Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-05-25
A Robber in
the Room

When ! was thirty-one was passing
through the western states on the
track of a speculation which promised
well.
My plans had led me to 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 accommodations. 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 small,
square apartment, with no furniture
save the bed, a chair, and the wash
stand. | looked under the bed and
behind the stand. Nobody was there.
| spied a closet, and explored it, with
the same result. The door of the room
fastened on the inside with heavy
bolt, but to make assurance doubly
sure, | set the washstand against it
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
l secured in such a way that it would
be impossible to raise them from the
outside.
Pretty safe, this, l think" was my
remark, as l looked around at my de-
lenses; and throwing off my coat, l
| drew from the breast pocket 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.
l placed my pocketbook beneath the
pillow and laid my pistol beside it;
then putting the candle on the stand,
| went to bed.
| Usually l was 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
eyes, and at the end of ten minutes
opened them again, perfectly sleep
| less.
l turned on my side; my eye was
caught by my pistols lying by the pill
| low. l looked at them merely for a
change of object, and as l looked l
made discovery that sent 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. lay perfectly still, with
my eyes almost closed, not daring even
to turn upon my back, as had been
lying.
1t was we'll for me that did not.
heard no step, not even a breath; but
a long, glittering knife was slowly pro-
| jected from behind me and held sus-
pended by a human hand above my
| head!
drew my breath quietly and regu-
larly-how, l know not, but l did it.
even eounterfeited a slight snore.
The robber was apparently satisfied.
| The knife was still poised above me;
but ] felt his hand cautiously feeling
beneath my pillow. it seized the
pocketbook and slowly drew it forth
What followed passed with almost
the speed of thought. My right hand
flew to the knife and grasped it as
rolled upon my back. With a terrific
oath the robber started up and threw
himself upon me. He was a brawny,
muscular villain of thrice my strength,
but there was to be no trial of that
kind between us. AS 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 off from me and tumbled dead
on the floor.
The horror Of his presence, and the
consciousness Of my peril had been
so suddenly forced upon me that the
shock was too great for mel fell
back fainting on the bed.
When l awoke broad daylight was
streaming in at the windows. Little
by little | recalled the dreadful reali-
ties Of my adventure, and persuaded
myself that it " as not all a nightmare
| assured myself of the safety of my
money, and then put on my clothes
and looked 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 ex.
planned. A secret closet was let into
the wall where he had been hidden,
and from chink of which he had seen
where / deposited my money. 1t was