The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1912-06-14
A Robber IN !:
the Room

| my plans QaQ leo me 70 leave the
boat at Cincinnati, and strike about
SO miles southerly into Kentucky.
found myself at the end of the day In
question in a small hotel, waiting for
my supper. had come to this par.
ticular house only by accident. and Ger.
tainly nothing but the lateness Of the
hour, the rain that was falling heavily,
and my own tired. hungry condition.
prevented my sallying forth at once In
search Of better accommodation. The
house was quite apart from the rest
Of the town, and seemed to be one Of
those ill-kept, unattractive inns where
a 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. 1t was q small,
square apartment. with no furniture
save the bed, a chair, and the wash
stand. I looked under the bed and
behind the stand. Nobody was there.
l spied closet, and explored 1t, with
the same result. The door of the room
fastened on the inside with q heavy
bolt, but to make assurance doubly
sure. ! set the washstand against 1t
after sliding the bolt; and not yet
content, moved the bed around and
effectually barricaded It. The two
windows appeared to be about eight
feet from the ground; and these also
secured in such a way that 1t would
be impossible to raise them from the
outside.
Pretty safe. this, I think" was my
remark, as ! looked around at my de-
lenses; and throwing or my coat,
drew from the breast pocket a long
leather bill book, and proceeded to
count it's contents. Three thousand
three hundred dollars In notes-a large
amount to carry about ones person;
but the business in which ! was en-.
gagged demanded It.
placed my pocketbook beneath the
pillow and laid my pistol beside It.;
then putting the candle on the stand,
went to bed.
Usually ! was a sound and ready
sleeper, but now lay wide awake. and
all the arts that ! used to lull myself
to rest were unavailing. The house
was perfectly still. and there was no
noise from the street, save the steady
drip. 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
less.
turned on my side; my eye was
caught by my pistols lying by the pill
low. looked at them merely for .
change Of object. and as I looked I
made discovery that sent Q chill Of
terror all over me. The caps had been
removed from both Of them!
My heart sank within me, and ter
ror like that of death seized me. Some
Internal plot was on foot to destroy
me; the mysterious agency that was
to take my life might be in readiness
that instant. hay perfectly still. with
my eyes almost closed. not daring even
to turn upon my back, as ] had been
wing.
It was well for me that did not.
heard no step. not even q breath; but
q long, glittering knife was slowly pro-
iected from behind me and held sus-
pended by . human hand above my
head!
drew my breath quietly and rsgu-
iarly-how, I know not. but I did 1t.
even eounterfeited slight snore.
The robber was apparently satisfied.
The knife was still poised above me;
but felt his hand cautiously feeling
beneath my pillow. II seized the
pocketbook and slowly drew It forth.
What followed passed with almost
the speed of thought. My right hand
Jew to the knife and grasped It a. I
rolled upon my back. With terrible
cath the robber started up and threw
himself upon me. He was q brawny.
muscular villain of thrice my strength,
but there was to be no trial Of that
kind between US. Az he flung him.
self at my throat turned the knife up
on him; the point took him in the
breast, and his weight and impetus
drove the blade right through him.
With one spasmodic movement ! he
rolled OF from me and tumhled dead
On the floor.
The horror Of his presence. and the
consciousness Of my peril had been
30 suddenly forced upon me that the
shock was too great for mel fell
back fainting on the bed.
When I awoke broad daylight was
streaming In at the windows. Little
by little recalled the dreadful reali-
ties Of my adventure, and persuaded
myself that 1t was not all q nightmare.
l assured myself Of the safety Of my
money, and then put on my clothes
and hooked about me. The robber lay
on his face; his fall had broken the
knife. and . great pool Of blood was
oozing out on the floor. The mystery
Of his preesnce there was soon *
planned. A secret closet was let into
the wall where he had been hidden,
and from chipk Of which he had seen
whore deposited my money. It was
arranged so that part of the wall
could be noiselessiy opened In, like
door: and from this lurking place
had the desperate emerged when he
Judged me sound asleep, creeping on
hands and knees to my bedside, and @
1t proved, to his own dsstructlen..
A Dreadful Wound.