Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-02-06

umped lightly out on the shed and dis

jumped lightly out on the shed and dis
Mr.. Spencer watched her for while,
then closing the window, took out a
watch, saw that it was nine o'clock, and
proceeded to work. He first covered up
the fire, blew out the light, and rolled
up blanket, with which he made a
dummy, This he placed in the bed
which his daughter was to occupy. Then
he sat down and waited-oh, how anx-
iously!
Ten, fifteen, twenty minutes went by,
and no sound came from the vicinity of
noiselessly TO the window and peeped
creeping to the washstand he laid his
money-belt in the drawer and closed it.
He then threw himself on the bed and
once more waited.
After an holr had apparently gone by,
Mr.. Spencer threw off his coat and vest,
tumbled.up the bed, hobbled to the door,
unlocked it, and stepped out into the
hall. This was eli in accordance with
Carries plan.
Landlord landlord! !" he shouted.
He then went back into the room and
noiselessly threw up the window, all the
| time shouting for the landlord,
That worthy came flying up the stairs,
and late as it was, he was still dressed.
"Oh, landlord ?" gasped Mr.. Spencer,
rushing toward him, II have been rob-
bed my money is all goneW
"GoneI" echoed the landlord in dis
may.
"Who could have stolen it, !" groaned
Mr.. Spencer. II had five thousand dol
lars in belt, and it is gone-stolen !"
The landlord lit the candle and looked
around, chagrin depicted on every fea-
ture.
"Why don't you wake your daughter,
sir?" he questioned.
Mr.. Spencer hurried to her bed.
Carrie. Carried" he called, but nc
answer came; and the landlord, drawing
near with the light, saw the dummy, and
cried
i, "Why, man, the girl isn't there!"
"What?" gasped Mr.. Spencer. "Oh
see it all The wicked girl has robbed
me while slept, and run off to meet hel
lover, from whom I was taking her,"
He ran to the window, followed by the
, landlord.
Eyes, yes, here are footprints in thu
SHOW OIL Uu0 Sucu CllGu tH6 iEuLlOA u
while Mr.. Spencer groaned. "How Ions
e do you think she has been gone, sir y
asked the landlord.
For an hour or more, the deceitfu
:, jade!" replied Mr.. Spencer.
"Then there's no use to look for her
SIR" said the landlord.
ooh, but l must!" cried Mr.. Spencer
as he began to descend the stairway, fol
lowed by the landlord, who had belieE
ed every word Mr.. Spencer said.
J They proceeded to the barn, followed
by the landlords confederates. The.
found her horse gone, and her mode O
=, flight was easily explained.
"You may as well give her up, sir,
q said the landlord, consolingly.
II suppose may" groaned Mr.. Spen
Ger, and they turned to the house.
As they left the barn he heard tn
d landlord whisper to one Of his confede1
l. ates-
t 1.-THE jobs up, Jem-we'd better lie
= the cid man alone"
e Once more entering the room, MI
: Spencer threw ilinaselfupon the bed, an
b awaited the return of his brave daugh
/. ter.
5. "God blessed her and bring her bacl
e in safety" he murmured.
it Meanwhilea sill grew still, and the hour
= rolled by. The fire had been raked u
e and cracked on merrily. The eyes wer
not looking from the bust they had eyi
a IDENTIFY disappeared for the night.
e At last, after what seemed an age
s the anxious watcher, he heard lou
/, knock on the front entrance, and fiv
e minutes afterward heard the landlor
@ stumble to the door. Then followed
b confused tumble of curses and struggles
then rush of many feet up the lon;
: hall and stairway.
t The next minute the door was throw
open and his daughter rushed in, follow
d ed by the officers, who dragged in iii
# landlord and his confederates.
: "Oh, father" she cried, ''you are safe
d safen' and throwing her arms aroun
u his neck the brave girl burst into happ
e tears.
j. The sheriff and his posse of men bel
the landlord and his confederate in .
h vice-like grasp, while Carrie related th
d adventure of her perilous ride.
II AFTER l left the barn | led Tommy
Ie a fence, all unsaddled, sprang on hin
g wound my arms tightly around his necE
5. and whispered, "Go, Tommy!" an
a away he went like the wind. Up an
ID down, over the frozen road we went!-
2, My arms felt like ice. thought I shout
D. certainly freeze, and after what SCENE
W to be an age Of cold and pain, and misery
l. we dashed into the main street of s.
AS we came up in front fthe tavern til
re stage drove up, and the inmates spran
,e out and rushed to my assistance I mus
e. have been almost insensible, for T ha
t, to be carried in by the landlord. [ wa
given warm drinks until fully recover
q ed, and was able to relate my story
lie told them my suspicious end nay fears
" and this gentleman''-here Carrie paus
y near her, said, "Mr. James, by his read
}, belief in what I told, and his energy an
d spirit in arousing the sheriff and hi
n men, has been the main cause in bring
Y ing assistance"
Y Mr.. Spencer grasped the young man
hand, and thanked him.
Is "Your plan succeeded admirably, Cal
e rie," he said and advancing to the wash
II stand, he took out the money belt, say
ing, ''my money is all right as you see
It The landlord quivered with rage as b
e saw how completely he had been dc
e feated.
AS the men began to search the room
y the landlord protested his innocence, dc
r. claring that they had no right to hol
him or his men prisoners, or to searcl
g, the house.
n Breaking open the door, above wbic
d was the bust, the men rushed in TIL
room was empty, save for a long ladder
o which reached shelf above the door,
J. 4 hole above the shelf disclosed the bus
i to be broken in half, so that man coul
easily climb up the ladder, get on th
e shelf, thrust his head in the bust, whicl
a was large enough for an ordinary man
o head, and see ali that was going On il
the adjoining room.
II This certainly looked suspicious, bu
e absolute proof was yet wanting. On re
turning to the room occupied by MI
e Spencer, they again searched every nool
# and corner. Suddenly, Carrie and Mr.
Jo,r,ac ,uIo hSJ boo,, IL,