River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-01-03

o'clock, when the party broke up. /
had secured a bed at a house where I
had lodged in my student days, and it
so happened that my way lay in a
different direction from that of my
companions / therefore babe them
goodnight and started off alone. 1t
was dull, murky night, with a sharp
sleet driving from the north; the only
light shed upon the wretched streets
was from the oil-lamps swung at inter-
walls across the road. On fastened,
wrapping myself up in my large coat,
and meeting no one. Not a sound did
l hear until, just as was reaching the
street where my lodging was situated,
which turned up out of one of the
principal allees Of the town. / thought
l distinguished the sound of advancing
footsteps. ] listened, and was con-
WINGED that my surmise was correct;
but thinking nothing of it / proceeded
up the street. / had reached the door,
and was endeavoring to turn the rusty
piece Of German mechanism supposed
to be key and mentally contrasting il
with my own neat Chubb at home,
when two men advanced toward me,
followed at some distance by third.
This | could just distinguish by the
light of neighboring lamp. As the
two men came up to me, one of them
said, " Good night !" Goodnight !"
/ replied; cor rather Good-mornlng
for it must be almost that by this
time" The words had scarcely escap-
ed my lips when the foremost man hit
me tremendous blow between the eyes
which Int up thousand candles before
me and knocked me violently back
ward. AS my back dashed against the
door | heard something crash. In a
second L recollected myself; it was the
champagne bottle had placed in my
pocket when the gems d'arme entered.
In second grasped it by the neck,
withdrew it from my pocket, and
whirllng it in the air, brought it down
with my full force on the head of my
assailant. He gave one groan and fell
heavily to the ground, while the blood
spurted from the wound like fountain.
His companion turned and fed, while
the third man. who all this time had
remained at distance, also Immediate
ly made off. My state of horror can
scarcely be imagined. knelt down
by the mans side, / bathed his head
with water, which / was fortunate
enough to procure | strove to stanch
the blood which was pouring from the
wound. Ispoke to him-I offered him
all my money if he would only look up.
/ was in momentary dread of the arri-
val of the gems d'armes, and of being
| conveyed to prison as a murder, r. For
more than an hour did remain in this
fearful state. The man never opened
his eyes, but lay apparently in leth-
argic stupor. No one came near me,
and my excitement was at its height,
when by the dawning light L perceived
figure approaching. 1t neared me,
and in it 1 thought 1 recognized the
companion of the robber Not word
was spoken, and with my assistance he
raised his friend, twined his arms
around him and half carried, half
dragged him out of sight.
/ need scarcely say that did not 60
to bed that night. / went in, struck a
light, collected the few things | had
unpacked from my carpet-bag, and
Needless of my friends and intended
pleasure, hurried off by the first train
and returned at once to England, so
apprehensive was | of the consequent
ces.
Two years passed, and / heard
no more of my nocturnal adj
venture. / had letters from Oscar
don and from some German friends,
full of wonder at my sudden departure,
but giving no hint as to It's cause, and
the circumstance had almost faded
from my recollection. Last autumn,
however, was in Germany, and hear
ing that an old tutor of mine had be-
come a Protestant chaplain at the gaol
of Nerdun- place a few miles from
Dusselberg-I went over to see him.
He acted as my cicerOne round the
prison, and while going through one
of the wards / caught sight of q face
that turned me faint. This face be-
longed to a convict, a short, thick set
man, who was sitting apart from the
rest. recognized him in an instant
as the man whom / had nearly murder
ed. approached, he raised his head,
started and then grinned calmy.
DO You know me r. L asked.
Il do" he answered. 81 only saw
you once, as You came out of the sad
dler's door, but You saw me after that,
and gave me This"
He raised his matted hair as he
spoke, and showed me a red scar or his
temple about three inches long. II
shuddered at the recollection.
And why did you attack me 2"
"Why 2" he replied, ''because / was
paid for 1t, as L had been for many
more. That Polish count was my mas
ter and partner; we were one firm all
that winter, and shared alike. He
pointed you ost to us, told us you had
won immensely at cards, and had the
money about you. He was close be-
hind us at the time, and if it hadn't
been for that internal bottle"