The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-04-02


the night.
Receiving an affirmative reply from
the landlord, little, red-headed, cadav-
erous-looking specimen of the clay
eater" desired to be shown at once to
my room, whittier went, but not until
had been compelled to decline score
of requests to F" take drink" much to
the disgust of the stalwart bacchana-
lians.
The room to which was shown was
structure, evidently but recently added
on to the main building, which 1t inter
sected at right angles. A gallery ex-
tended along the front, by means of
which the rooms were reached. / found
my apartment to be large and compara-
lively well furnished there being besides
the bed comfortable cot, half dozen
split-bottomed chairs, heavy clothes
press, and bureau with glass There
were two windows, one alongside the
door, and the other in the opposite end
of the room. The first mentioned was
heavily barred with stout oak strips,
protection, presume, against intrusion
from the porch, while across the latter
was drawn heavy woollen curtain.
In the course of half an hour Bose en-
tered, and announced that the beasts had
been properly attended to, and few
minutes later a brightfaced mulatto girl
summoned US to supper.
Supper over, returned to my room,
first requesting to be reused for an early
breakfast, as desired to be on the road
by sunrise. Thoroughly wearied with
my days ride, / at once began prepara-
tions for retiring, and had drawn off one
boot, when Bose came in rather hastily,
looking furtively over his shoulder, and
then cautiously closing and locking the
door.
Mars Ralph, dar's gwine to be
trouble in dis house afore mornin'," he
said.
And saw in a moment that some
thing had occurred to upset the faithful
fellows equilibrium.
"Why, Bose, what is it What do
you mean !''' asked, barely restraining
a smile.
tole you, Mars Ralph, we'd better
trabble furder,' was the rather mystic
rious reply. " You see dat yaller gal
der tole me dar would be muss if we
stayed in the founded ole house all
night"
By close questioning elected the fact
that the girl had really warned him that
four men, who had noticed talking to-
gether, were desperate set of villains,
and probably had designs upon our prop
erty, if not our lives.
The girl had seen two of them at the
stable while was at supper, and by
cautiously creeping into a stall had heard
enough to convice her that they meant
mischief. Subsequently to this, she also
saw the landlord in close confab with
the entire party, and from his actions
judged that he was urging the men to
their nefarious work.
6 / tell you, Mars Ralph, dem white
trash ain n'tarter no good-now you heard
me-" persisted Bose.
/ had begun to think so myself, but
what was to be donel The situation
was full of embarrassment, and felt
that nothing could be done save to wait
and watch, and being on the alert, defeat
their plans by a determined resistance.
l found that from the barred window,
in which there was broken pane of
| glass, good view of the stable could be
had. Then for the other window. l
crossed the room, drew aside the heavy
curtain, and raising the sash, looked
out. A single glance was sufficient to
cause me thrill of surprise and l gave a
low exclamation that instantly brought
Bose to my side.
Far below could see the faint glim.
mer of water, the low murmur of which
came indistinctly up from the depths,
while, on level with what should have
been the ground, dimly saw the wav.
ing tree-tops, as they gently swayed De-
fore the fresh night breeze, and knew
that the window overlooked chasm
the soundings of which I could only
guess at.
In other words, the house, or that por
ton of it, was built upon the verge of 1
cliff, the solid rock forming founda
ton more lasting than any that could b'
made by the hands of man.
/ leaned far out, and saw that there
was not an inch of space left between