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

step.
The horse l bestrode was powerful
animal, but had been ridden hard dur
Ing the day and was exhibiting signs
of great fatigue.
l was not In the best of humor. l
, had agreed to meet the Chief of Serv-
ice at Golden, on the following morn
ing at a very early hour, and knew
I could not get there. Add to this that
was supperless and worn down with
the days ride and 1t may be imagined
that | was Ia no very amiable mood.
The storm was approaching nearer
every moment, and l was just despair
ing of shelter. when the horse SHE'D
suddenly to one side of the road, and
fell back on his launches with a vio-
lence that nearly unseated me; and
in the next moment my eyes were daz-
zled with brilliant light, that seemed
to have been lnstantaneously flashed
out of the darkness.
bad road herew said n gruff voice;
and then observed man standing
lantern, In the back of which was a
strong reflector. Heard your horse,
and came out to see who 1t was. The
storm will be on us directly and you'd
better be under cover"
us there any house near?" l asked,
when had recovered from my aston
ishment.
"YesJust around this clump of trees,
in the fork of the road. You can put
up there If you like. Follow mev'
had been startled and amazed at
the incident, but was exceedingly
grateful to find shelter, and probably
sustenance, so near, and was glad to
obey the mars directions.
We had hardly been housed when
the storm burst with great violence,
and although the place was far from
inviting, 1t was very acceptable.
The man who had met me In the
road, and who proved to be the land
lord. was a coarse burly fellow, up
ward of fifty years of age, with long
gray hair, matted together and locking
as If 1t had been permitted to grow
from childhood without attention. He
was powerfully built; his countenance
was cadaverous and forbidding, and
his eyes had a peculiarly ferocious
CLEAN about them that did not reas-
sure me.
a younger man. whom he called his
son was but a trifle more progresses
Ing; and an old crone who sat by the
corner of the huge fireplace. rocking
to and fro smoking pipe, and rub
blng her hands nervously together ap-
peared uglier than all.
A supper, consisting mainly of an
Irish stew strongly impregnated with
garlic was laid on the table, but |
partOok OF II sparlngly. and as soon as
the meal was over asked to be shown
TO bed.
There was a good deal of bustllng
about at this request. The old cronc
made several trips over the rickety
stairs leading to a room overhead. and
was compelled to call the father and
son to her aid but the preparations
were finally completed, and the elder
of the two men volunteered to show
me to the room.
There is no lock OH this door" he
sald-"we never lock doors here-but
there is good bolt, so you can use ii
il you are in the way OF locking your
self UP nights, as most city folks are
A good nights rest to YOU" and then
pausing "A second, and casting his eyes
toward the ceiling, he added: "A lone
sleep and pleasant dreams"
Then he placed the candle on the
table and left.
| did not like the way in which h'
had said "a long sleep" but did nOt
feel superstltious about it. When h,
had gone | closed the door and oh
served there was a good bolt on II, al
he had said. This shot into the socket
aud giving the door firm pull. t
make sure it was fast. was surprised
to see the socket yield little, an,
then, as my hold on the door-knob re
iaxed. draw into place again.
Close examination showed 1t to b,
held by a spiral spring, and it was ap
parent that when the spring wa
drawn out to its full tension. 1t woul,
readily snap aud render the entrnnc
to the room an easy matter.
llit sum llOI
than the one that had occurred oI
the road. and fell to thinking of tn
people, whose guest | was with n
intensity bordering on nervousness.
There was but one window to tn
room, and observed that access coul
not be had to that from without excep
by the aid Of a ladder.
Being fully convinced that wa
among bad people, resolved to draN
the bedstead up against the door, an
IL slept at all to do so with one ey
open at least.
But here another surprise awalte
me. The bedstead was lmmovabe. |
was rather heavy structure, certain
ly. being of the Old-fashioned oake
kind; but II must weigh a ton.
thought, IL I could not, under the ne
vous excitement that pervaded mi
raise one end of 1t; and yet all tn
strength could exert ayailed nothing
Further examinations showed thi
the legs Of the bedstead We're secure
to the floor by small iron knee
screwed 10 solid.
1t was evidently time for serious r