Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-11-12

but 1t must weigh ton. l thought, II
could not, under the nervous excite
ment that pervaded me, raise one end
OF it; and yet all the strength l could
exert availed nothing.
Further examination showed that the
legs of the bedstead were secured To the
floor by small iron sknees screwed in
solid. /
II was evidently time for .serious re-
flectlon. Why was this movable socket
and this immoyable bedstead constluct'
ed /? The first was to admit OF easy in
gress TO the room, and the second to
hold the bedstead in certain place Tor
certain and, 1 was now convinced
terrible purpose.
Removing my boots, carefully tra-
yersed the room. pressing against the
sides Of the walls in all directions. tor
some secret or sliding panel.
Failing 10 find anything of this char
acter, examined the bedstead still
more closely, removing the coverings
and even the mattresses but, aside
from the fact of its being rivlted to the
foor, there was nothing peculiar about
it.
Then my eye wandered to the ceiling
overhead, and. in the dim candle-light,
I thought I discovered two faint lines
or cracks in the wall.
Fixing char in the centre OF the
bed. enabled me 10 reach the ceiling,
and | could then see what had appeared
from the fnor 10 be small assures in the
wall were slraigh. liues running parall-
I'd to each other, about two feet apart,
and covering the entlre width OF the
bedstead. with transverse lines at each
terminus.
Bringing the candle still nearer dis
closed the fact that these lines were
formed by sharp iron edges, forming an
eblong box setting flush with the wall
and covered with white paper In i'nita-
ton OF the ceiling.
Puncluring this paper showed tie
affair to be some murderous machlue,
that could be dslodgtd from above.
and come down on the bed with sufti
Gent force to smother the occupant and
pin him down until death ensued; the
width of the missile making its action
sure. no matter upon which side ot the
bed the sleeper might be resting.
A long sleep and pleasant dreams
tc you:' In :he light Of my discoveries,
the words were ominous, indeed. 1t
was plain that l was in den OF the
most terrible character, and that, 1t re
pose was sought on that bed, the sleep
would in trath be long one.
Another struggle for life,' l said to
myself, for l well knew that, after the
machine had fallen. the assassins would
enter the door with the yielding socket,
and, finding the trick had failed, would
see the necessity of making short work
of the man who had discovered 1t.
My plan was quickly formed. First
extip gushing the lig ht, dvested my
self of all superfuous clothing, and ar
ranged the bed TO show as nearly al
possible that it contained an occupant
and then retired to corner OF the room
best suited to concealment, to await
developments.
Tie storm had not yet entirely sub
sided. and, under the circumstances
the occasional flashes of lightning lit w
the room with a. glare that made it looi
weird, spectral and unsarthly.
NV revolvers were in capital working
order. They had been my friends IN
many deadly encounter and l trusted
10 them and a genuine bowie to pul
me through.
The hours wore away slowly, AS
near as l could Judge, it must have beer
about two O'Clock in TIE morning, when
completely worn out with the fatigue o
the day and the excitement ofthe night
: nature succumbed, and 1 fell into
slight doze.
From this I was suduenly brought tC
full consciousness ty rushing sount
that sent a thrill of horror through me
Then there was dull. heavy thud or
.he he'd. and the clanking of a chain, in
dicatirg that the machine had fallen.
The silent suspense in which wal
} kept during the next ten minutes made
f them seem like so many hours; but i
could not have actually been mcre thar
ten minutes before the glimmer OF
: light through the chinke OF the doo
convinced me that the assassins were
coming to add robbery to the crime o
their supposed murder.
The spiral wire in the bolt socket
, snapped with sharp click as they press
: ed against the door, and in momen
, afterward the old man entered the room
s!ealthily. with a huge knife upraised
, and behind him came the son, carryin:
an iron sledge, and holding candle
. aloft, and both father and son gazni
! intently upon the bed.
J The survey seemed satisfactory io
the work appeared only too we'll done.
, The ola man chuckled horribly, ant
4 dropping his knife, bade the younger t.
, put down the candle and sledge, ant
aid him TO raise the box.
The position 1 had assumed beior
0 their entrance hatl served 10 place M
behind the door as they came IN, AM
e lust as the young man dropped hi
. sledge stood erect and brought bot
8 pistols 10 bear upon the williams, an
d uttered stentorian yell.
G A thuuderbolt out OF a clear sky q