Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-02-04
approached me I started forward and struck

! the candle. Ihe Keen DlaQe SnOne through
! bone and muscle and hand and candle fell
with sickening thud on the floor, while
single shrill agonizing shrek without told
that my victim was woman. l shlVered
| through all my body, and breathess with
terror waited in the darkness for an instant
attack. | heard nothing, however, except
stifed moan or two which gradually died
| away. | waited and waited, half frozen
and shivering with cold and fear. Moth
ing happened.
At last | could stand it no longer and de-
termined to risk going to bed at all hazards,
and having managed to pile all my heav.
lest bales on the trap, so that no one could
enter without my knowledge, l sat down
on the bed, and wrapping the bedclothes
around me to keep from freezing, deter
mined to watch till morning.
! thought that night OF horror would
never end, but at last gray streaks of dawn
crept through the cracks in the doors and
window shutters, and | devOutly thanked
God it was over, and that l lived to see
daylight again. AS soon as / could see
clearly, got up and cautiously moved my
bales, shuddering in anticipation Of find
ing the hand | had severed from the wrist
last night. But what was my establishment
on removing the last package to find no trace
of hand or candle, not even trace OF blood.
upon the floor; nothing, absolutely moth
ing, to tell of last nights horror. Had it
then really been but dream after all?
Ah the knife! | turned and snatched 1t
up. Yes, there was the red witness plain
enough, still wet, and crimsOning the blade
from point to handle. Yet, on turning
again to the floor there was no stain, and on
close inspection it was solid plank from end
to end.
"Well," thought I, "of all queer places
that ever | saw, this one takes the lead.
But for this knife should be almost tempt
ed to believe the events of last night but
vivid dream. This, however is indis-
putable evidence of what happened, and of
one thing | am very certain: the sooner
get away from here the better for my
health" wiped the knife on the skirt of
my coat and placed it in my bosom, taking
very good care to have the handle conven-
lent to lay hold of. l then opened the door
and called the landlord, not without many
inward misgivings, to bring out my wagon
and load it,
He soon appeared, sullen and dogged as
ever, but l saw no change in him since last
night. He offered me breakfast, which l
at once declined; not for worlds would l
have eaten or drank in that house. was
in fever of iinpatience to be off, and after
paying his bill in the smallest change l
had, and without any unnecessary display
of wealth, stood by and watched him re-
place my packages in the wagon and harness
the horse. l did not offer to assist him, |
was too much afraid of being taken at dis
advantage, but kept my hand on my trusty
weapon, and never took my eyes off the
surly villain. His amiable helpmate did
net make her appearance, and l thought l
could give pretty shrewd guess at the
cause. madeno inquiries after her health,
but jumped in my wagon and drove OFT,
desperately afraid even yet that something
would be done to prevent my departure.
To this day cannot account satisfactorily
for my escape. The fellow must have seen
that suspected him, and must have guess
ed at the witness to his attempted crime,
which l carried with me, yet he made no
attempt to hinder me from going, l can
only suppose he was an arrant coward,
with all his brutality, and dared not attack
me, knowing me to be armed and on my
guarc, especially after his accomplice was
disabled.
1t was nearly two years after that was
travelling the same road again, and passed
by the scene of my memorable adventure.
/ had, / assure you, no intention of calling,
but l found the appearance of the place 80
changed that l made sure it no longer be-
longed to any former friends, and curiosi-
ty tempted me to stop and inquire what
had become Of them. Everything wore a
thrifty and cheerful look, and so did the
comely dame who answered my knock.
Upon inquiry after the former occupants,
I heard without either surprise or regret
that they had at last received the punish
ment they so richly merited. The disap..
pearance of ii traveller who was expected
in the neighboring town led to suspicion,
suspicion to search.
"And would you believe it, sir" contin-
ued the good woman, "they found trap
door, in that shed room there was false
floor, and under it a deep hole with the
travellers body in it, and skeleton of
another man, and of dog, too, poor thing !!
They must have killed him for trying to
help hismaster, 1 suppose. And the horrid,
wicked wretches were put in Jail and hung,
so they ought to have been long ago, and
we bought the place dirt cheap, because
it had such a bad name. Indeed, some
folks says it's haunted ; but, la amt new
er seed nothin, and l amt scared about
ghosts uOhOWD