The state capital., 1891-08-08
diately took it and carried it out Of the

could remain through the night. had
left my portmanteau upon the horse,
and of course spoke of taking care Of
the animal myself The woman told
me that he had already been led around
to the stable and that if l wished to go
out | could do SO without exposure to
the weather She offered to lead the
way and followed her.
he passage through which | was led
opened into woodshed, and from
tn nee passed to the stable, where a
m IN was unsaddling my horse. He
had lantern, and | could see plainly
about the place. | spoke to the fellow,
but he made me no answer. I asked
him who lived there. He mumbled out
something, but / could not understand
him. He was curious-looking fellow,
and decidedly averse to answering
questions; and he was petulant and
crusty, too; but this I naturally at
tributed to his being called out in such
weather, and, having secured my port
manteau, made my way back to the
house.
The same woman who had thus far
attended me prepared some food for
me, and politely requested me to par
take of it. Wet and cold as | was, the
fireplace was more comfortable and
desirable than the table, but l sat down
to the repast out of courtesy.
During the evening | tried to con-
verse with the woman, she was my only
companion, but it was with difficulty
that | got any answers to my questions
| asked her where | was, and the only
reply was dubious shake of the head
Then | asked her who lived in the
house, and she trembled but said moth
ing. She seemed anxious for me to re-
tire; and, at length, after had mostly
dried my garments, l signifed my read
mess to be shown to my bed. The
woman actually sprang to obey me,
and having lighted a second lamp she
bade me follow her. l was conducted
up flight of stairs. and shown to a
respectfully furnished chamber, and
there my strange guide left me.
AS was eft alone, was not a little
puzzled by what l had seen and heard.
The house was evidently large one,
and, from what little had seen of the
outside of it by the light of the lantern
from the stable, / judged it to be built
of hewn timber, dove-tailed together
at the corners, with the crevices plas-
tered with cement. The inside, such
as | had seen, was finished neatly with
well-matched boards, planed and paint
ed. 1t was strange that | had seen
nothing of the owner of the place; and
the behavior of those | had seen was
equally strange. l was confident that
the house must be far from any other
habitation, and it is not to be wondered
that | allowed an unpleasant train of
suspicious thoughts to pass through
my mind.
The powder in my pistols had be-
come somewhat damp. My portmanteau
| had brought to my chamber with me,
and in that I found dry powder.
carefully reloaded my weapons, and
placed them under my pillow, and hav-
ing fastened the door, L partially un-
dressed myself, and got into the bed.
1t was certainly an hour before | slept,
but at length the drowsy god overcame
me.
] could not have slept long, not over
half an hour, when | was awakened by
quick shake of my shoulder l sprang
up in the bed and seized a pistol
There was man by my bedside, and
he held a lamp towards me. He was
tall but far from being stout, and his
countenance was kind and gentle in
it's expression. He had entered by a
small door at the end of the room,
which had not noticed.
ship he muttered, placing his
finger upon his lips. ''Make no noise.
Put up your pistol
"But what seek you here?" asked,
feeling assured that my visitor meant
me no harm.
II would save you'
''Save me?" | repeated.
"-sh! Yes. You have one foot in
your grave while you are here. Doyou
know this house?"
mo. What is it?" uttered, spring
ing from my bed.
''Be careful! You'll wake the demon
before his time! He thinks I do not
know him; but by chance / found
him out in time to. save my own life
and yours"
BY this time I had nearly dressed
myself, and, with rembling limbs
listened, while my visitor explained
himself He told me that the owner of
the house was murderer by profess
sion, that he entrapped travellers and
killed and robbed them. His tale was
a horrible one, and he had learned it
all by overhearing a conversation be-
tween the man of the house and the
fellow who had taken care of my horse.
He had himself arrived and retired be-
fore l came along; but he had
awakened just in season to hear the
conversation he had related take place
in an adjoining room.
'Come, come" he said, as | threw
nv portmanteau acr oss my arm and
took my second pistol from beneath
my pillow; ''there is not moment to
lose. If we are discovered we shall be
killed"
With catlike, noiseiess tread my COM
panion led the way out through the
same door by which he had entered,
the existence of which, he informed
me, he had learned from the conversa-
ton he had overheard between the
man of the house and his hostler.
This door gave us entrance to room
in which there was bed, the outer
door of which was open. [ could not
help noticing, as Ipassed this last door,
the stout iron bolts which were fixed
upon its outside.
My guide placed his finger upon his
lips for an instant and then he shaded
the lamp with his hand and hurried
down the stairs, which led directly to
the shed. The outer door was easily
unfastened, and breathed more freely