Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-03-17
bed = the strip of mating between

bed - the strip of mating between
them.
"The fellow has more order here
than down stairs" thought, as l went
to bed without undressing, SO as TO br
ready for instant action should anything
occur to disturb lis.
] lay there long time thinking.
thought of my mother and my child
hood; of early manhood, when another
dear female form claimed my love !;
then of my present lonely condition, o
loveless wanderer over sand and alkal
deserts, with perhaps terrible and
imminent danger threatening me.
Then l was again back at my mothers
NEE iisping my: Now l lay me-"
| heard some one walking, l thought,
and then a heavy fall l arose and
called at Pats door He claimed to be
AL right, only slight headache"
returned to bed, thinking it could not
be in Franks room, as any one would
have to pass through my apartment to
reach him, and his door was still
locked.
l was unable to sleep.
L started across the room toward the
bucket of water. and had gone about
half way when it suddenly gave way
beneath me, and | was precipitated,
stunned and terror-stricken, into O cell
lar at least twenty feet below.
l soon recovered from the shock and
endeavored to look around me, but it
was so intensely dark | could see
nothing. 1t seemed, however, that l
could hear low, confused sound, as if
several persons were talking in sub
dued voice near me.
1 remained quiet, and few minutes
later light appeared in another cellar
directly under Franks room. l crept
to a narrow doorway which connected
the two underground apartments, and
saw Frank lying on his back, securely
bound.
81 heard a noise in that stylish
youngsters room," said the landlord,
who was evidently the leader of the
robber band. Lets see if he has
come down."
Leaving Frank, they came toward
me. l felt for my revolver-gone; my
KIN fe also. | gave myself up for lost.
Hearing a noise overhead, I looked
up and saw Pat sailing down through
the same trap-door | had fallen from.
e struck on his feet, pistol in each
hand. Grasping the situation of a
glance, he handed me his pistols and
took up a short, heavy piece of red.
wood, saying in low tone:
you may have the landlord. I'll
take care of the others"
l took a position near the center OF
the room and Pat stood beside the door.
The master of the house walked in
front, with the light. Pat permitted
HIM and another to. pass, but, as the
ihlrd and last entered, the 1rishman
brought down his beam like thunder
bolt on the robbers head.
l pulled trigger at the landlord,
meaning to brain him on the spot, but
my pistol snapped. He rushed at me,
knife in hand, but Pat, having knocked
tie other robber senseless with second
blow from his faithful billet, came to
my rescue and hulled our host halt
across the cellar at the first stroke
"Now, you're pretty creature, aren't
you?" said the Irishman, crossing over
" u iHE w us Ill, mere
in your own housed"
"Don't hurt me-" the murderous old
wretch begged, piteously. Here's
YOUR friends money, and more, too
but I don't mind that-take it,"
ave only want our own" said Pat.
We then released Frank, who took
his own money from. the landlords
p.ethoric pockct-book. To prevent
further trouble we now bound the
three wou!d-be robbers together, and
were looking around for some means
of egress from the dungeon, when
pistol shot rang out clear and sharp.
/ opened my eyes and looked around.
Pat and Frank sat little distance
from me conversing in undertones; the
quiet old gentleman who took no inter.
est in the stirring events around him
was beside me, and my right hand still
clasped my trusty friend in my over.
coat pocket; the floor of the apart
ment was covered with sleeping men
and dogs.
"Where are we, Iat?" | asked.
Just where we've been all night;
here in Old Charley's bar.room. Been
asleep?" Then coming closer, he said,
contidentially: 81 was afraid that
graro brandy would be too sudden for
you; but Old Charley's Ill white.
He's got your money and dimond pin
safe for you, If it had not been for
him you'd have lost everything"
The sava choking old host returned
my " ''Sbles promptly. His honesty
ma1l, me- ashamed of HAVING AVIAN
dreamt about him after such fashion.
CandOr Fully Appreciated.