Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1875-12-31

"dodger," which, by the way, might
very properly be termed the :" ortiess
dodger," considering the scarcity of art
exhibited in its construction, composed
the homely meal. My appetite for the
last half hour had been growing fainter
by degrees and alarmingly less, and l
soon arose from the table. | Immediate
ly retired to the other room and attempt
cd to solace myself with an old cob pipe
and some natural leaf tobacco | found
on the mantel. Presently my host came
in, bringing with him lighted candle,
and informed me that he and the cole
woman" were in the habit of going to bed
early, and that as their bed stood in the
room [ was then occupying, | had better
climb the ladder to the loft, where he
said | would find place to "stow my
self away
| Taking the candle, made the ascen-
sion as gracefully as possible, wondering
the while if | should ever come down
again alive. My bed, very rude one,
stood in the farthest corner of the loft,
facing the place of ingress An empty
o"iiSi oothuinS Ut tHc ucdu bcTFeu tuc
purpose of candlc-stand, and upon it
| placed my feeble luminary, thanking
my stars it was a whole one, for had
determined upon remaining awake, and
prevent, if possible any attempt to rob
me of my money and life. felt quite
certain such an attempt would be made,
and if bad had my pistol with me
should have awaited developments with
out the least fear of being overcome, but
alas the day before | had broken off
the stock while using it for a hammer,
and had left it with backwoods gun
smith to be repaired.
was at that time something of an
athlete. My form was slender, and my
weight was but one hundred and forty
pounds, but my muscles were well-de-
vcloped, and leaving knives and pistols
out of the question, had little fear of
an encounter with the average. native.
But the "noblc art is of little account
to sleeping man. and Morpheus has
never been known to "spar" successfully
with an assassin. ! removed my coat
only, and taking large chew Of tobacco,
lay down upon the hard bed | amused
myself for long time by composing
doggerel, all of which I have forgotten
except the following exquisitely wretch
ed lines
"Climb to bed on a sassafras ladder
Poor ole fellew 'fraid of his shadder;
Pretty sad case, but II may be sndder
| First thing Won know old how ~
threw off great deal of that sort of
thing, and | feel fortunate in having
forgotten the most of it. It's composition
served to keep me awake, however. and
that was the point | was striving after,
rather than fame as a poet. My candle
had burned rather more than half away,
when dismissed the MUSES. and took
fresh chew of tobacco. Everything was
as silent as death below, and the only
sounds outside were the mournful boot
ings of the owls and the sepulchral
moaning of the wind among the forest
trees. Concluding to pass away the re-
naming time before daylight by reading,
| noiselcssly produced the journal, and
propping my head as high as possible
with my "emaciated" pillow. strove to
become interested in the news Of the day
An hour must have passed. was
lying with my right foot on the floor,
while held the fully open sheet before
me, the dwinding candle on the barrel
near my right shoulder furnishing me a
scanty light. Suddenly thrill of mortal
terror for an instant seemed TO freeze my
blood, for through the narrow opening
| bad made in the sheet when | foolishly
obeyed the INDUCTION of the quack adj
vertiser, ! caught the glimpse of a muir
derous knife. Ny fear in II moment gave
way to cool determination to outwit
the cowardly assassin if possible, and
keeping him in my view, which was
easily done by shifting the sheet, I gath
cred my energies for a strategic move
ment, which, if successful, would be
very apt to completely dcmoralize my
avaricious enemy.
Nearer and nearer he crept, noisclessly
and slowly. saw his hand tighten
on the knife for the fatal stroke he was
near enough. / suddenly dropped the
paper and measuring the distance in a
twinkliDg | sent my heavily soled boot
against his under chin. He tumbed
backward and fell so heavily that the
building tremblcd as if an earthquake
had passed beneath it. The Amazon
below Immediately suspected that some
thing unfavorablc to her cause had hap
pened, and started up the ladder. The
man on the floor was fast reviving-
there was no time for the exercise of
gallantry toward the fair sex, and as her
head appeared in sight above the floor,
/ swung old "oakstan" at her with such
vigor that had the satisfaction of hear
ing her reach the floor below with
crash that again made the old house
tremble. Quickly returning to my male
victim, | stunned him with blow from
the handle of his own knife, and tied
him hand and foot. Descending the
ladder, found the woman insensible.-
| bound her securely, also, and then
building roaring fire sat down by it
and congratulated myself on my narrow
escape from death and robbery. Day
light soon came, and put Of speedily as
possible for the settlement, where | told
my story and then returned with an Of
ficer to the scene Of my adventure the
night before. My victims had returned
to Consciousness, and were cursiug their
misforIuDes, and vainly endeayoring to
burst their bonds Before the sun had
2 L Al r. l..