The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-08-18

SomerS, i said for my LIE i
couldn't have called him Mr.. Somers-
81 know that you have trapped me here
for the purpose of revenging yourself
upon me; but remember, sir, that / have
friendsl Remember law and justicep
81 fear nothing" he answered. az
defy man and God! Revenge on you is
dearer to me than life; and though for
me the bottomless pit were yawning, /
would have it,"
| saw it was useless to appeal to this
man, and | sullenly waited for what
seemed fate.
At his command the ruffians searched
me. One of them, who appeared to be a
kind of treasurer for the gang, secured
my watch and pocket-book. Then they
tied me with stout ropes to chair.
Somers did not address me again, but
sat upon the floor and gambled with the
rest. Presently he rose, and saying he
would return by daybreak, left the room.
He evidently felt | was in his power,
and seemed in no hurry to complete his
revenge.
When he had gone the card playing
was kept up for a couple of hours.
Then they all stretched themselves upon
the floor and slept. The door opened
inward, and across it was the burly form
of the treasurer. In spite Of the appar-
ent hopelessness of the trial, set about
devising some plan of escape.
The first thing to do was to free my
self. | have large wrists and small
hands. In tying me they had not taken
this into consideration. Without much
difficulty / liberated my hands; then, of
course, it was the work of but tew
seconds to entirely free myself from my
bonds
Taking the precaution to place the
ropes in such position that, should any
of the gang waken, | would still appear
to be bound, | thought upon my chances
of escape. They certainly appeared
very few and small The fact of the
men upon the floor being asleep, seemed
little in my favor. | could not move
the rufian who was sleeping at the door
without waking him. As | have before
stated, escape by the window was inn
possible. Every plan that suggested it
self had insurmountable objections toit.
| had almost given up scheming in
despair, and concluded to adopt some
hopelessly desperate measure, when /
L
had in my pocket.
In searching me, the Iuffians had not
disturbed it, thinking it of no impor-
lance. 1t contained chloroform |,
also, had sponge in my pocket. In
moment | had resolved what to do.
Drawing the bottle from my pocket, |
soaked the sponge thoroughly with its
contents
Slowly, painfully Ct could hear my
heart beat), with all the caution that
man uses when his life may depend on
the slightest noise, | stepped to the side
of the nearest ruflian.
| placed the saturated sponge to his
nose. saw him quickly yield to the
influence of the vapor From man to
man stepped. One by one they were
made senseless, helpless.
The man at the door was the last.
drew him away, first securing my watch
and pocket-book. | also found in his
possession blackjack, which took the
liberty of appropriating. Then, open
ing the door, | stepped out into the hall
| still moved cautiously, feeling that
all danger was not past. thought there
might be watcher there, but, to my
relief, | saw no one. | descended the
first flight of stairs, and reached the sec
ond story in safety.
| had gone about halfway down the
second fight. My heart stood still, for
| heard some one enter below, then, in
the muttered oath, recognized Somers's
voice. crouched down upon the stair
next the wall, hoping he might pass me.
But as he came up, his hand brushed my
face
In moment he had me by the throat.
| knew him to be by far the more pow
erful man, and it was not time for
scruples. Quickly, it being so dark he
could not see the action, / raised the
blackjack had held it since / left the
room-and brought it down heavily
upon his skull.
His hand left my throat, and, life
less mass, he rolled down the stairs.
found him at the foot, quite still. l
made good my escape, not stopping to
see if | had killed him. / do not know
to this day whether he is living or dead
| never saw nor heard of him again.
When / arrived home l found very
frightened little woman, but / did not
tell her till long afterward the history of
that night. have never since been in
such fix, and if discretion and reason
able supply of cowardice can prevent it,
never will be in the future.