The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-05-30
CHAPTER TX.

CAUGHT IN A TRAP
We left Edward Robin mounting
guard at the head of the attic stairs.
He could see lights moving about in the
house below him and hear the hoarse
cries of the bandits as they ran from
chamber to chamber in search of plum
der
Presently a terrified scream informed
him that they had discovered the hid
ing place of old Caleb Shurker and were
dragging him forth to make him sur
render his hoard He was pleading pit
eously for mercy as they forced him to
accompany them to their chief. With
blows curses and insults the ruffians
drove him before them until they reach
cd the lawn in front of the dwelling
where Claudius Smith was awaiting
them.
Robin now left his post and ap-
preached one of the dormer windows.
Looking down from this coign of
vantage. he deserted the shadowy forms
of the outlaws grouped around the per-
son of their chief. who was standing
under the branches of an apple tree
sternly questioning his quaking pris-
oner He could hear the hoarse bass Of
the bandit and the quavering treble of
his victim alternating in inquiries and
replies, but just what passed between
them it was impossible to make out.
All at once the bandit shouted angrily
"Blarst my eyes. what a stubborn
fool ye bel If yell not tell where the
gold is hid. why. then. ye must hang.
that's all. Then. turning to his men.
he asked quickly. "Have any of ye got
q roper"
The suggestion acted upon the pas
sions of the rufians like spark applied
to gunpowder.
"Hang the REBEL Swing him up!'
they yelled, crowding around the pris-
oner and shaking their fists in his face.
One of them ran off quickly and soon
returned with stout cord. A running
moose was made at one end Of it and
| thrown over the prisoner head. Then
| he was hurried beneath the apple tree.
"Now, my lads, swing him upI"
commanded the Tory chieftain.
An indescribable uproar followed
these words. Robin could see nothing
but struggling mass of men surging
around the prisoner, whose body pres
emily shot up above their heads, dan
Cling at the end of a rope But he was
not permitted to witness the end of the
tragedy, for at that moment he heard
the sound of footsteps upon the attic
| stairs.
Instantly divining that some skulking
Tories had left their comrades to come
hither and plunder in secret, he ran to
the head of the flight and, picking up
his saber, awaited their appearance
through the opening. He was just in
time, for the next instant the first of
the bandits reached the top of the steps.
He was in the act of passing into the
attic when he received such rap on
the sconce from Robins saber that he
plunged headlong to the floor below,
where he lay like one dead. This had
| the effect of dampening the ardor of his
comrades.
Peering through the opening, Robin
observed that they hesitated, consulted
together and then beat hasty retreat.
He heard them running down rapidly
through the house and knew that they
had gone to bring others to their assist
ance. Although he realized that he had
no hope of successfully withstandine
the odds that would be brought into
requisition, he determined to defend
Zadie to the last He fully believed thai
the outcome of the struggle would bt
death Nevertheless this did not de
prive him of his courage.
While he was waiting the return O.
the Tories the girl regained her senses
/, "Where am ?'' she moaned feebly.
Robin FASTENED to her side.
''Be STILL Zadie'' he whispered, bend
ing over her. "Your safety depend
upon it, 1t must not be known tina
you have taken refuge here" !"
eyes. yes, l know now," she moan
ed sadly "The Tories have broken int
the house. They are after my husband
gold Oh, poor, poor Caleb If they de
; prive him of his money, it will xii
him.
Suddenly the stairs resounded to tn
tread of many footsteps, accompanie
by confused shouts and the rattle G
steel against steel The Tories were az
preaching. Some of them were carry
ing torches whose light already pene
trated the darkness of the loft.
Fastening back to his post, Robli
could see them hurrying toward tn
4 stairs like a pack of hungry wolves
When they reached the bottom of tn
+ fight, he drew back into the shado'
and waited
Presently a flaming torch was pre-
truded through the door, followed by
ferocious face searching the darkness
Robin swung his saber and the ras
intruder fell backward down the step
J carrying two comrades with him. Th