Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-01-22

before the hour of retiring, the door
bell rang, and shortly afterwarI man
entered the room where We were sit
ting. He was not prepOssessing. His
hair was short and thick, and the ge-
neral east of his features villanous. A
gentleman, has broken his leg. |
thought it a pity that, if he was any
thing like the messenger, he had not
broken his neck. did not tell my wife
where | was going; it was in a distant
part of the town, and in anything but
a respectable neighborhood. did not
wish TO make her nervous.
My guide led me up two flights of
very dirty and rickety stairs, that crea-
ked objections to our weight npon
them. In the third story We stopped
before a door, which to my surprise,
my companion opened with key
which he took from his pocket. Was
he afraid that the man would escape?
was still more surprised, when, on
entering the room, 1 found it empty.
He mOtioned me To chair, and, re-
marking, that he would soon return,
left the room. For the first time was
somewhat nervous and suspicious. The
empty ro0m-tne last action of my
guide-his carelessncss on our way as
to the health of the supposed Injured
man-the lonely house and neighbor-
hood-all combined to make me sus-
pect foul play. | stepped TO the door,
only to find it locked from outsiie-tO
the window, only to find escape impos-
sible there. 1t was many feet from
the ground. Ny suspicious were now
certainties. | was trapped. None of
my friends, not even my wife, knew
where | was. | might be murdered in
this den, and my death remain mis-
terry.
suppose | waited about an hour be-
fore | heard the key turn in the door.
And then, to my dismsy, half-lozen
men came in. When nature made the
jail-bird that led me into this trap, she
did not break her mould. These gent
lemen were of the same pattern. All
of them wore the same hang-dog look.
One of them raised the light i'm the
room which had been burning low.
With hardly glance at me, they took
seats upon the flOor and began TO play
cards.
Soon the door opened, and another
man entered. | had no hope as |
looked at him, for | saw the eXulting
face of my enemy. Dick SOmers.
At glance he saw that knew him.
With a malicious leer he stepped for
ward, and, quoting his own words OF
two years before, said:
You have ruined my love and my
life. Remember then, and fear me-"
saw III this face at once Showing
his revenge and desperation) that no
thing could turn him aside from his
purpose.
''Somcrs - | said-for my life | could
not have called him Somers-" know
that you have trapped me here for the
purpose of revenging yourself upon
me; but remember, sir, that | have
friends. Remember law and Justice"
Il fear nothing" he answered. IL
defy man and God. Revenge on you
is dearar to me than life; and, though
for me the bottomless pit were yaw-
ming, l would have it,"
saw it was useless TO appeal to this
man, and | sullenly waited for what
seemed fate. At his command the ruff
fans searched me. One OF them, who
appeard TO be kind of treasurer for
the gang, secured my watch and pocket
book. Then they tied me with ropes
to a chair. Somers did not address me
again, but sat upon the floor and gam
bled with the rest. Presently he arose,
and, saying he would return by day
break, left the room. He evidently felt
that l was in his power, and seemed in
no hurry TO complete his revenge.
After Somers had gone the car',-play-
ing was kept up a couple of hours.
Then theyall stretche themselves upon
the floor and slept. The door opened
inward, and across Il was the burly
from of the treasurer. In spite Of the
apparent hopelessness of The trial, set
about devlsing some plan of escape.
Tho first thing re do was to free myself.
| have large wrists aud small hands.
In tying me they did not take this into
consideration. without much difficult
ty | liberated my hands; then, Of
course. it was but the work of a few
seconds to free myself from my bonds,
taking the precautiOn TO place the ropes
in such position that, should any Of
the gang waken, | world still appear
to be bound.