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

la the early Autumn Of the year
lo49, about bali al hour of sunset, |
drew rein in frout Of large double
log house, on the very summit of the
Blue Ridge mountains in Eastern
Kentucky.
The place was evidently kept as q
tavern, al least 50 a sign proclaimed,
and here | determined TO demand sc-
commodation tor myself aud servant
Bose, a dark-skinned body-gusrd.
Bose aud | bad been playmates in
child aud boyhood, aud need hardly
say that the faithful fellow was az
tached to me as | was TO him, and on
more than one occasion he had shown
his devotion.
There had been a shooting match
at the Mountain House that day, and
as | dismoun:ed, saw through the
open window Of the bar-roOm a noisy
drunken, and evidently q quarrel
some set of bsckwoodsmen, each Of
whom was swearing by all possible
and impossible oatbs that he Was not
onlv the best shot, buL that be could
out fight, out jump, out wrestle, run
faster, jump higher, dive deeper and
come up dryer thaa any other man
on the mountains.
81 say, Ma Ralph" said Bose, in
low tone, as | handed him my bri-
die rein, Il dome like de looks ob den
dere. S'pose We gees on &c de next
house, 'tGint fur
Nonsense, Bose" | replied
these are only on little spree over
their shooting. We have nothing to
do with them nor they with US. Take
The horses round to the stable and
see to them yourself You know they
have had hard day of IT,"
And throwing my saddle bags over
my shoulders, walked up the mar
row path to the house.
| found, as | have intimated, the
bar-room filed with noisy, turbu-
lent crowd, who one and all stared
at me without speaking as / went up
to the bar and inquired if | and my
servant could have accommodations
for the night.
Receiving an Affirmative reply
from the landlord, little red-head-d,
cadsverous looking man, l desired 10
be SHOWN to my room, whittier i
went, but not until had been CON-
PEELED to decline a score of requests
TO take a drink" much to the dis
gust of the stalwsrt bacchsnalians.
The room TO which | was shown
was at the far end Of long two-story
structure, evidently but recently ad-
ded on TO the main building, which it
at right angles. A gal
cry extended along the front, by
means of which the rooms were
found my apartment TO be large
and comparatively Well furnished,
bere being, besides the bed, Cum
ortable Cot, half dozen splinE- bot
omed chairs, heavy clothes press,
md bureau with glass.
There were two windows, one
alongside the door, and the other in
he opposite end Of the room.
TIE first mentioned window was
heavily barred with stoul oak strips,
. protection, l presumed, agaIns. ln-
rusloB from the porch, while across
he window was drawn heavy
Y oolen curtain.
la the cou-se of half an hour Bose
,Dtered aud ANNOUNCED that the hors-
IS had been properly attended 10,
Ind few minutes later orIghI-fac-
d mulalto girl summoned Us to sup
,er.
Supper over, | returned 10 my owD
oom, trst requesting. to be aroused
or al early breakfast, as | desired to
De on the road at sunrise.
thoroughly wearied from my days
irive, l At once began preparations
or retiring, aud had drawn off one
boot, when Bose came In rather hast
ly, looking furtively ever bis should
,r, aud then cautiously closing aud
ocking the door.
Mars Ralph, dsrs gwiDe to be
rouble ip dis house afore mornin'n -
he said.
And saw in moment that some
hing had occurred 10 upset the faith
,ul fellows equilibrium.
why, Bose, what is il +? What do
you mean Z" asked, barely restrain
Dg smile.
Il tole you, Mars Ralph. we'd bet
ter trabble furder," was the rather
reply. "You see dat gal
dere tole me dar would be q muss if
We stayed in dis old house ever
night"
By close questioning | elected the
fact that the girl had really warned
him that four men whom | bad no.
ticed together were desperate set of
villains, ana probably had designs
upon our property. II not our lives.
The girl bad seen two of them at
the stable while | was at supper, and
By cautiously creeping into q stall
next to the one IN which they stood,
had heard enough to convince her
That they meant mischief. Sobse-
quentiy to this she also saw the land.
lord in close c0Bfab with the entire
party, and from bis actions judged
that be was urging the men to their
nefarious work.
Il tell you, MATS Ralph, dem peo-
pie amt srier nc good now YOU
heard ne" persisted Bnse.
! bsd begun TO thipk SO myself;
bat what was to be done. The situ-
alton VAS full of embarrassment, and
felt that nothing could be done
save to wait and watch and by being
on The alert, defeat their plans by