Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-01-23


to pounce on his victim.
Mr.. Perkins rode leisurely along,
casting quick glances on every side.
At last he approached a place where
the road divided, and passed on either
side Of the stump OF large tree. As
he neared the place where the road
divided, the stranger grew more eau
tious, and relned his horse slowly
toward the left of the stump; but Just
as he reached the spot a man sprang
from behind with bound and grabbed
at the horses bride. A sudden pull
upon the reins, and, obedient to bis
rider, the intelligent brute rose on its
hind feet and then came heavily down,
Telling the rufflian with his fore feet
he lay motionless, as the stranger
dismounted and examined hi features.
The horse had done his work well; the
wounded murderer's skull was crushed
in, causing instant death, and the
traveller recognized the features as
those of the man who had been pointed
out to him as Ben Gowler. He dragged
the body into the wood, and as it was
fast growing dark, he re-mounted his
horse, and hurried forward.
At last Mr.. Perkins drew rein IN
front OF the Black Bear, and an old
woman peered out, remarking:
Light. stranger, and pap'll tend TO
yer hoss."
Pap made his appearance-an old,
dark, Misunderstanding man - who
leered at the man and then at the
horse. remarking:
"a purity smart hoss, mister
Mr. Perkins followed the old woman
into a large, roomy kitchen, at one
end OF which was a capacious fireplace,
where preparations for supper were
going on, and table spread with a
coarse white cloth, stood In the centre
OF the room, upon which tall, slat-
ternly woman was employed placing
dishes, while couple of men lounged
beside the fire.
All looked up as the stranger en-
tered, and, drawing a chair up by the
fireplace. he sat down.
Come far, stranger?' asked one of
the men.
Only from the settlement to-day,
but / am for New York. said Mr..
Perkins blandly.
Travelling on business?' inquired the
| man who had asked the former queS
ton.
Yes, locating lands ard buying up
wherever l can get good bargains was
the frank reply.
| The men exchanged glanc6S.
Il s'pose yer hev ter carry a good deal
OF money along, don't yep inquired
Pap who had entered in time to hear
the last remark of his guest.
'Yes.' said Mr.. Perkins, composedly;
Il generally carry a belt around my
body pretty we'll stuffed
Was the man crazy thus to betray the
whereabouts of his wealth to these
hardened wretches?
'Supper's ready; set up. stranger,
said old Mrs. Gowler, and all hands
gathered around the table, and here,
as at the settlement, the traveller, with
out seeming to do so, turned the coE-
ver5ation on the mysterious disappear
ances of so many travellers, and Joined
most heartily with Pap Gowler in hop
ing the ruffians would soon be found
but; for, as the old man pathetically
remarked, they were jest spilin' the
travel
Supper over, Mr.. Perkins, after an
hour or so spent pleasantly in drawing
out his hosts, took out of his pocket q
heavy gold watch, and, remarking II
had to be up early IN the morning, said
he would retire at once.
Pap Gowler took a candle, lighted it,
and led the way from the kitchen to a
narrow entry and up a rude fight Of
stairs, to the long, low room, used fol
folks of quality as he assured Mr
Perkins.
1t struck the latter that there wa:
something rather sardonic in Zap Cow
! ler's wishes on leaving him that h,
might enjoy good nights rest.
As soon as he had fastened the door,
Mr.. Perkins began a tour OF inspection
around the room. 1t seemed at frs
! sight simple, plainly furnished cham
Der, such as the traveller 6nds, or used
to find in the West. A homemade
carpet covered the floor, and the furni.
ture consisted of pine table covered
with white spread, a couple or splint
bottom chairs, and large four-pos
bed, completely shrouded In heavy cur
tains of some thick brown stuff.
! Mr.. Perkins stopped short on review
ing the latter arrangement; then, eau
tiously removing his boots, he glided Il
the door, listened attentively an in
} slant, and then hung towel over thI
5 fastenings of the door. While dolnl
= so, he discovered small slide in tn
door itself, directly over the latch
: Candle in hand he returned to the bed
and, carefully parting the curtains, h
) peered anXiously inside, but nothing
3 met his eyes save the pillows ant
3 blankets He happened TO press hi
D hand heavily on the center OF the bed
d throwing considerable weight on 1t
when all at once a slight creaking nois
!, overhead startled him, and raising HI
y eyes, as he sprang backward, he behel'
o what seemed a square block out OF th
!, ceiling slowly starting from its place
( but which returned to its place us 500
as he had removed his hand.
r .Ah, hal' said he softly. Il knew tina
Q those curtains meant something; pv
? lived long enough to know that cul
tains on a bed In a Western taver
: simply meant foul play
!, While thus muttering, he was alread
:. down on his knees under the bed look
Q Ing for some solution OF what held u
@ that movable part OF the ceiling.
A little examination served to sho'
n him that the legs of the bedstead WEI
= hollow, and that heavy ropes ia
:, through them from the ceiling, an
It these ropes all centered in one plac
b directly under the center OF the bed.
z Wishing to see how the contrivanC
Is worked, he searched for something
], use as a weight to draw down Il
block, and at last found a heavy site
It of wood in one corner of the room
), Placing this carefully In the bed,
d stood quietly by, while the block fro
z the ceiling descended swiftly an
l. surely, and. with startling thu
If struck the log exactly in the sp'
where his head would have been II
D. had got into the bed.
> He shuddered as he examined tt
block, which proved to be OF ston
E. nearly square, with heavy iron RIM
10 fastened In it, through which the rop'
,e were passed.
D. While he still stood, studying Il
movements of the internal machir
ID before him, he was startled by hearir
1t the sound Of some one softly ascendtr
er the stairs.
v Quietly putting out his light,
D. crept toward the door, and await'
further developments.
lie He heard the steps pause at his doc
Us and soon a grating noise, and har
is undoing the fastenings OF the do
.. -