Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1876-10-12

George OfQefeu Two miih puuCucS
r When the host had brought them
) and deposited the tray on the table
and left the room, my husband eau
tiouslv tasted and smelled the con
tents of one of the glasses.
"sThis punch contains drugs be
said; we have, indeed, got into a
murderer's den.'
'The windows were both shutter
less, and our room was not more than
ten feet from the ground. 1t was a
lovely, clear, moonlight night, and we
could see those treacherous half
breeds standing outside, gazing up
into our apartment, and looking as
fthey but waited till we were asleep,
when they would be only too ready
to assist the tavern keeper in taking
our lives.
"It's slight consolation to know
that you have your pistols with which
to defend US, if we are attacked by
these scoundrels," said /.
"Unluckily for us, as it happens, 1
placed them in my trunk yesterday
by mistake, and the trunks are down
stairs. / should have had them
brought up here, but did not wish
to do so, as 1 thought it might cause
the tavern-keeper to think that we
suspected he would rob US if be got
the opportunity.
"sOhr / cried, then we shall have
to stand still and be killed like
sheep when slaughtered by tue butch
ers. What need you to have cared
for the mans suspicious as long as
we had something to defend our
selves. Oh, George! you have acted
very rashly.'
"sMy dear Annie, we've got into
scrape, and now we must get out of
it as best we can. We must put our
trust in luck, and hope we shall es-
cape bodily harm
"'Not in luck, George, but in God
1 solemnly replied.
''Our conversation had been car
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 yon wish to have brought to
you% My husband answered in the
negative. Three hours elapsed, when
the same question was repeated.
George made no reply, but with
slender, though heavy stick of wood
in his up raised 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 l was almost crazed with
terror.
"My eyes were fastened on the
door, and husband, who statue like
stood beside it. The door had
neither lock nor bolt, so anybody
could enter the room easily. Sud-
denly perceived it move slightly,
and by degrees it opened wide
enough to permit 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 bowie
knife. He thrust in his head eau
tiously, and as he did so, my hus
band struck him a heavy blow with
his rnde weapon. The wretch with
out giving vent to cry or even a
groan, fell to the floor like dead
weight.
"'You've killed him, George I
cried, though hardly above whis-
per.
"'No, he's only stunned. just
hand me that cord lying on the ia
BILE, and I'll pinion his arms so that
he won't be able to give US any
trouble when he regains his senses
II obeyed my husbands order, and
he quickly bound the villains arms
and feet, so that it would be impossi-
BILE for him to move when he came to.
At the first sign of consciousness that
he showed, George gagged him, and
then carried him to large closet,
placed him in it, and closed the
door.
"'At daylight said George, the
teamster will be here, but few peo-
pie will be up and about, and we
shall be able to leave quietly. If
this fellow had had any accomplices
he would have brought them with
him; he has no wife, 80 the people
will not miss him until long after
they are gone. If they knew how
I've treatel him, we'd have the
whole tribe at our heels, and they
would make short work of killing us
and dividing the spoils, 1 fear. Once
out of this detestible place and we
are safe
daylight at last came, though the
time seemed long before it did, and
never before or since have l hailed
the first CLEAN of light in the eastern
horizon with greater joy. The team
ster soon made his appearance, my
husband helped him to put his
trunks on his cart, and we were
shortly driving rapidly toward Grif-
hin, which place we reached in two
days, and without meeting with any
other adventure.
$50 you see, Mr.. Williamson" she
said, in conclusion, "my life thus far
has numbered at least one thrilling
experience. l can afford to laugh at
the perils and fears of that terrible
night, but tis not likely that I shall
ever forget it or them as long as l
live"