use, SO hurlIng 1t from me, drew m,
knife, and soon put All end to tht
struggle. l gathered up my pistol
and hurried the girl into my room
and soon had the door securely barri
caded. | then explained to her ou
situation, and how ! came to discov
er she was to be a victim. But whel
| told her OF the old man, she faintl,
gasped, at is my father!" and tn
next moment lay senseless on tn
floor. Now | was in a trying posi-
ton. / expected every moment tn
attack of the robbers would be re
newed, and in all probability the
would overpower us, and then ou
dooms would be sealed. involun
| tarily cast my eyes towards the win
dow, as if it would afford some poin
of escape. But then the robber
would have fair chance, could SUI
+ round us, and murder us without
: show of defence--E had all this tim
counted on my fair companion as a
assistant, not rejecting that she was
, woman, and essayed to protect her
, When this thought crossed my mint
| all my combative powers wer
aroused, and | felt strong and con
petent to contend with host.
l heard whisperings, and footstep
r gently stealing up the stairs. A dir
/ light shone beneath the door, and re
, vealed several large holes and crack
/ kept my eyes intently fixed in ths
!, direction,' while my heart palpitate
| so loud, that it's vibration could /
! fdistinctly heard.
: A slight shufflng of the feet, an
Z craEh crash want eoyaraJ raport,