The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-11-12

Then for the other window.
1 | crossed the room, drew aside th
heavy curtain. and raising The sas
locked out.
I A single glance was sufficient t,
cause me shrill of surprise, aud
gave a low exclamation that instant
iY brought Bose to my side.
Far below / could see the fain
glimmer OF water, the low murnu
of which came indis,inctly I'D irol
the depths, while on a level wit
what should have been the ground,
dimly saw the waving Tree tops q
they gently swayed before the iresI
night breeze. aud knew that the win
dow overlooked q chasm, the sur
roundings Of which | could onl,
guess OF.
Ia other words, the house, or tha
portion of it, was built upon the very
verge OF the elf, the soil rock form.
ing foundation more lasting thar
sGy that could have been made b,
The hands of-man | leaned far out
aud saw that there was not an incl
Of space left between the heavy log
on which the Structure rested anC
the edge of the precipice; and then
turned away with the full conviction
that If escape must be made, it Ger.
tainly would not be made 10 that di
reclion. There was nothing especi
ally strange in this; there are many
houses so cons,rucsed-I had seen
one or two myseif-and yet when /
drew back into the room and saw the
look i'll Bose's face. felt that danger
quick aad deadly was lowering IN the
air
Without speaking | went to my
saddiebsgs and got out my pistols
a superb pair of long double rifles,
that knew to be accurate any here
under half hundred wards.
"Dar ! denis what l like to see ~
exclaimed Bose, as be dived down in
10 his bags and flashed out an old
horse pistol that had belonged to any
grandfather, and which l knew was
loaded to the muzzle with No.
buek5hot II was terrible weapon
st close quarters.
TIE stable in which our horses
were feeding could be WATCHED, and
by events transpiring ia that locality
We would shape our actions | found
that the door could be locked from
tha inside, and in addition to this,
improvised bar fy means of chair
leg wrenehed off 4pd thrust through
a heavy iron sta, e that had been
driven in the WALL It's fellow on the
opposite side was kissing.
We then lifted Me clothes press
before the window leaving just room
eaough on Que sid4 to clearly see,
and, If necessary, fe through drag
ged the bureau agatlst the door with
as little noise a. p&sssble. and felt
that everything that was possible bad
been done.
A desthlike stillness reigned over
the place, broken only once by the
voice of the colored girl singing ss
she crossed the stable yard.
j had fallen into a half doze, seat
ed 10 chair near the window facing
the stable, where Bose was on
watch, when suddenly l felt slight
touch upon nv arm. and the voice of
The faithful sentinel in my ear
Wake up, Mars Ralph; dey's
foolin' bout de stable doo' arter de
hosses, shuah," brought me wide
awake TO my feet.
Cautiously peeping oui, / saw at a
glance that Bose was right in his
coDjecture-tbere were two of them
.one standing out in the clear moon-
light, evidently watching my win
dow, while the other-and fancied
j. was the lsndlord-was in the shsd-
ow near the door, which at that mo-
ment slowly swung open.
As the man disappeared within the
building. low, keen whistle cut the
sir, and at the same instant | heard
The knob Of my door cautiously tried
A low hiss from Bose brought me
20 his side from the door where | had
been listening.
"Dey's got de bosses ou, in de
yard" be whispered, as be dres y
aside TO let me look out through the
broken pane.
Take the door" l said, "and fire
through if tHey attack l am going
to shoot that fellow holding the hors-
es.r
"Lordy, Mars Ralph, it's de tav-
ern keeper. He ain't no 'couut
Drop the big map " was the sensi-
bic advice, which | determined to-
adopt
Noiselessly drawing aside the cur
tain | rested the muzzle Of my pistol
On the sash where the glass had been
broken away, and drew a bead upon
the taller of the two men who stood
the horses out in the bright
u moonlight.
The sharp crack of the weapon was
instantly followed by yell of pain,
and | saw the ruffian reel backward,
and measure bis length upon the
earth, and then from the main build
ing there rang out:
Murder Murder |. Oh, help ~
Like lightning it flashed across my
mind There were three horses out
in the open lot f! There was, then,
another traveller besides ourselves.
A heavy blow descended upon the
door. and voice roared:
Quick Burst the Internal thing
open, aud let me get at him The
has killed Dave r'
Let them have it Bose,"I whis-
psFed, rapidly relosding my pistol.
The second panel"
With steady hand the plucky fel-
low leveled the huge weapon and
drew the trigger.
A deafening report followed, and
again sbrill cry of mortal anguish
told them the shot had not been
wasted
'Sabe US, how it do kick. exclaimed
Bose under bis breath.
The blow had fallen like an ucex-
peeted thunderbolI upon the bandits,
and q moment later We heard their
retrea,ing footsteps down the cor
ridor.