Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1877-02-15

| house.
AS they left the barn he heard
the landlord whisper to one OF his
confederates,-
The Jobs up, Jem-we'd better
let the old man alone,
Once more entering the room, Mr..
Spencer threw himself upon the bed,
and awaited the return Of his brave
daughter.
God bless her and bring her back
in safety, be murmured.
Meanwhile all grew still, and the
hours rolled by. The fire had been
raked up and cracked merrily. The
eyes were not looking from the bust !;
they had evidently disappeared for
the night.
AT last, after what seemed an age
to the anxious watcher, he heard a
loud knock on the front entrance,
and five minutes atterwar1 heard the
landlord stumt le to the door. Then
followed a confused umble Of curses
and struggles, then rush Of many
feet up the long hail and stairway.
The next minute the door was
thrown open and his daughter rushed
IL, followed ~ the officers, who
dragged in the landlord aud his con-
tederdtes.
oh, tather!' she cried, 'you are
safe, safe : and throwing her arms
around his neck the brave girl burst
into happy tears.
The sheriff ahd his posse of men
held The landlord and his confeder-
ates in q vicelille grasp, while Car
rie related the adventures of her per-
ilouS ride.
After | LIFT the barn led Tommy
to fence, all nnsaddled, sprang on
him, wonud my arms tightly around
his neck, and whispered, GO, Tom
my = and away lle went like the wind.
Uv and down, over the frozen road
we went !. Ny arms felt like ice
| thought | should certainly freeze,
and after what seemed to be an age
of cold and pain, and misery, we
dashed into the main street Of $.
AS we came up in front Of the tavern
tue stage drove up, an the inmates
sprang out and rusI ed to my assist
ance. | must have been almost insen-
siblc, for | had to be carried in by
the landlord. was given warm
drinks until | fully recovered, and
vas able to relate my story. | told
them my suspicious and my fears,
and this gentleman here Carrie
paused, and turning to u fine looking
man near her, said, Mr.. James, by
his ready belief in what | told, and
his energy and spirit in arouSing the
sheriff and his men, has been the
main cause il bringing assistance.
Mr.. Spencer grAspel the young
man hand, and thanked him
Your plan succeeded admirably,
Carrie, he said and advancing to
the wash sCand, he took out the mon
ey-belt, saying, my money is all right
as you see.
The landload quivered with rage
as he saw how completely he had
been defeated.
As the men began to search the
room, the landlord protested his inno-
cence, declaring that they had no
right to hold him or his men prison
ers. or to search the house.
Breaking open t.! g door, above
which was tie bust, the men rushed
in. The room was empty, save for
long ladder, which reached a shelf
above the door A hole above the
shelf disclosed the bust to be broken
in half, so that a man could easily
climb up the ladder, get on the shelf
thrust his head in the bust, which
was large enough for an ordinary
mans head, and see all that was 60
ing on in the adjoining room.
Tbs certainly looked very suspi.
cious, but absolute proof was yet
wanting. On returning to the room
occupied by Mr.. Spencer, they again
searched every nook and corner
Suddenly, Carrie and Mr. James, who
mad been standing by the fireplace,
gave loud cry, for on clole examl-
nation they had found spots of blood
on the bricks which formed the
hearth.
They began to pull up the bricks,
which proved loose, when Carrie,
feeling faint, gave way to the sheriff
and his men, who soon had them all
pulled up. when cavity was dis
closed, containing the murdered body
of gentleman whom Mr.. James and
the Sheriff remembered stopped at
S-three days before.
The evidence was conclusive. The
landlord and his confederates were
we'll guarded through the night, and
the next day they were all lodged in
Jail, where in due time they were
sentenced and suffered the extreme
penalty Of the law.
A Wisconsin couple named their
sixth boy "enough.
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