The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-10-16

if slept ut all to do SO with one eye
open at least
But here another surprise awaited
me. The bcdstcad was immovnblc. 1t
was rather a heavy structure. certain
ly, being of the old-fashioncd oakCn
kind; but II must weigh Il ton. |
thought, If | could not, under the ncr-
vous excitement that pcryadcd me.
raise one end of it; and yet I'LL the
strength l gould exert awaited nothing.
Further examinations showed that
legs of the bcdStcad were secured
~ the floor by small iron knees
screwed in solid.
1t was evidently time for serious re
Election. Why was this movable socket.
ana this immovable bcdstead, con
structed? The first was TO admit of
easy ingrcss To the room, and the sec
ond to hold the bcdStcad i'm certain
place for certain and, / was now
convinced, terrible purpose.
Removing my boots. | carefully tray
crscd 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
actcr, | examined the bCdstcad still
more closely, removing the coverings
and even the mattress: but aside from
the fact of its being rivetcd to the
floor, there was nothing peculiar about
it,
Fixing chair in the centre of the
bed enabled me To reach the ceiling.
and | could then sec that what had
appeared from the floor to he small
assures in the wall were straight lines
running parallel to each other ana two
feet apart, and covering the entire
width of the bCdstcad, with transverse
lines ut 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 i'm
imitation of the ceiling.
Puncturing this paper showed the
affair TO be some murdcrOus machine.
that could he dislodgcd from above,
and come down on the bed with sufIi-
cicnt force to smother the occupant
and pin him down until death cnsucd:
the width of the missile making its
action sure, no matter upon which
side of the bed the sleeper might bc
resting.
~ long sleep. and pleasant dreams
To you In the light Of my discover
les, the words wcrc ominous indeed.
II was plain that / was in den of
most terrible character. and that. if
repoSc was sought on that bed. the
sleep would i'm 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 it,
My plan was quickly formed First
eNtinguiShiug the light. I Invested my
self of all supcriluous clothing. and ar
ranged the bed to show as nearly MS
possible that it contained an occupant;
and then retired to a corner of the
room best suited to conccalmcnt. to
await developments.
The storm had not yet entirely sub.
sided, and under the circumstances
the occasional flashes of lightning lit
mp the room with q glare that made
II look wiCrd, spectral and uncarthlv.
My rcvolvcrs were i'm capital work
ing order. They had been my friends
in many deadly encounter. aud ]
trusted TO them and genuine bowie"
to pull me through.
The hours wore away slowly. As|
near MS I could judge. it must have
been about two O'Clock I'm the morn.
In2, when completely worn ont with
the fatigue Of the day aud the excite
mcnt Of the night nature succumbcd.
and fell into slight done
From This / was suddenly BROUGHT
To- fun consciousness by rushing
sound that sent thrill OF horror
through me. Then there was "a dull.
heavy fhud ON the bed. ana thc clank
ing Of 20 claim Indicating that the
machine had fallen
The silent suspense in which T was
kept during the next ten minutes made
them seem like So many hours: but IL
could not actually have been more than
ten minutes before the glimmcr Of "a
IItHI through the chinks Of the door
convinced me that The assassius were
coming tO add robbery to the crime
OF their supposed murder.
Tho spiral wire in the bolt socket
SNAPPED with % sharp click as they
pressed against thc door. and I'm
moment oftcrwurd thc old man entered
the room stcalthily. with "a huge knife
upraiscd and behind him came tho
SOD. carrying nu iron slcdcc. and hold
ing % candle aloft. and both father and
son gazing intcntly upon the bed
Tho survey seemed satisfactory. for
the work appeared only too well done
The old man chucklod horribly. and.
dropping his knife, badc Che younger
TO put down the candle and slcdec. ana
ala him 10 raise the box. Tho order
was Obcycd with alacrifv.
Tho position ! bad assumed before
their entrance had served to place me