Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-11-05

W0Ic ucepoIato SOU VI NllIIduS, auu
probably had designs upon our property,
not our lives.
The girl had seen two of them at the
stable while | 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 actions
Judged that he was urging the men to
their nefarious work.
"I tell you, Mars Ralph, dem white
trash amt arter no good-now you heard
me-" persisted Bose.
I had begun to think 80 myself, but
what was to be done. The situation was
full of embarrassment, and l 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 stables could be
had. u
Then for 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 I could see the faint glim-
mer of water, the low murmur Of which
came indistinctly up from the depths,
while on a level with what should have
been the ground, / dimly saw the wav-
ing tree tops, as they gently swayed
before the fresh night breeze, and knew
that the window overlooked chasm, the
soundings of which Icould only guess at
In other words, the house, or that por
ton of it, was built upon the very verge
of the cliff, the solid rock forming q
foundation more lasting than any that
could be made by the hands of men.
leaned far out, and saw that there
was not an inch of space left between
the heavy log on which the structure
rested and the edge of the precipice !;
and then / turned away with the full
conviction that if necessary escape must
be made in that direction. There was
nothing especially strange in this; there
were many houses SO constructed-I had
seen one or two myself-and yet when /
drew back into the room and saw the
look in Bosses dusky face, l felt that
danger, quick and deadly, was lowering
in the air.
Without speaking I went to my saddle
bags and got out my pistols---a superb
pair of long and double rifes, that /
knew to be accurate anywhere under
half hundred yards.
SDort Aouo,v hot Tho IN GOO ~ ov
claimed Bose, as he dived down into his
bag and ished an old horse pistol that
had belonged to my grandfather, and
which [ knew was loaded to the muzzle
with No. buck-shot. It was terrible
weapon at close quarters.
The stables in which our horses were
feeding could be watched, and by events
transporting in that locality we would
shape our actions. [ found the door
could be locked from the inside, and in
addition to this, improvised bar by
means of a chair leg wrenched off and
thrust through heavy iron staple that
had been driven into the wall. Its fell
low on the opposite side was missing.
We then lifted the clothes press before
the window, leaving just room enough
on one side to clearly see, and, if neces-
sary, fire through; dragged the bureau
against the door with as little noise as
possible, and felt that everything that
was possible had been done.
A deathlike stiffness reigned over the
place, broken only once by the voice of
the colored girl singing as she crossed
the stable yard.
| had fallen into a half doze, seated
oh IL, E., Al
stables, where Bose was IN the watch,
when suddenly | felt slight touch upon
my arm and the voice of the faithful
sentinel in my ear.
"Wake up, Mars Ralph; dey's foolin'
bout the stable doc arter de horses,
shuah," brought me wide awake to my
| feet.
Cautiously peeping out, saw at q
glance that Bose was right in his conjec-
ture-there were two of them -one
standing out in the clear moonlight, ev-
identity watching my window, while the
other-and [ fancied it was the landlord
was in the shadow near the door, which
at that moment slowly swung open.
As the man disappeared within the
building, low, keen whistle cut the
knob of my door cautiously tried.
A low Mss from Bose brought me to
his side, from the door where I had been
listening.
"Dey's get de horses out in de yard
he whispered, as he drew aside to let me
look out through the broken pane.
take the door, said, and fire
through if they attack. am going to
shoot that fellow with the horses"
"Lordy, Mars Ralph, it's de tavern
keeper, he amt no count Drop de biz
mani" was the sensible advice, which |
determined to adopt.
| Noiselessly drawing aside the curtain
l rested the muzzle Of my pistol on the
sash where the light had been broken
away; and drew bead upon the tallest
of the two men who stood holding the
i three horses, out in the bright moon
light. M tsa
i The sharp crack of the weapon in
stantly followed by yell of pain, and
CO rx, II, - .ool bn,l~rrarl IL 49,,