The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-05-23
self after you have heard what I have to

tell you.
''1n heavens name, what do you mean?'
exclaimed Baron Ravensburg, in astonish
ment
"Softly-in a whisper-there may be
long ears about us. In word, we are in
den of cut-throats. Yonder old monas-
terry is occupied by band of robbers in
the disguise of monks The landlord of
this hostelry is in league with them. They
have been apprised of your coming and
will either attack you here or tomorrow
upon the desolate road beyond. As they
know that | am here, from the landlord,
and may warn you, | should not be at all
surprised if they assailed us here tonight" "
"Great heavens, my poor Adalia |
care not if [ can save her. Twenty of
them, the girl said, and [ have but five
men-twenty against six.
Excuse me, your calculation is errone-
Gus. There are but eighteen against seven.
You counted the two who were killed and
have not counted me-
''You win aid me, then My dear Cap
tain, this is generous"
siMy dear Baron it is nothing of the
kind T merely enter into an alliance with
you for our mutual benefit, and as you
have the strongest party, the advantage is
decidedly upon my side. You they might
possibly plumber and suffer to depart, but
me they would certainly kill in revenge for
their comrades slaughter"
Captain, I place the direction of this
affair in your hands myself and people
are at your orders. What is the best
course of action p
"Invite me to supper with you when the
landlord announces that it is served. [
will secure him. Then your people must
secure the hostlers and put them in safe
place. Then collect your whole force into
the house, and let us barricade it to the
best of our ability. Eighteen men will
find it difficult to dislodge seven, even out
of this small wooden framework. Having
deprived the robbers of all means of OBJ
tanning information in regard to our plans,
I will make the landlord divulge theirs.
You have no idea what persuasive way |
have"
This plan was carried out to the letter,
and pistol held by the firm hand of the
Captain to the head of the guilty and
trembling landlord compelled him to di-
yulge all. The Baron and his sister were
to be held for ransom, and the Captain
killed, he not being considered worth a
ransom. When all had retired to rest the
landlord was to admit the robbers to the
hostelry.
The Captain laid his plans at once. The
front door was left unfastened, but every
other available aperture was secured as
firmly as was possible under the circum-
stances The Countess and Bonita were
placed in the upper story for security, with
the postillion as a guard. The Captain,
Baron, and the others, each armed with a
sword and brace of pistols, occupied the
large apartment on the ground floor. The
landlord was to admit the robbers one at
time, as had been arranged by the captain
of the band himself, and as fast as they
entered they were to be secured, gagged
and bound, or killed outright, as circum-
stances warranted
The hour for the attack drew near, and
every heart beat anxiously. The coolest
man of the party was the Captain. I'm
consciously, he had assumed entire direc-
ton of the affair, and the young Baron and
his followers obeyed him implicitly, seem
ing to recognize his fitness for the position
without question.
A stealthy footstep. approached the door,
and the landlord assisted by the cold barrel
of pistol, which felt disagreeably close to
the back of his head admitted robber,
who was instantly secured. Another fol
lowed, and another, until it came to the
eighth-a stout, brawny fellow-who, by
herculean effort, twisted his neck out Of
Captain Bernard's grasp, and shouted at
the top of his lungs;
awe are betrayed p
Two other robbers who were close be-
hind discharged their carbines in at the
door, and instantly retreated. A yell of
pain answered the discharge and one man
fell in the hostelry The door was instantly
shut and barricaded Lights were brought
forward, and the man who had fallen was
raised It proved to be the landlord. He
was quite dead, both bullets having taken
effect in his body.
After brief consultation the robbers
advanced in body against the door, at
tempting to hew it open with axes which
they had procured from the stables. They
were met with fusilade of pistol shots
that thinned them to one-half before they
had forced the door, and then it was the
besieged that sailed forth, and not they
that entered. The survivors of the band
fed
The fight was over Fifteen of the
band were killed, wounded and prisoners.
The prisoners were treated with the sum-
mary justice of military times, being shot
at sunrise by the Baron's followers.
The Baron and his sister renewed their
journey in the morning, being attended by
Captain Bernard whom the Baron fur
nished with horse by dismounting one of
his own followers, and Bonita, whom the
Countess had engaged as maid.
The Captain left the Baron at the first
stopping place They parted with mutual
expressions of regret. But they were des-
tined to meet again, On the bloody field
of Lutzen, when Pappenheim fell, and his
routed cavalry fed in dismay before the
impetuous charge of the Swedes, Ravens
burg was made prisoner. He was led be-
fore the victor of the well-fought field,
Bernard Won Weimar, who had assumed
command of the Swedish army on the fall
of Gustavus Adolphus, and in the brave
soldier and skillful general he recognized
Captain Bernard, the destroyer of the
HBlack Brotherhood.
THE MEDICINAL VALUE OF LEMONS.
The way to get the better of the bilious
system without blue pills or quinine is to