The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-11-07

Oh crossing ON6r lHIO IuO AhSH" '"AtSJl |
and there disposing Of the animals and |
their burdens.
l understood now why they had SO
given up their room to me,
rather than risk my returning to bag,
adino, whence / could, if | suspected
them, dispatch a company OF soldiers,
when their shrift would have proba-
bly, been a short one.
AS thought the matter over, felt |
that l had got into an unpleasant posi-
ton; but with the brace of heavy re-
in my holster, / felt fully a
match for the party at the inn. When
got in | was shown to room, which |
was of fair size and more comfortable
than had expected. Here | had a
wash, and then taking the precaution
of locking the door and putting the
key in my pocket, I went downstairs
again. Two of the men had gone
out, but I concluded, after a minute
examination of their countenance,
that the three who remained were
about as unmitigated rufians as one
could want to see. / was kept some
time waiting for my food, but when
it came was more than repaid for
the delay, for the dishes were fairly
cooked, and to one who had eaten
nothing but bread for forty eight
hours, were trebly enjoyable. The
wine, however, did not like; it had a
peculiar flavor about it which seemed
unnatural. / might not huve noticed
it at any other time, but my suspicion
having been already aroused, it struck
me at once that it was drugged. AS |
felt that was being watched, | gave
no signs of objecting to the wine, but
filed the tumbler with it, and from
time to time took the smallest posi-
BILE sips at it.
AS I finished my supper and rose
from the table, the landlord, who had
remained in the room, said in tone
which was meant TO be pleasant, but in
which detected anger aud disappoint-
ment, "The signor does no like wine"
"Upon the contrary | said, "the wine
is excellent Wine, however, does not
agree with me; it turns acid, and the
doctor forbids it. Oh, dear" yawned,
as l lit my candle, show tired l am,
to be sureI Good-nightM A. surly
good night was the reply. l went
up stairs, unlocked the door, and
found that it would not lock on the
inside. With a great exertion OF my
strength lifted a heavy chest, carried
it quietly across the room, and set 1T
down noiselessly against the door
Then l sat down to think. 1t was
evident to me that these scoundrels
of mule drivers were some of the
scum Of the large towns, and that
now, as they were deserting with the
animals and goods under their charge,
they would not hesitate to add to
their offences the trifing crime OF
numbering foreigner, about whom
no inquiries were likely to be madei
and it was also evident to me that in
the landlord of this lively little inn
they had a kindred spirit. Confident
in my revolvers, and having good
reason to believe that there were only
six of them, felt excited rather than
alarmed; however, l determined at
once to escape from the window if
possible. I thought it probable that
/ was watched, and therefore opened
the window carelessly and put out
my arm, as though to feel if the light
mist which had begun to fall as re-
turned from stabliDg my horse, was
still coming down.
My attitude was careless, but as my
face was in shadow | was able to use
my eyes and saw two figures stand
ing on the opposite side of the road
With an exclamation of disgust at the
rain, l closed the window again. | had
doubts before; / had none now.
went to my holsters, took out my pis
tolls, and uttered mental thanksglv
ing that l had them with me. My
plan was simple; / had nothing to dc
but to sit down, keep awake, and wal
to be attacked. l had little fear oi
going to sleep, therefore l drew
chair against the bed so that ! could
sit up and at the same time rest, pu
the candle and my pistol on a tabl'
beside me, put another chair for m!
feet, and sat down. I did not meaI
to blow the candle out for few min
utes, so as to allow the men outsid
to believe that l was quietly gettinl
into bed.
/ took up one Of my pistols, locke
at it, took aim at the door, and presi
: ed the trigger to raise the hammer
little, for it was double-action wea
pom. To my surprise, the trigger, il
/ stead of yielding to my finger, remain
ed stiff and immovable. l pressed
: little stronger, to make sure that
, was not fancy, but it was fixed. "I
think of its getting out Of order at th
| moment Of all othersl" ] said to m.
/ self a shiver of alarm running throug
J me as examined it. Something WI
/. evidently the matter. At last, scr
D tinizing it very closely by the candl
almost cry broke from me as sa
r that a piece of iron Of some sort ha
# been iammed in behind the trigge
!. | caught up the other pistol-m
4 worst fears were realized. 1t all
had been disabled. l sat half stunnt
@ by the shock. l was looking dea
& very nearly in the face now, and u
G prospect did what it had never dol
n before or since-brought out co
perspiration.
7 1t was a minute or two before
Il could realize the position. | undo
d stood it at last. The landlord hi
a another key to my room, and viii
: was waiting for supper he had c
d tered the room and disabled my p
' tolls. was indeed rat caught in
e trap, and rat almost without teeI
D. / was myself again now, and cou
/. think clamly on my chances.
h They were very small. Ihad a ca