The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1879-11-20

laDoVe appeareu 10 % lsOiatcd from
Iall other dwellings,, aud save the
croak OF the tieo frog and the hum
ot the locust not q souni reached
my ears II was q beautiful, moon.
light night, and 80 bright that I
could see to read the smallest print,
At last | began to grow weary
aud throwing myself on my pallet, I
was soon plunged into a deep slum.
ber. How long ! slept 1 know not {;
but 4 was awakened 10y u dull sounl.
which resewbled some Quo hammer.
ing in the distance. 1 suppose it
was the popularity OF the sounl
that awoke me, for it WAS by no
means loud, but conveyed to mo the
idea of somo one striking iron with
a IN uffi I'D hummer rose up fro n
my bed aud went to the win low !;
the moon was low in tho western
hoi'z)n, by which Iact know that
it must be near morning.
| put Oh my boot, the only arti.
Gle Of attire L hal discirlel, anl.
cautiously opening the door of my
chamber, nolselessly decendsd the
ricketv staircase. A. few 8 tel 3
brought mo into the lower apart
meat, which 1 found entirely desert.
cd. crept quietly to the dor, aud
unfastenlng it without making tho
slightest noise, was soon in the
moonlight.
Not soul WIS visible. bat the
sound still continued anl grew
much more distinct rs | appr).chc |
the place from whence it proceeded.
AT last found myself b,fore Il long.
low building, through the crevicas of
which ] conlI SEQ n lurid glare issu
ing, | stopped down aud peerel
through the keyhole, AMI to my ex.
treme surprise, | saw half n doz IN
strong docking meu, with coats off,
aud sleeves turned up, performing a
variety ot strauSe Occnp ttiJns. S)me
were working at a forge, others were
experimenting The casting of uoGlis
aud some were engaged in th, pro-
cess of milling coin. In y moment
the whole truth burst npon me. Here
was the gang Of cJunterieters was
i'll search of, aud the landlord and
his wife evi iently belonged to the
same bond, for iu one corner p9f.
ceivod th IN employei--the mau
polishing of some hall dollar piac9s,
, just Turned from the IN Iulls, while
the women was packing the fushe!
coin iuto rolls.
| had seen enough, anl vas a. Iut
to return to my nplrtm mt again,
when suddenly felt heavy hand
placei 0u my shoulder, AM tnruing
NV head around, to my hJrrur.
found myself in the grasp OF as ILL.
, looking u scounarei as ever escaped
the gallows.
What are you d 'iny here, my
good fellow = he ezc,aimel, in IL
grntf voice, giving mo shake.
;, fading n s.rJli by moonlight |
: replied, endeavoring to maintain my
. presence of mind
"We', perhaps you'll just take IA
strol! in here, will you = returned
tho rnililn, pushing open the door
1 aud dragging me in after him,
9 All the inmates Of the Darn i'm no
. diateiy stopped work, aud rushed
towar's us when they saw me.
"Why, what's this = they all ex-
claimed.
"a loafer 1 found peeping ont
side,' said tho man VINO cIpturel
me.
"Hes traveller that emo to the
tavern Tonight aad asked f." lody
y iugs the last tins saw him he
/ was safe in bed, IA d til, landlord
The men withdrew to a corner of
Q the apartment, leaving one to keep
. guard over me- ] soon saw that
: they were in earest consultation,
and were evidently debating some
- important question. The nlu keep
- ing guard over me said nothing, bat
Y scowled iiercsly. AT last the discus
I sion seemed to be settled, for the
Q blackest and dirtiest OF tho whole
came forward. aud, without any in-
PRODUCTION, exclaimed
Q 81 say, stranger, look here-you
aust die !"
I ] did not move amuscle, nor utter
| word.
0 "You have found out our secret,
/. and dead men tell no tales.
. was still silent.
) ave give you ten minutes to say
8 your prayers. and also allow you the
{ privilege OF saying whether you will
be banged or shot"
| Suddenly an idea struck me. !
a remembered something that might
( save my life. burst into violent
: fit OF laughter, in fact it WAS hyster-
{ ical, but they did not know that
They looked from one to the 9th
4 in the greatest an lzement.
Q SWELL, he takes it mighty cool,
i anyhow" said one,
). ~ suppose no don't think We are
v ia earnest, said another.
Q "Come, stranger, you had better
!. say your prayers said the man who
|, had FIRST spoken, slime hies.'
rl MY only reply was fit OF laughter
O more violent than the FIRST.
4 "rhs mans mad y they exclaim
{, cd.
!. "Or drunk" said some.
r. swell, boys" j cried, speaking