The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1875-02-24

and desirable than the table, but / sat my.
self down to the ropast only out Of courtesy
During the evening tried to converse with
the woman-she was my only companion
but It was with difficulty that got any
answer to my questions.
\ asked her where was, and the only re-
ply was a dubious shake Of the head. Then /
asked her who lived in the house, and she
trembled, but said nothing
She seemed anxious for me to retire, and,
at length, after had mostly dried my gar
ments, signifed my readiness to be shown
to my bed. The woman actually sprang to
obey me, and, having lighted second lamp,
she babe me follow her. was conducted up
a flight of stairs, and shown to a respectfully
furnished chamber, and there my guide left
me.
As | was left alone, I was not little
puzzled by what had seen and heard. The
house was evidently u large one, and, from
what little had seen from the outside of it
by the light of the latem from the stable. I
judged it to be built of hewn timber, with the
crevices plastered with cement. The inside,
such as had seen, was finished neatly with
well matched boards, planned and painted
1t was strange that had not seen anything
of the owner of the place and the behavior
of those | had seen was equally strange. I
was confident that the house must be far from
any other habitation, and it is not to be
wondered at that l allowed an unpleasant
train of suspicious thoughts to pass through
my excited mind.
The powder in my pistol had becoma some-
what damp. My portmanteau had brought
to the chamber with me- and in that found
dry powder. carefully reloaded my wea-
pons, and placed them under my pillow, and,
having fastened the door, partially undressed
myself, and got into the bed. 1t was certainly
an hour before l slept, but at length the
drowsy god came over me.
could not have slept long-not over half
an hour-when was awakened by quick
shake of my shoulder. | sprang up in bed,
and seized a pistol. There was a man by
my bedside, and he held lamp toward me.
He was tall, but far from being stout, and his
countepance was kind and gentle in its ex-
preston. lie had entered by small door at
the end Of the room, which had not noticed.
"shl I" he uttered, placing his finger upon
his lip. Make no noise. Put up your
pistol.
/" But what seek you here ?" Iasked, feel
ing assured that my visitor meant no harm.
!" would save you y
" saee me :" repeated.
"-sh :! Yes. You have one foot in your
grave while You are here. Do you not know
this house -
"No. What is itq" I uttered, springing
from bed.
+" Be careful You'll wake the demon be-
fore his time! He thinks | do not know him,
but by chance have found him out in time
to save my own life and yours /"
BY this time had nearly dressed myself,
and with trembling limbs listened while my
visitor explained himself.
He told me that the owner of the house was
murderer by profession-th he entrapped
travellers, and killed and robbed them.
His tale was a horrible one, and he had
learned it by overhearing a conversation
between the man Of the house and the fellow
who had taken care of my horse. He had
himself arrived and retired before | came
along but he had awakened just in season to
hear the conversation he had related take
place in an adjoining room.
"Come come" he said, as l threw my
portmanteau across my arm, and took my
second pistol from beneath my pillow F; sthere
is not moment to loose. If we are dis
covered, we shall be killed"
What cat-like, noiseless tread, my COM
panion led the way out by the same door
through which he had entered This door
gave us entrance to a room to which there
opened. / could not help noticing, as l
passed this last door, the stout iron bolts
which were fixed upon its outside.
My guide placed his finger upon his lips for
an instant, and then he shaded the lamp with
his hand, and hurried down the stairs which
led directly to the shed. The lamp did not
90 out and we gained the stable with haste.
"out with your horse Quick! !" uttered
my companion.
But you--what will you do"
81 have horse, too. Quick Make no
noise -
More quietly than can describe it did l
equip my beast and vault into the saddle and,
as | turned toward the yard, my friend led his
horse out l had left the stable, and was just
/ passing from the back yard, when heard the
house door open. Some one sprang forth with
horse cry of alarm, and leaped toward the
stable | heard a sharp cry from my friend,
and thought heard the noise of a scuffie.
My horse started INFO a gallop, of his own ac-
cord, and it was not until had ridden half a
mile to the northward before ! frightened the
rein.
thought was acting the towards part
thus to leave my companion in the hands of
murderers, but the second thought convinced
me that / should do better to keep on. While
was free they would not dare to kill him, for
they must have known / would give the
alarm, and then the crime would be detected.
II should return, they might capture and
| kill US both, without fear of detection.
Again rave NV horse the rein, and he gal