Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-09-13

the sIeeper-one prepared with the
chloroform to seal up his senses,
but both ready to murder him rath-
er than fail in their purpose,
Just at that critical point OF
time another human figure, unseen
by them, came silently through
the darkness and stealing up be-
hind them.
1t was the tramp.
In his hand he held rope with
a moose at one end not unlike a
lasso.
He stopped so near the two mid
night prowlers that he could have
touched them, and poised the hand
that held the rope, while every
nerve secretly quIvered with IN
tense excitement.
1t was a moment big with fate
for all concerned.
A single mistake, the slightest
error, might cost his own and other
human lives.
The robbers, both intent upon
their evil design, did not look be-
hind them.
They stopped close to the bed OF
the sleeping man, one looking over
the shoulder of the other.
The forward one held a hand
kerchief in one hand saturated
with chloroform, and in the other
hand the lantern, whose light he
streamed full upon the face OF the
sleeper.
,Just as he reached forward TO
press the handkerchief TO the nos
trils of their intended victim the
second robber, armed with knife
and revolver, prepared for deadly
assault, brought his lhead close up
to his companions, the better to
note the slightest mOvement-at
that moment the tramp sklllfully
threw his moose over the heads of
both.
Then, with a vigorous backward
spring, he tightened the moose
around the necks OF both and jerk
ed them down-stumbling, found
erIng, crashing-surprised, terrified
and almost strangled.
"Surrender and throw down your
weapons or I'll beat outyour bans "
cried the tramp, as he jerked and
pulled upon the rope, in order to
strangle the scOundrels into SUB
mission. ,
The answer was three pistol
shots from the man who held the
revolver, neither of which hit the
tramp, but one of which entered
the brain of his companion and
ended his wicked work for this
world.
The noise reused the sleeper,
who started up in alarm, with loud
| cries of murder and for help.
This in turn set the women to
shrleking, aud the late silent and
peaceful dwelling became for the
time a bedlam of horrors.
"Keep quiet, Mr.. Chalmers, you
shall not be harmed " said the
tramp, as, still pulling at tho rope
| ne pounded the head of the living
robber with the butt of his reyol-
yer, till he sank under the O'owS'
"Now get a light" he continued,
Wor turn the light of the Williams
| lantern upon their faces, and see
what your tramp has done for you
1t took some minutes more 10
make George Chalmers, his moth
or and sister understand the true
state of the case-that the man to
whom they had given shelter had
saved them from being robbed, II
not murdered.
But what was their further
amazement aud horror TO discover
} that tho dead burglar and the NV
ing burglar were two OF their neigh
bers. with whom they had Ions
been intimate, and whose reputa
tionstood high as well'to.do, up
right, honorable, men.
When they came to pour on
their profuse thanks to the tram
? for his courageous and timely inteI
ference in their behalf, he quiet!
responded:
"You have much to thank IN
for, it is true, because you woul
certainly have been robbed, 1t no
murdered, if l had not been und'
your roof; but you have to than
me for it in a different way tina
: YOU suppose. Pm not here by a
T. cident, but design. Pm no tram
but a detective. I've had my ey
on these Williams for a time, 0u
, needed proof before arresting then
BY chance | overheard a plot
- rob George Chalmers on the nIgn
:. he should get paid for his cattI
:. and | worked out the rest, as "
= see. This william, Samuel Je
: nings,r nodding to the now tight
= hound living robber "must elth'
20 to the state priso on or the g
4, lows"
"Nelther, you miserable sea IN
y cried the man, with a long strl
of bIasphemous oaths.
I'll He never did-for on the day
the coroner's inquest on his co
'g panion, he was found hanged a
~ dead.
Vs The whole affair made gre
he sensation in its locality.
ha n ..ou,n0 hfg falQa hair a