The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-06-08
4 Rssssaa,. Adventure.

A Russian Adventure.
A Russian gentleman travelling in
Italy arrived one cold, rainy evening at
small roadside inn, in the Apennines,
and not being able to get horses, was OBJ
liged to content himself with the miser-
able accommodation it afforded. The
landlady came out to welcome him
decked in rings and jewels-a contrast,
as he thought, to the dirty, uncarsd-for
house. He was good deal surprised TO
hear his hostess order one of the servants
to go to the clergyman's house to request
the loan Of some sheets for the strangers
bed.
Many little inc.dedts occurred to rem
der the traveller suspicious. The gentle
man had with him fine Russian hound,
which he never separated from, and
never permitted to sleep out of his room.
After supper quite in keeping with the
appearance of the inn, he was shown up
to his bedroom; he ordered the servant
to accompany him, and his dog followed.
This enraged' the hostess, who made
great demonstration Of wrath, and de-
clared she would not permit her rooms
to be dirtied by dogs presence. Her
rage confirmed the traveller in his deter
mination not to allow the dog to leave
him. Madame stormed in vain, and at
length was obliged to yield.
After she was gone, the gentleman by.
signs, for he would not speak out, made
his servant to understand he wished him
to take out his pistols.
Over the chimney-piece there was a
very large mirror. The hound soon be-
came very uneasy, whined, walked up
and down, keeping his eyes fixed on the
mirror; the gentleman looked at the
mirror, but could detect nothing; he
coaxed and by every method endeavored
to q uiet the dog, and direct hisattention
from the spot, but all in vain.
He then stopped down and brought
his ey es on level with those of the dog.
when he Immediately discovered space
under the frame of the glass, and saw
figures standing behind. For moment
he knew not how to act. He did not
think that the persons concealed had
seen him looking under the frame.
So he began conversation with his
servant, telling him he had all his life
been great wanderer, and had had q
great many strange adventures; and
kept walking up and down the room
stopping from time to time before the
mirror. He continued telling stories o.
different encounters with robbers, hi,
pistols in his hands loaded and cooked
those of the servant being also prepared
so the two were pretty strongly armed.
During one of these recitals he, laugh
ing at his own stories and seemingly
very merry, again stopped before tn,
mirror, and said to his servant, "WheI
was at such and such place, my fel
low-traveler and / were standing befor
door, as / may be now before this look
ing-glass, when I fred off my pistol
thus, and he did the same" and suitinI
the action to the word, he actually fire,
at the large glass, which came rattlin
down, shivered to atoms at his feet, tn
great chasm revealing five men, two Q
whom his balls had killed; the servan
instantly fred, and two more fell, leay
ing one unhurt.
They were so taken by surprise at thi
unexpected attack and discovery, tha
they had no time to retreat. The n
manning man, seeing pistols in the hand
of master and servant, stood terrified
the traveller ordered him to come out {
his hiding-place; he did SO, and, at tb
command given, laid down his weapon
on the table.
The Russian gentleman took up ons
, and his servant the other. and, pointin
them at the mans breast, told him thi
now he was at their mercy, SO he col
fessed that the house was resort
: banditti, and that the clergyman of Il
parish was in league with them, and IL
; signal given to him that assistance w
II wanted was sending for sheets, when ]
invariably SEP. rufians who feart
:, nothing. Ee told him that they mu
+ dered all who fell into their hands, 8
carriages were burnt, and the bodies
s the victims we're buried i'll great pit.
), Search was made for these bodies, al
d the truth discovered. The suryiyil
! robber, with the other inhabitants
the inn, were taken to Florence, al
condemned.