The enquirer southerner., 1874-08-07

our felicituous situation. There is
one consolation-that is, if our
throats are cut we shall have the
blessed privilege of dying in each
others arms, Think of that, my
dear, and be happy
George, l sobbed, how can
you be so heartless as to joke when
We are in such great danger of our
lives ? If you'd had any considers
| alton for my safety, you'd have
given the stage driver what he
asked. I shall never forgive you
for acting so-no, not as long as |
live.
| 'Well, perhaps that wort be very
bng; SO you'd better not treasure
up any harsh feelings against me,
for if you should happen to die sud~
denly, without having pardoned
me, your soul wouldn't rest in
peace
| q made no reply, for ! saw that
he was very anxious, and Was try
ing to cheer me up by making light
Of the situation.
| About SIX o'clock the host
brought rs some supper which we
partook of sparingly, for we were in
no humor 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 tue contents Of one of the
| glasses.
This punch contain drugs he
said 'we have, indeed, got into a
murderer's den
'9The windows were both shutter
less, and our room was not more
than ten feet from the ground. 1t
was lovely, clear, moonlight night,
and we could see those treacherous
haf-breeds standing outside. gaz>
ing up into our apartment, and
looking as if they but waited till
we were aslsep, 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 at
tackled by those scoundrels,' said I.
EUnluckily for US, as it happens,
[ placed them in my trunk yester>
day by mistake, and all the trunks
are down stairs. | should have had
them brought up here, but l did not
wish to do so, as | thought it might
cause the tavern>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 suspi~
cions as long as we had something
to defend ourselves with. Oh,
George! you have acted very RASH
ly.'
my dear Annie, we've got into
a scrape, and now we must get out
of it 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, [ solemnly replied.
'Our conversation had been cars
ried on in whispers, for we were
afraid of being overheard. About
twelve o'clock the tavern, keeper
knocked at our door, and asked {:
'Are you ASLEEP, and is there any
thing you wish to have brought to
you?' Ny husband 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 appraised hands, stood near
the door, ready to attack the first
person who entered, l lay, trem>
bling 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 statues
like, stood beside it. The door had
neither lock nor bot, so anybody
could enter the room easily. Sud>
denly l perceived it move slightly,
and by degrees it opened wide
enough to permit a man to come in.
To my great horror | saw, through
the aperture made by the opening
of the door, the tavern-keeper, and
in his right hand he clutched large
bowie knife. He thrust in his head
cautiously, and as he did so, my
husband struck him a heavy blow
with his rude weapon. The wretch,
without giving vent to cry or even
a groan, fell to the floor like dead
weight.
you've killed him, George
cried, though hardly above a whis'
per.
mo, he's only stunned. Jus
hand me that cord lying on The
table, and I'll pinion his arms 81
that he won't be able to give u
any trouble when he regains hi
senses
I obeyed my husbands order
and he quickly bound the william
arms and feet, SO that it would b.
impossible for him to move when b
came to. At the first sign of con
sciousness that he showed, Gcorg
gagged him, and then carried hin