Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1872-05-01
MIFFLINTOWN, JUNlATA COUNTY. PENN'A, MAY /,
"Why, surely, we are perfectly safe

"Why, surely, we are perfectly safe
here"
II don't know about that l kinder
calculate you are stranger = these here
parts"
Il am."
But 1 guess you've heard Of Silas
Cass-he dwells hereabouts."
Slas Cass / had heard of him as
one of the most desperate and depraved
characters that haunted the out settle
ments of America. 1t was suspected
nay. it was morally certain that he had
committed more murders aud robberies
thad any man in the world !; but he con-
trived to escape the law, for although
suspicion was great there was no posi-
tive proof, aud the wretch had always
escaped the punishment he SO richly de-
served
As l looked at the diabolical face be
fore me, | was convinced that my host
was no other than the notorious Silas
Cass. felt a cold sweat break out on
my forehead, and terrible dryness seize
my throat. A fiend like expression of
delight spread over the wretch's face as
he noticed these symptoms of terror; his
eyes were fixed on me with the malicious
gaze of a cat when watching a Gagged
bird.
Gathering all the resolution l could
muster, l replied ~>1ss~
IL have heard of Silas Cass. but really
can't believe all the stories they tell about
him. Some people are born unlucky,
and it has been the misfortune of Cass to
be placed in suspicious circumstances !;
but there has never been any proof of
his guilt and, therefore. I prefer giving
him the benefit of the doubt; in fact, l
think he is more sinned against than
shining
The monster threw himself back and
roared with laughter at what he thought
my credulity, and pushing the whisky
bottle toward me, he asked me to have a
drink.
put the bottle to my lips and pre-
tended to take hearty draft, but very
little of the fiery fluid entered my lips,
wall, yon are queer cuss,' said the
ruffian. Now, ! shouldn't be surprised
if those bags hold a good amount of
dollars ...
A few" | replied, and there is tale
belonging to them
"Just co. said Silas, pushing the
whisky bottle toward me, "s'posing you
take another pull"
took hold of the bottle and kept it
glued to my lips for such length of
time that Slas's eyes seeuei ready to
START IRON tlltu sOChcic.
Guess you're tall drinker, stranger
he said.
YES I replied in as drunken a voice
az l could assume, chats how l came
by those dollars
Bully for you," grinned Silas, "l've
heard of many boy drinking himself
out of fortune, but ne'er a one that
drunk himself rich -
"But managed to do it, I replied
"O!' said he, opening wide his eyes
Yes replied, II held a place in
the Broadway Bank, as one of the chief
tellers, but 1 took to drinking and gam
bling and lost all my money"
"Wall, that couldn't make you rich
"No, but in fit of desperation =! emp
tied the till and the dollars are right 10
that bag"
"Whew = whistled Silas; 81 guess
you did it pretty spry."
"You haven't any cards about You :" !
asked.
81 guess have though" he replied /;
suppose we have game of poker?"
Ny heart beat with delight as he drew
a pack from his pocket, and grasping the
cards, l commenced dealing them with
the assumed eagerness OF regular game
ster.
l saw the wretch cheat me every time.
l lost and lost, still continued playing.
only repeating my losses in maudlin
drunken way that made my companion
roar with laughter. He commenced to
Thoroughly enjoy himself directly be saw
my misery. He lighted his pipe and
began to smoke. He did not puff out
the smoke as an ordinary man would
have done, but opened his mouth and
let the dense clouds roll round his horri-
BILE tusks and long thin tongue. Each
time he won he seized the bottle and
drank heavily Of the whisky. When
the bottle was. finished he produced an
other from a small cupboard at the back
of the hut This soon disappeared and
was replaced by another. but the more
he took the better he seemed. As he
swept my dollars he roared with delight.
Ainging his huge legs about in the most
grotesqne manner. He began chanting
bits of songs certainly not fit for respect
able society. TO make the scene more
horrible, the storm without had come so
violent that the hut shook beneath the