The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-04-02

OIlce L thought Oh removing the bee
and then watching, rs trapper does :
hole in the ice for game But that wouIC
not do, for should successfully repulst
the first intrudcr-for l had no longer ;
doubt Of being in q Robbers Roost-i
would leave y hole open which woulC
expose me to their fire At length
plan came to my relief l moved tho
bed from over the door, and taking tht
clothes off, | threw the chat bed on thC
door, and directly over the suspicious
trap. But, oh horror! what discove.
| Iry madc The bed was saturated will
blood, and in many places, hard from
the gore which had dried in it,
Having thus fortified myself, | took a
seat on one end Of the bed with my sad
idle-bags close to me, my knife in enc
hand, and my revolver in the other, and
my ammunition convenient, sin case ]
should need it. l blew out the light, ,and
in the darkness awaited the denouement
of the plot. How long ] waited I could
not tell but in spite of my periIous sit
uation, my eyes grew heavy, and was
almost overcome with sleep. But ar
easy moving of the bed aroused all my
perceptive faculties, and in an instant !
was wide awake. 1t moved severa
times quite easy, and then all became
quiet. [ listened few moments, but
could hear nothing. Presently there
came faint whispers from an adjoining
room; my eyes followed the direction
and saw small stream of light pour
ing through an opening in the partition
l stole softly to the spot and listened 9
moment. l then put my eyes to tbs
opening, and had q fair view Of the ope.
rations inside.
So horrible was the sight then be.
held 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, and the purple current Of
life was steadily streaming from th2
cash. l reeled moment with dizziness
and was about to withdraw from the
scene, when the door softly opened and
q person entered. l looked again, and
three Of the men had seen in the bar.
room were standing near the dead man.
"Why, Hans" said one, 81 thought
you had fixed him by this time"
"We'll have trouble with that custom,
err" replied Hans, shaking his head; che
is up to something; he put his'bed over
the trap"
"Thc dsvil!" they both exclaimed,and
looked at each other in surprise.
1--WE must manage him somehow"
said Hans ''for he has money! am GER
tain of that"
"Hadnt we better attend to that 'ere
gal, first p suggested one.
"Yea, the old man is fixed: now fol
the gal" and picking up the light they
left the room.
"What GIRL" thought I. lis it posi-
bic that some person as unfortunate as
myself has been compelled to stoE
here ?"
/ listened eagerly, and presently s
crash came, followed by shrill scream
1 sprang toward my door,but recollected
that l had it well secured. hesitateC
moment, when | heard another scream
more terrible 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 l met two men, who fred
Simultaneously, but without effect.
leveled my revolver, and sent the con
tents of ore barrel through the head o.
one, who tumbled heavily down stairs,
dragging his companion with him.
l rushed into the room and found tht
girl sheltered behind the bed, keeping
Hans at bay with revolver. AS l en-
tered, Hans sprang at me with fendist
expression, and in spite Of my effort;
seized me in his Herculean clutches
Ny pistol now was of no use,so hurting
it from me drew my knife, and soor
put an end to the struggle. | gathered
up my pistol and hurried the cir
into my own room, and soon had The
door securely barricaded. I then ex
planned to her our situation, and how
came to discover she was to be victim
When I told her of the old man, sht
family gasped, at is my fathern and
the next moment laid senselesS on the
floor. Now l was in trying position
l expected every moment the attack OF
the robbers would be renewed, and ii
all probability they would ovorpower us
and then our doom. Was sealed. lu
voluntarily cast my eyes toward tht
window, as If it would afford some hope
Of escape. But then the robbers would
have q fair chance, could surround us
and murder us without show Of CO
feuse. | had all this time counted or
nv fair companion as an assistant, moi
rejecting that she was woman, and
assayod to protect her. When this
thought crossed my mind, all my com
batiye powers were aroused, and l fel
strong and competent to contend with
host.
1 heard whispcrings, and footstep:
gently stealing up stsirs. A dim li9h
shone beneath the door, and revealed
several large holes and cracks. KEEP
my eyes iutently fixed in that direction
while my heart palpitatcd so loud tha
It's vibration could be distinctly heard
A slight shulIling Of the feet,and crash
crash, went several reports, while bul
lets whizzed sharply about my head
The girl gave shrill scream; l groanet
and crcpt closer to the door, which wa
riddlcd with bullets, and through TIL
holes l could plainly discern their &C
tons.
l still had five shots in my revolver
and determined to use them to the bcs
advantage.
"He's done tor now," says one, as IL
stood eyeing the door.
"But the gal," replied 4 little, short
thick-set man, "shc fights like thun
der"
"Ha! You coward; who would fear
woman ?" returned the first speaker witt
q snCtr.
'Jim Bates, I'll make you smell pow
der for that aforc mornin', said the lii
tie man, savagaly.
"We must have this ere door open,