Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-18

1 = n
tents on the floor. The old woman
ra1m5!ed out something which did no
understand, and then rose to fill my cul
again. Apologizing for my awkward
ness. said would prefer glass o
cold water, as I seldom drank tea so lat'
! at night.
This did not seem to please her, but
abe brought it thinking, suppose that
had drank enough of the tea to serve
their purpo se. l soon finished my sup
per, and, after warming myself few
minutes by the fire, l expressed wish to
retire.
Taking a candle the old woman beck
oned me to follow her. She led the way
| up steep fight of narrow stairs, through
long passage, and, throwing open the
door of small room, handedlme the can.
die, and motioned mein.
Taking it passed into the chamber,
and deposited it ON the window sill. As
did so, it was nearly extinguished by q
gust of wind. l removed it to chair,
which was the only piece of furniture thu
room contained beside the bed, and then
commenced an examination of my room
"Goine to the door, l found it locked
on the outside as l had expected, but
without fastening of any kind inside
Determined that no one should enter
without giving warning, approached
the bed with the intention of moving it
against the door; but to my surprise,
found it firmly fastened to the floor.
Still resolving on fastening OF some
kind, I took my knife,and splitting of a
piece of the window-sill, succeeded, after
considerable difficulty. in wedging the
door in such wav that it could not be
opened from the outside without some
trouble and noise.
Returning to the bed, was about
throwing myself on the outside without
removing my clothes, when my eyes were
attracted by large, dark stain on the
floor near my feet. Taking the candle
from the chair to make clearer examin
alton, tha light suddenly went out, leav-
ing me in total darkness. But had seeb
enough to satisfy me as to the ntau-c OF
the stainl
Il searched my pockets the hope of
finding a match, but was unsuccessful
As there was nothing more could do. /
placed my revolver beneath the pillow.
and threw myself on the bed, hoping to
get little rest, but resolving on no ac-
count to allow myself to 60 TO sleep. l
was soon obliged to get beneath the Gov
ers on account of the cold.
IL think must have lain there about
an hour, and in spite of all my resolutions
10 the contrary, must have been very near
-dreamland, when l heard some one try
my door. They tried itseverai times, but
as it did not give way, they left it, ana
heard the heavy shuttle Of feet down the
passage towards the stairs.
II sat up in bed a long time expecting
to hear them return. But after listening
some time and hearing nothing, con
cluded they had given it up, and lay down
again. Again | felt myself growing
drowsy, and tried to shake it off. don't
know whether succeeded or not, but l
was suddenly brought to my senses by
feeling myself sinking.
"Horrors
81 pinched myself to make sure that ]
was not dreaming. Yes, I was awake
and slowly but surely going down; not
myself alone, but the bed and that part
of their floor on which it stood!
Throwing my left arm over the sad
die bags winch had placed on the bed
on entering the room. l drew LILY revolver
from beneath the pillow with the right,
and cooking it, thrust it beneath the bed
clothing in such a way as to completely
conceal it. Then ] remained perfectly
still and waited. ..s .-
" / did not have long to wait. Soon |
saw faint light, and in minute more ]
was lowered into deep cellar or vault,
and the floor on which The Ded stood
struck the ground. On my right stood
the landlord holding knife. On nv
left was jake, the hostler, with dark
lantern in one hand and a knife in the
other.
"' He is asleep heard the landlord
say, in hoarse whisper; and then he
continued. speaking to Jake: you take
the bags from under his arm, and it he
moves I1l-"
" But he never flashed the sentance in
this world, for, as quick as flash, | jelk-
ed my ann from beneath the clothing an
fired full in his face.
With deep groan he fell to the
ground, dead. At the same time Jake
let fall the lantern. which was insanity
distinguished, and commenced retreat
toward the futher end of the cellar.
81 fired twice in that direction without
eff ct, but the third shot, as he was
mounting the stair, must have gone home,
if one could Judge from the groan he
gave. But he continued to ascend, cal
ling to the old woman to open the door.
Z 4 S~f
the room above, the door was shut, and
I was left alone with the dead landlord
and my thought, witch I ASSURE you
were not the best of company
AFTER listening some time for further
sounds from above, sat down on tho bed
to wait Cor daylight. which L thought
could not be a great way off.
''After waiting some little time, it oc-
CURED to me that there might be no win
dow in the cellar, and that 1 should not
know when it was light.
DETERMINING to find out, arose from
the bed, and, cropping my way to the wall
commenced an examination with my
hands. / had passed around two sides
and had got about midway of the third
when my hands came in contact witt
something that fe like glass.
"By further examination found tina
had not been miscaken-that there wa
a narrow sash containing three small
panes. The sash was just above my head
Rising myself | tried to peer out; but
might as well have tried to lo' k through
the solid wall, for everything was o
Egyptian darkness. and the only way tina
could tell where the glass was at all wa
by feeling. 1t occurred to me that tn
window might be boarded or banked u
on the outside. There was nothing els
for me To do hnt To find nv wau hack I