The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-08-14


feelings against me, for if you should hap
pen to die suddenly, without having pardon
ed me, your soul wouldn't rest in peace
Il made no reply, for | saw that he was
very anxious, and was trying to cheer me up
by making light Of the situation.
About six O'Clock the host brought us
some supper, which we partook of sparingly,
for we were in no hunor for eating. At
nine O'Clock George ordered two milk
punches. When the host had brought
them, and deposited the tray on the table.
and left the room, my husband cautiously
tasted and smelled the contents Of one of the
glasses.
This punch contains drugs he said !;
we have, indeed, got into a murdcrer's 5
den'
'The windows were both shuttcrless, and
! our room was not more than ten feet from
/ the ground. Ii was lovely, clear, moon
! light night, and we could see those treach-
/ erous hali-brecds standing outside, gazing
/ up into our apartment, and looking as if
! they but waited till we were asleep, when
| they would be only too ready to assist the
| tavern-keeper To take our lives.
Its slight consolation to know that
| you have your pistols with which to defend
Us, if We are attacked by those scoundrels,
said l.
'UnluckiIy for US, rs it happens,
placed them in my trunk yesterday by mis-
take, and all the trunks are down stairs. |
should have had them brought up here, but
did not wish to do 50, a. | thought it might
cause the tayern-keeper to think that we
suspected he would rob Us if he got the
opportunity
Good God = cried, then we shall have
to stand still, and be killed like sheep when
slaughtered by the butchers. What need
you to have cared for the mans suspicious
as long as we had something to defend our
selves with. Oh, George you have acted
very rashIy.'
My dear Annie, we've got into a scrape,
and now we must get out OF ii as best we
can. We must put our trust in luck, and
hope we shall escape bodily harm
"'Not in luck. George, but in God,
solcmnly replied.
"Our conversation had been carried on in
whispers, for we were afraid of being over
| heard. About twelve o o'clock the tavern
| keeper knocked at our door and asked
| Are you asleep, and is there anything you
wish to have brought to you?' My hus-
band answered in the negative. Three hours
elapsed, when the same question was re-
peated. George made no reply, but, a
slender, though heavy, log of wood in his
up-raiSed hands, stood near the door, ready
to attack the first person who entered.
lay, trembling in an agony of fear stretched
upon the bed. The suspense was awful,
and was almost crazed with terror.
My eyes were fastened on the door, and
my husband, who, statue-like, stood beside
it. The door had neither lock nor bolt, so
anybody could enter the room easily. Sud
denly | perceived it move Slightly, and by
degrees it opened wide enough to permit q
man to come in. To my great horror | saw,
through the aperture made by the opening
of the door, the tavern-keeper, aud in his
right hand he clutched a large bowie knife.
lie thrust in his head cautiously, and a. he
did 50, my husband struck him q heavy blow
with his rude weapon. The wretch, with
out giving vent to a cry or even groan, fell
to the floor like dead WEIGHT.
"'You've killed him, George, cried,
though hardly above a whisper.
''No. he's only stunned. just hand me
that cord lying on the table, and I'll pinion
his arms 50 that he won't be able to give Us
any trouble when he regains his senses
II obeyed my husbands orders, and he
quickly bound the villains arms and feet,
50 that it wouid be impossible for him to
move when he came to. At the first sign Of
Consciousness that he showed, George gag-
ged him, and then carried him to 4 lal-3
closet, placed him in it, and closed the
door.
AT daylight said George, the team
ster will be here, but few people viii be up
and about, and we shall be able to leave
quietly If this fellow had had any accom-
pices he would have brought them with
him he has no wife, 50 his people will not
miss him till long after we are gone. II
they knew how I've treated him, we'd have
the whole tribe at our heels, and they would
make short work of killing Us and dividing
the spOils, fear. Once out Of this detest-
able place, and we are safe
Daylight at last came, though the time
seemed long before it did, and never before
or since have | hailed the first gleam of light
in the eastern horizon with greater JOY.
The tcamSter soon made his appearance, my
husband helped him to put the trunks ON
his cart. and we were quickly driving rap
idly toward Griffin, which place we reached
in two days, and without meeting with any
other adventure.
80 you see Mr.. williamson she said,
in conclusion, ''my life thus far has num-
bered at least one thrilling experience. |
can afford TO laugh now at the perils and
fears of that terrible night, but it is not
likely that | shall ever forget it or them a.
long as l live"
To PICKLE MEAT IN ONE DAY.-Get a
tub nearly full of rain or river water, and
pu. two pieces of thin wood across it about
an inch from the water and place the beef
salt vii