Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-04-10


that he let me out on the street, and
backed up my demand by threats of
police and arrest, perhaps he would have
let me go. But had not the courage,
and followed the boy through the hall,
up the stairs, to the end of another hall,
and then he opened door and ushered
me into No. II. It was lonesome room.
The floor was uncarpeted, and the fur
niture consisted of a single chair, bed
and wash-stand. There was but one
window, and that was heavily curtained
It's nice CHEEKY place" remarked
could see all around you'll be asleep
directly you strike the bed, an We won't
know anything more till I call We in the
mornin'."
He took cut his knife, cut the candle
in two, so as to leave me but half an
inch, and then placed the light on the
stand and went off. took the light and
looked under the bed, into an empty
closet, and then sought to fasten the door.
There was neither lock nor bolt the
most 1 could do was to place the stand
and the chair against it. Had | had
sufficient light to last the night through,
1 should have sat up all night. But the
candle was already nearly gone, and I
hastily undressed and jumped into bed,
shivering like one with the ague.
The light went out moment after,
and the darkness was so black that /
could not see my hand at my nose. I
remained awake until the bell struck one,
and then, having heard no stir below,
my courage began to return. 1 soon
made myself believe that had been I'M
duly suspicious, and when this feeling
got possession of me, [ began to feel
sleepy, and it was not long before I was
fast asleep.
I dreamed. l dreamed that some one
came up stairs, softly pushed the door
open, and came in with shaded light
and looked at my face. Another figure
crept in, and I heard whispered voice
say:
"We've got his money, an now we
must croke him, an put the body out O.
the way !"
As 1 dreamed this [ awoke. / did
not move and did not open my eyes, but
] fully awoke, and in an instant realized
that there was light in the room and
that some one was at the bed.
"Put up your knife, JIM" continued
the voice, " we don't want any blood.
Well git the big feather bed, pile it on
him, an he'll be smothered in jerk,
au' the doctors won't know what killed
him ~
As they moved softly away I opened
my eyes and saw the bartender and the
boy Jim. | was so frightened that my
limbs were numb my throat was SO
parched that could hardly swallow; ]
had no mind and knew not what to do.
The two returned in moment with the
bed and placed it on the floor, and sat
their light on the stand.
At that moment there came kick on
the door below, and some one shouted to
be let in. As no one answered, the kicks
came harder, and the voice called Ill
louder tones.
That's Tom," whispered the bar
tender. "Confound him, why couldn't
he stay away? Wait a minute an I'll
go down and send him off
The man went down, and Jimmy stood
in the door to listen to what was said.
AS soon as the street door was opened, q
wrangle commenced, and Jimmy ran
down, leaving the light on the bed. My
numbness disappeared in an instant, and
IN second.
all / cared was to get out of the room.
Passing through the door / entered
another bedroom further down the hall
the door stood open, and the light shone
In SO that | could see quite plainly.
There was no closet, no place to hide, and
/ had turned to go out when my eye rest
ed on a small trap door in the ceiling
over the bed, being the means of com
munication with the garnet. / leaped on
the bed Just as the door below was slam
med shut. Catching hcli of hook in
the wall, / climbed on tho head of the
beadstead, pushed up the trap, and in
another moment was in the garnet.
- was not second too soon. was
softly replacing the door when I heard
the murderers pass the bedroom
Everything was still for a moment, and
then L heard fearful oath, suppressed
yell from the boy, and then there was q
sound of heavy feet in the hall. The
door of the room was pushed open, and
/ saw the light of the candle and heard
the excited tones of the bartender. He
, locked under the bed, jerked the clothes
off the bedstead, and then ran out
/ heard him opening doors and turning
things around, and at length the two
; ran down stairs. l suppose they made
a search of the lower part, as they were
gone ten or fifteen minutes. When they
, came back, they entered the room below
2 me, searched all around, and then
heard the bartender say:
: ''The chap has got away but dom
l know how. Not a door or window il
= open, and yet he's gomez
I trembled so that 1 believed the,
3 could hear tie boards shake, but the!
went out. They were long time over
hauling beds and closets, but at length
gave up the search and went down stairs
! The bells struck three as they wen
l down, and for four long hours hardl,
: moved an inch from my first position.
| I thought that 1 should hear othe
d people stirring in the house, and thu
I have chance to give the alarm am
d make my escape. listened attentively
but not footstep was heard, and it wa
| oyyi6apf {bof tho no RI %hx h,,,ca r wv.