Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-06-09
A HORRIBLE NIGHT.
by q. de II.

they may boast before that time, and
sometimes after, Of proper amount OF
manly courage, | don't doubt but that
such men would feel quite as cnwardly
and nervous upon an occasion of severe
trial, as | did the night | put up at
lloyle's Tavern on the Westfeld Turn
pike.
My uncle and had been riding all
lay oyer the strange, rough, country roads
Of that district. and reaching the tavern,
tired and hungry, at nightfall, we con
GUIDED we would rest ourselves and our
beasts. We knew little of the country
round about, and less of the people. The
lluus, looked clean, however, and seemed
Il very quiet one, for the bar room, usually
the rendezvous of a country Deighborhood,
was noticeahly vacant. The landlord in
answer to our remarks upon the quiet of
The place replied. .'lIe tried to keep a
respectable place, and was not very full
lust now, and we oould have separate
rooms il we liked" Untle Jake was
first class snorer, and when We travelled
together always preferred a room to
inyself TheretOrt after We had partaken
IL avery palatahle supper, and uncle had
slipped his glass of punch, AZ was his
custom winter nights, WE took our candles
aiid Mtnt 10 our respective apartments
The house was one Of those queer.
d IN bling, old country places, with curious
little halls, and unexpected little flights
uf stairs at the end sometimes; our rooms
were separated by a short corridor and
some steps, cold, cheerless looking
chambers they Were, too. Tired and sleepy,
however, we made no complaints and
after bidding the landlord good night,
prepared to retire. | discovered there was
no lrck on my door when | tried to fasten
il, but as the landlord had said there was
no one in the house that night but his
own family and ourselves had no fears.
was Just beginning to lose myself in
that slelieiuus swoon which precedes
leep, when | was suddenly startled from
my dpze by succession Of low. deep
grusiIs-they sounded very near. Was
Uncle sick / reused myself and listened.
The room was very dark. The fraction
If moon sent it's dim feeble rays
through the small panes of my window.
A rustic and the shallow of something
dark passed between me and the unrer-
tain light. Ny candle WAS some distance
from tlie bed, and had forgotten to lay
out matches. Again heard the groans.
-. o.,
Cntle had been collecting rents that day
was.tBs strange place den Of murierers'
felt tor my revolver aud tried hard to
recall the position Of the bed and the
dour, thought I heard moving below,
and coarse whispers outside my door.
Another rr"an, and presently a violent
rash right lesiar my bed, made me leap
and rush towards the door, which |
fortunately fOnnd. In the dark hall
pf'"tfh "hr t"Hn's, ) ran against hgure
not stF' ne amt stood stiii TO let nun
pass
4 ~ ned I" my hglr,s bedside, and
Nlt lllh SAFE anu htara Tie iafnitlar shore
wtiGll proved him quite alive Wake
"p hele' whispered shaking nm, v"
are N Z zen "t thieves ana innrd"f'rs'
f4l answered ncle, the glass OF
9uhSn ne hai taken making MN sleep
the rrotound-r.
Where Is your pistol . Wake up
4Nltkr We are IN horrible hole, |
continued hnaily by dint OF frequent
stHhas ana Violent pannds'l sicreedet i'll
fousins nun and again explaining our
p-rilhu7 situation. We struck a light,
9arrcaded II" door aud prepared to
'IFltni ourselves
What Is that, asked my uclr,
pointing 70 my night clothes and quite
awake and sobtred at the sight.
one entire silr Of my robe was stained
s. IA bright fresh blood. | had touched
tie something which The man who
passed Inc in the hail had bore in his
arms.
Wa stared at one amothrr in despair,
| gnl felt our intn would le next {.
! unrryins ON q ur clothes anu thinking
| quickly how hest We could defend
ourselves sc we're startled by knock
At our door
''lyho is thrrst aud what is wanted at
this hour Of the might - asked my ncle
| hravely.
~, sir, answered the landlord .
voice. "eoutd YOU lat me have ittlt
brandy from yonr flask: mine has given
out, and they re bringing the wounded
h"rr.'
Wa 1t a rtIsr to get III ,raietly. and
then Kill rs What 10 you mean ~
a. kcl through Tie key hole
"ll-re has been an exp!o,i"n and liz,
III TIL. mines aud they r- brought I'll,
aging aud WOUNDED here for Lelp.
1t sounded plausible. We looked
triA- paler now aud openri Tie Joor, via
louIIord Ianl45 li IT. , iU"' ~. '''
~. ny, dr..s,af a',3 -. - y ~ =,
~ " ttsI7n'' 'ti 'l 'H!1 ron" 'is