Year: 1860




the brave, have an instructive dread of an
unseen danger. Ajax, the very incarna-
ton of physical courage, when sudden
darkness covers both the contending ar
mics, concludes his prayer with
-" The light of Heaven restore,


Give me to see, and Ajax asks no more"


And the vain glorious coward PAROLES ex-
presses the same idea, when, after he had
fallen into the ambuscade and been blind
folded, he exclaimed;


Give me to live, or let me look upon my
DEATH"


To remain where l was, in the dark
was out of the question. To endeavor to
force my way down stairs, an idea | had
previously rejected, was my only alterna
tive. Still | thought | would not unne-
cessarily precipitate the catastrophe. !
would wait, as patiently as might be, un.
til, as near as | could guess, the light
had but few minutes to burn, and then
at all hazards, to try and make my way
out. | waited ten, fifteen minutes, and
then was about to carry my resolution in.
to effect, when heard slow, heavy step
ascending the stairs, it stopped at the
door; there was a short pause and then a
key turned in the lock the door opened
and man entered the room, followed by
the woman who had conducted me to the
house


If / had entertained any doubts as to
what the issue of the affair was to be,
one glance at the powerful sinister look
ing ruffian before me would have dissipa-
ted them. lie carried in his right hand a
tough cudgel, or rather bludgeon, and on
the whole, presented the appearance of be-
ing pretty formidable antagonist Still
[ felt very considerable degree of satis~
faction at the thought that | had but one
man opposed to me. Why the woman
had accompanied him l was at loss to
conjecture, but from subsequent events, l
arrived at the conclusion that her presence
was due to the fact that she proposed it
should serve as a check to any unneces-
sary display of fviolence on the part of her
companion; though from her satisfaction
when she learned that [ was a stranger in
England, it was evident that she had an
ticipated, and was prepared to embrace
the alternative Of carrying matters to ex-
tremity should [ by resistance render it
necessary.


The man at once, as though any attempt
at Disgusting his purpose were useless,
said, Hand over your watch and what
money you have about you,' and he ad-
ded, seeing l showed no disposition to
comply with his request, but remained
motioness by the fire place, abe quick
about it or it will be the worse for you"


As he spoke he advanced toward me
with lis arm uplifed. At the same mo
ment the woman, who had remained
spectator of the scene, threw herself be-
tween rs and exclaimed in a loud tone,
"Oh no blood, Tim. And you," she ad
ded, turning to me, "giye up without re
sistance whatever lie requires, and no
harm shall befal you


As she spoke sudden idea struck me.
In a moment | was by her side, ard grasp
ing her arm with one hand, with the 9th
er | drew pistol and presented it within
a few inches of her head.''


"Advance one step and I'll fire." cried
TO her confederate, who, SO rapid had been
my movement, stood gazing at us with an
of stupid bewilderment on his
coarse features. Ruflian as he was, the
wretch paused irresolute. Whatever
might be the nature of the tie which bound
him to the woman / held in my gasp, it
was at least such which rendered him not
Indifferent to her fate, and the energy of
my language left no doubt that l would
execute my threat. "Now mark me-" l
continued, addressing the woman, "you
will take the light in one hand, we will
proceed together down stairs, and when
we reach the street door | will release
you. But remember, should YOU attempt
10 play me false, at the first sign of trea-
cherry on your part or that of your CON
your life shall pay the for
felt +, YOU" l said to the man, L" will re-
main here; if you attempt to follow US,
YOU know the consequence"


Without further parley | advanced to-
ward the door, still holding firmly the wo
mans right arm in her left hand she
bore tie light, and in this position we
passed from the room. As We did so, !
noticed that her face, which excitemeet
had momentariIy suffused with a slight
color, was again deadly pale. This gave
cause for new apprehension on my part.
What if she should faint? In this case
the light would fall from her nerveess
hand, while at the same time should lose
the advantage which her fear at present
afforded me. Fortunately, however, we
reached the lower hall without my fears
being realized, and as the street door
opened addressed my companion for the
last time.


=" Your project, said, was not ilI-con
trived, but failed somewhat in it's execu-
ton and you have given me lesson in
which may be useful to me.
Were it not that I owe you some slight
for your interposition when
you thought my life menaced, | would de-
liver both you and your accomplice into
the hands of justice, but as it is, l spare
yo1."


She made no reply, and in another mo-
ment | was in the street. | walked rapid.
Iy down the alley, and arriving at the
street with which it communicated, | was
so fortunate as to meet a policeman, by
whose direction | easily succeeded in re-


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