Year: 1865

run such risk was eminently perilous, but
it seemed the shortest, and almost the only
method of detection of the late murderers,
and having finished my examination of the
apartment, / descended to the bar-room
again, and after calling for supper, sat down
to wait the development of my plan. And
| had not long to wait. In half an hour we
were disturbed by the entrance of half doz
en- of the ugliest looking mortals that ever
saw,


They were dres sed in every costume, and


the expression of their countenances was
more like that OF gladiators and savages,
than civilized men. The tallest and most
hurley OF them, who seemed to be their
leader, had an especially fendish expression
of features. .--


IA set of fellows fit for murderers," even
if they are not murderers," said to myself


The company walked up to the bar, and
drank freely, and the landlord, exactly to my
e1pectatons-although an eye less keen and
watchful would not have observed it-pri-
vately signaled the leader of the gang to step
aside with him.


How much | would have given to have
heard that conversation. well know what


it wss about. and l easily detected q slight
uneasness in the landlords glance towards
me as he returned to the room again.


The next moment, at sly signal from
their captain, the gang withdrew from the
house.


And now / felt that the game was fairly
commenced, and felt the need of ha ring my
faculties III a thoroughly wide awake state.


The villains had gone for the present, with
the intention Of allaying my suspicious, but
saw through the ruse and knew that the still
hour OF midnight, would bring them back
again to accomplish their foul work with
uDerring certainty.


ain ost started as the thought flashed
through my brain, "What if they should
come BEFORE" and almost shuddered at the
thought of finding fny to6A packed with
the bloodthirsty villains l had just seen 60
away from the hotel. No time must be lost.
If the robbers should get to my room before
me, all my plans would be frustrated, and
so giving yawn or two and complA7ding Of
fatigue, l asked the landlord ms coolIy rs
could for a light, and went up stairs to my
room. Carefully locking the door, placed
the key conveniently in my pocket, and then
proceeded to examine the room with the
most absolute thoroughness, but without
finding anything further to excite my suspi-
con.


IplAced my trunk near the head of the
bed, then throwing off only q part of my
clothes, and placing my revolvers where they
would be ready for instant use. proceeded
to cover myself up in bed in the exact posi-
tion of natural slumber. As I lay for hours,
broad awake, enG listening eagerly for the
slightest football to break upon the stiffness, I
need not describe my sensations. Glancing
upward at the ceiling, for had purrosely
left my light burning, noticed that the win
dows were barred. Somehow or other this
discovery seemed to give me fresh coura ee
although up to this time had no settled idea
of the consequences if had carried out my
plan.


But my suspense was not to last long
The minute hand Of my repeater was over the
hour of one, and in another moment there
was faint noise along the stairway. Instant,
ly every nerve in my body was strung to its
utmost tension. listened eagerly. The
sounds came closer, till at length they ceased,
and in @ minute I thought I heard q low
subdued breathing in front of my door
Collecting my scattered wits, began 10 snore
loud and long as naturally as could. This
sound seemed to reassure them for the next
moment heard the rattle Of the key in the
lock.


Igrasped my pistols wit h nervous grip,
while cold sweat started from every pore
in my body. The lock sprang in the socket,
and the same gang Of rufians had seen in
the bar-room stepped cautiously into the
room. e... ...s ..-


KEEP: on snoring, and through my half
C losed lids saw them creep slowly forward.
closing the door after them. An almost un-
csntrollable impulse urged me to spring :or-
ward and battle for my life, but felt the
tiue had not yet come. It cost me q tremen.
dous struggle to restrain myself aa saw one
of the villains approach the bed. One Of
them began the job of forcing my trunk while
one of the others held sponge to my nos
trils as I lay atil snoring in bed. now fel t
that the last moment had come, and with a
spring like lightning was in the midst of
the robbere. sending ball through tho skull
OF one of them. and telling. another to the fioor
with the butt of my pistol. This moveme n
on my part was so sudden, that il struct
them dumb with amazcment, and taking ad-
vantage of the moment, leaped through the