Year: 1860

thrust into the room. Without waiting
to see who it was, and taking it for grantee
that all in the house were arrayed agains
me, doubled my fist, and with all ny
strength dealt blow at the head tba
brought the person at full length on the
floor. The same moment showed me tha
it was the negress.


The hag was entirely insensible, and
forthwith dragged her into the room, and
shut the door. AT length my attractive
ear caught the sound of light footsteps
outside, and a moment afterwards the
door again opened. This time it was the
beautiful deceiver who appeared. The
first thing her eyes seemed to encounter
was the PROSTATE form of the negress, and
with an exclamation of astonishment she
darted into the room.


Quick as lightning l placed my back
against the door. The movement at
once attracted the girls attention to me.


"Now, my lady y Kissed out, for
was intensely excited, "you and must
have an understanding. You led me in
to this Internal den by your tricks, and
you have got to show me the way out OF
it. or, by all of my hopes, yonder black
Pit shall be your grave. Any way |
may lose my life and am as desperate
as man can be. You see that old bag
cannot help you just now," ! added point
ing to the insensible negress, and the
villain who was here, and who would
have taken my life, lies at the bottom OF
the pit"


The girl looked bewildered and ex-
claimed


Il could not help it, sir, indeed am
forced to do SO !'


"That matters not to me-" 1 added in
creduously; "can you conduct me out
of this house ?"


Yes sir, l can" she replied.


"Will you do it ?" demanded inAex
IDLY.


"Yes sir, will" she responded earn
esuy.


Then lead on" | added, pointing to
the door. but mark you-if l see a
sign of treachery, or notice the least ef-
fort to create an alarm. I'll tear you limb
from limb.


was strong and wild, and meant what
| said. and the girl saw it.


There is no one else in the house, l
assure you," she responded.


Lead the way" | said, hardly credit
ing her words.


The girl passed from the room, when
locked the door, put the kew in my pock
ct, and followed close behind her. No
lights were visible anywhere except in
the room we had left but keeping the
girl right before me and in reach Of my
hands, stepped along. In a few mo-
ments We reached the front door. The
girl stopped a moment, and, judged, got
a key from some hiding place. The next
instant, however, she opened the door,
and | sprang outside thanking God for my
preservation.


Without word, even without a look
behind me, | started away, hardly con.
scious Of the direction Ipursued. found
my way to the boarding house, howe We r,
and at the earliest hour practicable laid
the whole matter before the authorities
Finally | led party of police to the
house. Not being able to obtain ad
tance in the usual manner, the door was
forced. Everything in the house re.
mained undisturbed, but not soul was
to be found high or low. The trap how
ever was soon discovered, and we found
upon examination, that there was a sue
cession Of traps which conducted 10 &
deep, murky pit in the cellar. The
house bad evidently been the haunt OF
robbers for long time.


AT the bottom of the pit we found the
mangled and mutilated remains of the
negro and heap Of Aeshless bones.
shudder to think what might have been
my fate, and congratulated myself on
my fortunate escape. l had evidently
been more fortunate than many Others.
That is all gentlemen.


A very good story very well told -
said / AS Rodman concluded


And true. gentlemen. whether you
believe it or not