Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-12-05

wilson's, so 1 said, Yes" although
did not really believe that he was in
earnest-in fact, I could not imagine
how he would 60 about recovery.
was soon to learn.
We had remained in the barroom an
hour after Wilson's s retirement, and the
place had gradually become deserted
until there were but half dozen peo-
pie besides the barkeeper and ourselves
remaining, and several of these were
sleepy drunk. The barkeeper, though
he glanced now and then in our direc-
tion, paid us no other attention. He
seemed to have forgotten the gold epi.
sode. l had given up any idea that
Dicks suggestions were coming to
point, and was thinking of retiring,
when he got up, sauntered over to the
bar in an easy manner, and, quick as
flash, covered the barkeeper with his re
volver, and asked him to return that
money" Bob and myself at once cover
ed the remainder of the party, who pro-
tested, however, that they had no in
tention of interfering. The barkeeper
saw his predicament and sullenly hand
ed out $40 goldpiece. The only re-
mark he made was, you'll wish you
was burning before you ever started
fsrL-- L., and if you think you are
going to come it on us so easy you are
making a. big mistake. -
Dick did not reply, and soon we all
went up to Wilson s room. As we went
up stairs we could distinguish among
the babble of cries the words, sThat's
plucky cuss, care you going to let
those tenderfeet beat you?'' "Gee, Bill,
you've been held up You've got to
treat. est won't do for those fellows
to boast that they did up L-b,' and
then Bills deep voice: "And they
won't either I'll get my innings be-
fore they leave, you mark me-"
We found Wilson barricading the
door of the room with bureau and wash
stand. We held council of war We
could hear the men talking below u.s.
Wilson's room was directly over the
bar, and by cutting hole through the
flooring we left only the ceiling between
them and us, SO we could hear distinct
ly everything they said. Fortunately
the affair occurred too late to bring out
a big crowd, and only few of the near
neighbors, attracted by the report, had
come in. They decided that we were
too well armed to assault us in our
rooms, especially as we were on our
guard, but thought the best idea would
be to attack us when we came down, as
we would have to do or starve. With
this idea, one of them commenced bor-
ing holes in the stairway casing, pre-
sumably to shoot through. Naturally
we prepared to go out the window.
The bed was one of the old fashioned
roped kind, and removing the rope from
this and blowing out our light we laid
the bedclothes on the roof, removed
our boots and carefully crawled to the
far end of the piazza. The noise in the
barroom seemed to have drowned any
noise we made, and our only fear was
of some one coming out Tying our ri
fles and other things into two bundles,
Dick lowered them, and then we all
slid down the corner, post and put for
the woods There we finished dressing,
and Dick and I then went to the stable
for our horses. The clouds had been
breaking away for some time, and the
moonlight made us so conspicuous that
we had to watch the shadows as we
lodged across the open space We had
little trouble in finding our horses, and
started out, each leading two, I in ad
vance. AS my head horse approached
the threshold of the door his sharp
hoofs came down upon a fat stone with
loud clatter. I expected every mo-
ment to see the hotel door open, but
they either did not hear or thought it
common noise in the stable
Fearing repetition of the alarm,
ripped up an old blanket, and muffling
the horses hoofs we led them out
where the others were waiting, trying
to account for our long delay. Then all
commenced arranging their things on
their saddles. 1 finished first, and
mounting my horse, with my rifle on
my knee, placed myself as scout to
watch the hotel. I confess that then
felt comfortable for the first time that
night. 1t was we'll did, for no sooner
had I mounted and my horse moved
few steps away than one of the other
horses sounded neigh that reused all
the occupants of the house we had left.
Flinging open the door so that the light
fell full upon me, some one yelled,
'"They are getting awayP' and enlptied
his revolver at u.s. We could hear the
bullets sing about us, but no damage
was done, and as the others were ready
Bob called to me to pull out. " This
would have been glad to do, but my
horse refused to bulge step. think
he was dazzled by the flashes from the
revolver. never thought of dismount-
ing, but receiving another salute open
ed up with eight of my heavy cartridges
at the doorway. When finished, it was
vacant. I heard the bottles break as the
balls went crashing into the woodwork
of the bar. Dick in the meantime had
ridden back to see what the trouble was
and was firing his A rifle as fast as he
could. L. L. was certainly being
walked up. You could see lights appear
ing all along the street. But no one
came our way on account of the bullets.
I think the people thought we were the
landlords party in the woods attacking
the unruly guests.
One fellow shall never forget He
came out of the house and was just
aiming to fire as shot. He made per-
feet picture of the tragic as he gave
little spring, his rifle fell to the ground
and soon he himself staggered into a
sitting posture. had hit him in the
shoulder. A second later I saw a flash
from the barn and felt burning sensa-
tion in my neck. Jabbing my spurs into
my horse, to my glad surprise he start
ed on run after the others. Dick lost
no time in following We found Will
son suffering from severe wound in
the cheek. A ball had glanced from
tree and cut him quite badly. My neck
had just a scratch.
We epushed the horses along at sharp
gallop for some distance, in spite of the
mud, and then halted for consulta-
tion. It was perfectly silent in the
woods I advised going on to Id.
Dick, however, raised objections, say
ing there were lots of short cuts by
xuhiob tho r-itoc ooy,1l c,ot ,boo1