The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-08-30

ond to hold the bedstead In Il certain
place for certain and, was now
convinced. terrible purpose
Removing my boots carefully trav-
ersed the room, pressing against the
sides of the wall in all directions for
some secret or sliding panel.
Failing to find anything of this char
acter, examined the bedstead still
more closely. removing the coverings
and even the mattress; but aside from
the fact of its being riveted to the
floor, there was nothing peculiar about
it.
Fixing a chair In the centre of the
bed enabled me to reach the ceiling,
and | could then see that what had
appeared from the floor to be small
fissures in the wall were straight lines
running parallel to each other and two
feet apart, and covering the entire
width of the bedstead, with transverse
lines at each terminus.
Bringing the candle still nearer dis
closed the fact that these lines were
formed by sharp iron edges, forming
an oblong box setting flush with the
wall, and covered with white paper in
imitation of the ceiling.
Puncturing this paper showed the
affair to be some murderous machine,
that could be dislodged from above,
and come down on the bed with suff-
clent force to smother the occupant
and pin him down until death ensued;
the width of the missile making its
action sure, no matter upon which
side of the bed the sleeper might be
resting.
"A long sleep, and pleasant dreams
to YOU" In the light Of my discover
les. the words were ominous, indeed.
1t was plain that 1 was in den of
most terrible character. and that. If
repose was sought on that bed, the
sleep would in truth be a long one.
Another struggle for life," | said to
myself, for l well knew that, after the
machine had fallen the assassins
would enter the door with the yielding
socket, and finding the trick had failed,
would see the necessity of making
short work of the man who had dis
covered 1t.
My plan was quickly formed. First
eXtingulshing the light, divested my
self of all superfuous clothing, and ar
ranged the bed to show as nearly as
possible that 1t contained an occupant;
and then retired to corner of the
room best suited to concealment. to
await developments.
The storm had not yet entirely sub
sided, and under the circumstances,
the occasional flashes of lightning lit
up the room with a glare that made
it look wlerd, spectral and unearthly.
Ny revOlvers were in capital work
ing order. They had been my friends
in many a deadly encounter, and
trusted to them and genuine "bowle"
to pull me through
The hours wore away slowly. AS
near as Il could judge, it must have
been about two o'clock in the morn
ing. when, completely worn out with
the fatigue of the day and the excite
ment Of the night. nature succumbed
ana | fell into slight doze.
From this | was suddenly brought
10 full consciousness by rushing
sound that sent n thrill of horror
through me. Then there was dull
heavy thud on the bed, and the clank.
ing of a chain, indicating that the
machine had fallen.
The silent suspense in which / was
kept during the next ten minutes made
them seem like SO many hours but II
could not actually have been more than
ten minutes before the gllmmcr Of II
light through the chinks of the door
convinced me that the assassins We're
coming to add robbery to the crime
Of their supposed murder.
The spiral wire in the bolt socket
SNAPPED with sharp click as they
pressed against the door and in a
moment afterward the old man entered
the room stealthlly with huge knife
upraised, and behind him came the
son, carrying an iron sledge, and hold
ing candle aloft, and both father and
son gazing intently upon the bed.
The survey seemed satisfactory for
the work appeared only too well done
The old man chuckled horribly. and
dropping his knife, bade the younger
to put down the candle and sledge, and
aid him to raise the box. The order
was obeyed with alacrlty.
, The position | had assumed before
their entrance had served to place mt
behind the door as they came in. and
just as the young man dropped his
sledge | stood erect, brought both pis
tolls to bear upon the villains, and ut
; tered a stentorlan yell.
4 A thunderbolt out of a clear sky a
e MONDAY could not have terrified anC
a unneryed them more. The elder ol
the two fell across the box, completely
e stupetied. The younger partially
/ turned ana made feeble attempt I,
t clutch the sledge, but the cleaning
steel of the pistol barrels held hin
s fast, and In II moment afterward h,
Y sank upon his knees and began to bel
] for his life.
e Hearing the tmult and not fully un
derstanding its nature, the old cron
4 came up the stairs, and peered eau
/ tlously into the room.
i Turning one of my revolyers on hei
n and keeping the two men well coyere
l with the other. ordered her to com
: In, but she was so astonlshed at tn
,, scene that 1t was at least two fu
e minutes before she could obey.
| then directed the two men to stan