The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-09-12
TaE ROBBERS OF THE BLUE RIDGE.

TaE ROBBERS OF THE BLUE RIDGE.
In the early autumn of the year 1889,
about half an hour of sunset, drew
rein in front of large double log house,
on the very summit of the Blue Ringe
mountains of Eastern Kentucky.
The place was evidently kept as tav-
ern, at least so a sign proclaimed, and
here determined to demand accommc-
dations for myself and servant Bose, a
dark skinned body guard. Bose and
had been playmates in childhood and
boyhood, and need hardly say that the
faithful fellow was attached to me as L
was to him, and on more than one occa-
sion he had shown his devotion.
There had been shooting match at
the Mountain House that day, and, as
dismounted, I saw through the open win
dow of the bar room noisy, drunken,
and evidently a quarrelsome set OF back
woodsmen, each of whom was swearing
by all possible and impossible oaths that
he was not only the best shot, but that
he could Outright, out-jump, and out
wrestle, run faster, jump higher, dive
deeper and come up dryer than any
s.I say, Mars Ralph" said Bose, in
low tone, as I handed him my bride
rein, ST don't like the looks of dem in
dar. S'pose we goes up to the next
house; tain't fur
Nonsense, Bose" I replied; 'sthese
fellows 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 stables and see to
them yourself. You know they've had
hard day of it."
And throwing my saddle-bags over my
shoulders, I walked up the narrow path
to the house.
1 found, as I have intimated, the bar
room filed with a noisy, turbulent
crowd, who one and all stared at me
without speaking as I went mp to the bar
and inquired if I and my servant could
have accommodations for the night.
Receiving an affirmative reply from
the landlord, little, red headed, cadav-
erous looking specimen of the "clay-
eater" desired to be at once shown to
myroom, whittier I went, but not until I
had been compelled to decline a score of
requests to s'take drink, much to the
disgust of the stalwart bacchanalians.
The room in which I was shown was at
the far end of long two-story structure,
evidently but recently added on to the
main building, which was intersected at
right angles A gallery extended along
the front, by means of which the rooms
were reached.
I found my apartment to be large and
comparatively well furnished, there be-
ing, besides the bed, comfortable cot,
half dozen "splint bottomed" chairs, a
heavy clothes press, and bureau with
glass.
There were two windows, one along
side the door, and tie other in the oppo-
site end of the room.
The first mentioned door was heavily
barred, with stout oak strips, a protec-
ton, presume, against intrusion from
the porch, while across the latter door
was drawn heavy woolen curtain.
In the course of half an hour Bose
entered and announced that the horses
had been properly attended to, and a few
minutes later a bright faced mulatto girl
summoned us to supper.
Supper over, / returned to my room,
first requesting to be aroused for an
early breakfast, as desired to be on the
road by sunrise.
Thoroughly wearied with my days
ride, at once began preparations for re-
firing, and had drawn off one boot, when
Bose came in rather hastily, looking fur
lively over his shoulder, and then eau
tiously closing and locking the door.
"Mars Ralph, dars gwine to be trou-
BILE in dis house afore morning." he said.
And saw in moment that something
had occurred to upset the faithful fell
lows equilibrium.
"Why, Bose, what is it? What do you
mean?" asked, barely restraining
smile
81 tole you, Mars Ralph, we'd better
trabbel furder," was the rather mysteri-
GUS reply.
''You see that yellar gal dere tole me
dar would be mhss If we staid in this
founded house all night"
By close questioning elected the fact
that the girl had really warned him that
four men whom I had noticed together
were desperate set of villains, and
probably had designs upon our prop
erty, if not our lives.
The girl had seen two of them at the
stable while I was at supper, and by
cautiously creeping into stall, next the
one in which they stood, had heard
enough to convince her that they meant
mischief. Subsequently to this, she
also saw the landlord in close confab
with the entire party, and from his ac-
tions judged that he was urging the men
to their nefarious work.
''I tell you, Mars Ralph, dem white
trash amt arter no good-now yon hear
me-" persisted Bose.
I had begun to think SO myself, but
what was to be done? The situation was
full of mbarrassment, and I felt that
nothing could be done save to wait and
watch, and, by being on the alert, defeat
their plans by determined resistance.
found that from the barred window,
in which there was broken pane of
glass, good view of the stat les could |
be had
Then the other window.
I crossed the room, drew aside the |
heavy curtain, and, raising the sash,
looked out
A single glance was sufficient to cause
me thrill of surprise, and gave low
exclamation that Instantly brought Bose
to my side.
Far below could see the faint glim-
mer of water, the low murmer of which
came indistinctly up from the depths,
while on level with what should have
been the ground, I dimly saw the waving
tree-tops, as they gently swayed before
the fresh night breeze, and knew that
the window overlooked chasm, the
soundings of which I could only guess at.
In other words, the house, or that por-