South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-12-24


athlete. My form Was slender. and my
weight was but ono Lundred and forty
pounds, but my muscles were weli-de.
vcloped. and leaving knives and pistols
out Of the question. I had little fear Of
m encounter with the average native.
But the mobile art 10 OF little account
to sleeping man. and Morpheus has
never been known 90 spar successful.
~ with an assassin. Iremoved my coat
only. and taking largo chew OF tohac.
CO. lay down upon the hard bed. q.
unused myself for long time by com.
posing doSgerel. all or which have for.
gotten. except tho following sxquisitsly
wrstched lines:
Climb TO bed on q sassafras ladder
Poor ole fellow 'fraid Of his shadder
Pretty sad case. but il may be sadder
First thing you know. old boy r.
threw of n great deal OF tina. sort OF
thing. and | feel fortunate in having
forgotten the most OF it. Its compost.
ton served TO keep me awake, however,
and that was the point was striving
after. rather than fame as a poet. NV
| candle had burned rather more than half
away. when dismissed the MUSES. and
took fresh chew OF tobacco. Every.
thing was as silent as death below, and
the only sounds outside were the mourn.
ful hootings Of the owls and the sspul.
chrai moaning OF the wind among the
forest trees. Concluding to pass away
the remaining time before daylight by
reading, noiselessly produced the jour.
nal, and propping my head as high a..
NV ssa, ia
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 dwindling candle on tue barrel
near my right shoulder furnishing me
scanty light. Suddenly thrill OF NOR.
tai terror for an instant seemed to Fl eeza
my blood, for through the narrow open
ing had made in the sheet when fool.
lshly obeyed the injunction o. the auacls
advertiser. l caught the glimpse of a
murderous knife. My fear in moment
gave way TO cool determination TO out.
wit the cowardly assassin if possible
and keeping him in my view, which was
easily done by shifting the sheet. / ga.
ment, which, IL successful, wonld be We.
ry apt to completely demoralize my n
varicious enemy.
Nearer and nearer he crcpt, noiseIess.
~ 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 n
twinkling sent my heavily soled boot
against his under chin. lie tumbIed
backward and fell so heavily that the
building tremblcd as If an earthquake
had passed beneath il. The Amazon
below immediately suspected that some.
thing unfavorable to her cause had hap.
pened, and started up the ladder. The
man on the floor was fast reyiying-
there was no time for TIL. exercise of pal.
lantry toward the fair sex. and Ms her
head appeared in sight above the floor I
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 louse trenbl..
quickly returning to my male victim. I
stunned him with blow from the han.
die or his own knife. and tied him hand
and FOOT. Descending the ladder. I
found the woman insensible. / bound
her securely, also. aud then building
roaring fire l sat down by it and con.
graduated myself on my narrow escape
from death and robbery. Daylight soon
came, and put off speedily as possible
Tor tho settlement, where / told my sto.
ry and then returned with an officer 70
the scene OF my adventure the night be.
fore. My victims had returned to con.
seriousness, and we're cursing their mis-.
fortunes, and yainly endeavoring to burst
their bonds. Before the sun had set
We had them safely jailed. Reader.
What do you think of my little "ad".
venture?