The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1886-03-31
THE ROBBERS CAVE IN
THE BLACK FOREST.
BY y. BETnAN EDwAaDs.

aud his wife we're aroused from
their sleep by gentle tap at their
door.
You must know that they lived
in the Black Ferest, q place much
frequented by armed robbers in
those days, who watched for tray.
elers rs cats watch for mice, pounc.
ing upon the defenceless ones,
sometimes mnrdering them, al.
ways robbing them of their gold,
jewelry, and even clothes.
Atap at the door, therefore, was
not a pleasant thing te hear in the
night time by dwellersin the Black
Fores!, and our old folks debated
together earnestly before taking
any notice of it. At length, feel.
ing the defencelessness Of their po
sition, they resolved 10 put on a
show of friendliness, hoping there
by that they should escape moles.
talion. Robbery they had no fear
Of, possessing nothing more valua.
BILE than a straw bed, a deal table
and chairs, two or three copper and
earthen cooking untensils and a
spinning wheel.
So the old man, whose name was
Gottlob, thrust his head cautiously
out Of the tiny easement and said,
"Who's there2"
"An honest gentleman in dis.
tress," answered a clear voice from
below, and there was something in
the tone of it that gave confidence
to Gottlob and his wife.
"SurelY 'tis some poor traveller in
danger-perhaps fleeing from those
who seek his life. Shall | go down
and let him in, RickelI?" said the
former.
"Tf thy heart tells thee to do it,
do it in Gods name, husband" re.
piled Rickell; "for deed of charity
never led a body into sin yet. Go,
and will pray that no harm may
come TO thee"
So old Gottlob dressed himself,
and descended the ladder to the
kitchen. In those days (near a
hundred years ago now the cot.
tageS were mere wooden novels, and
the cows and pigs all slept under
the same roof, so that, as the good
man passed to the doorway be
looked cOmplacently on his dumb,
friends costly sleeping round him.
The night was pitch dark, and
the snow fell fast. Holding his
lantern high over his head Gottlob
peered out, and saw before him a
tall, handsome.looking man, with
a leather bag in his hand, and a
bear skin wrapped round him.
"Good evening, honored sir" said
the old man with reverence, for
he felt that he stood before quality;
'tis not a kindly night for the For.
est, sir; pray come in"
The stranger shook the snow
from his cloak and entered. Whilst
doing so, he remarked in some anx.
iety; "some of these robber fellows
are on my track, for they have got
scent tha! l carry money. And
they are right; look herel"
He opened the mouth of his bag
and disclosed u countless treasure
in silver, gold, bank notes, etc.
81 must secrete this immediate.
ly," he added; "where can l best
do it?"
Gottlob was frightened at the
sight of so much money aud hes.
itated.
"Honored sir, neither myself nor
my good woman here would rest a
moment in our bed for thinking of
that treasure, supposing you left it
here If we were attacked by ban.
dts on account of it, how could we
defend ourselves2 If"
Here the stranger interrupted
him, stamping angrily and impa.
tiently on the floor.
"Am l to lose all my money,
then, because you are a coward,
have a hundred "ifs" in the way?
Dare you refuse assistance to a
Government banker-because, If
you dare, | must tell you of the risk
you run in SO doing"
At this the old man promised to
do all in his power; albeit so fright.
ened and trembling was he that he
hardly knew what he said.
"There is no danger for you, COW.
ard" continued the stranger, in a
modified tone; ~ have left
my horse on the ridge of the hill
that its hoof.marks should not serve
to track me here; in few minutes
| shall have ridden of, they will
follow mo ond vo, oro o r.