The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1912-11-28
A Robber IN
the Room

TACK OF . speculation wnicn promised
we'll
My plans had led mo to leave the
BOAT At Cincinnati. and strike about
50 miies sorfheriy into Kentucky.
found myself ~ the end Of. the day In
question In . ANAL hotel. waiting for
my supper. ! had come to this par
ticuiar house Only By accident. and GER
tainiy nothing but the lateness OF the
hour. the rain that was falling heavily,
and my own tired. hungry condition.
prevented my saiiying forth at once in
search Of better accommodations Tho
house was quite apart from the rest
OF the town. and seemed to be one Of
those lll-kept. unattractive inns where
traveller only goes by accident. and
where he never goes twice could
not discover that there was any other
guest than myself present that night
took my candle and carefully ex-
amined the room II was u small.
square apartment. with NO furniture
save the bed. q chair. and the wash
.stand. looked under the bed and
behind the stand Nobody was there.
I spled closet. and explored IL. with
the same result The door of the room
fsstened on the inside with a heavy
bolt. bu; TO make assurance douhly
sure. | set the washstRnd against Il
after sliding the bolt: and not yet
content, ! moved the bed around and
efcctnally barricsded f. The two
windows appeared TO be about eight
feet from the ground: and these also
n L.. A.f
be impossible 10 raise them from the
outside
Pretty safe. this. | think was mr.
remark. as ! looked around at my de-
fenses: and throwing on my coat.
drew from the breast pocket a long
leather bill book. and proceeded to
count Its contents. Three thousand
three hundred dollars in notes. large
amount 10 carr about ones person;
gagged demanded H.
placed my posketbook beneath the
pillow and laid my pistol beside a..
then putting the candle on the stand.
went TO bed.
Usually was a sound and ready
sleeper, but ! nov lay vide awake. and
all the arts that used to hull myself
60 rest w.resRnHvalling- The house
Was perfectly still and there was no
noise from the street. save the steady
srsp. drip OF the rain. which seemed TO
intensity the stiffness ! closed my
eyes, and at the end OF ten minutes
opened them again. perfectly sleep
les -
; J termed on ny s.de: nay eye ~As
o4sxhi by ms pistols lying by the PHI
low. ] ,ooked az them merely fer a
change Of Oi,;sSt, and AZ I looked
made a elseosery ;hst sent chill Of
terror all over me The eaps had been
removed from both Of tisersi
My heart sank within nc. ard 4 ter
ror like that Of death seized me. Some
Internal plot Was on foot to dess-oy
me. the mysterious agency that was
to take my lie nj sht be in readiness
that instant ] lay perfectly stiil. with
my eyes almost closed, not daring even
to turn upon my back. As had been
hing
1t was vcii for me that did not
heard no step. not even breath. but
a fonx. siittering knife was slowly pro-
,ec;ed from behind me and held sus-
pended By n human hand ABOVE my
head,
drew my breath quietly and reen-
iariy--ho~. know not. but did IL.
even eounterfeited slight snore.
The robbcr was apparently satisfied.
The knife WIS still poised above me.
but felt HIS hand cautiously feeling
beneath my pillow. II seized the
pocketbock ana slowly drew Il forth.
What followed passed with almost
the speed OF thought My right hand
new TO the knife and grasre5 u as
rolled upon mr. ssck. With terrific
eaff the tobber started M and threw
hfmseff npou me. lie was . brawny.
ifaseuisr ssilAlr OF thrice my strength.
but fksrA was 10 be no trial Of thai
jond between rs As he nung him
seIf n my throat turned The knife up
on him, the point took hinu m the
breast. and his weight ana tmpesus
drove the blade right through MIN.
With one spasmodic movement Ne
rolled OF from me and tunbied dead
St the moor.
The horror Of bis presence. andNthe
consciousness OF my peril had been
80 suddenly forced upon me that the
shock vas too great for mel feii
back fafkting on the bed.
when I s~oke broad daylight was
streaming IN AZ the windows. Little
hy little recalled The dreadful reaii.
ties Of my adventure. and persuaded
myself that II was not all nightmare.
l assured myself Of the safety Of my
money. and then put On my clothes