Year: 1859

hurt YOU -


Il shall not be alarmed, | replied as |
y closed the door, and descended the step


was somewhat annoyed at the appear
ance of things, and determined to plaC
myself in the best position for defence,


examined my quarters closely, and foun
the door had no fastening whatever, no
was there anything convenient by whic
it could be secured. ar i-5


Determined not to be bafled, tore
strip Of board from the wall, and with M
knife cut out a piece sufficiently long t
make brace from the lower clete of tn
door to the floor. Then with my poke t
!, knife bored holes in the castings at tn
} upper end, drawing several nails from th
wall, | drove them in with the handle o
my large knife. Having examined thu
walls, and apprehended no danger from
them, secured the window aud ther
turned my attention toward the floor
Beneath the bed / discovered trap door
and its discovery made my hair stand or
end. found it opened downward, and
the possibility Of securing it strongly
seemed hopeless .


Once thought of removing the bed
and then watching as a trapper does a hole
in the ice for game. But that would not
do for though l should successfully re-
pulse the first intruder-for | had nc
| longer doubt of being in robbers roost
it would leave hole open which would
expose me to their FIRE. At length plan
came to my relief. moved the bed from
over the door, and taking the clothes off
| threw the chaff bed upon the floor, and
directly over hesuspected trap. But oh
horror! what discovery l had made
The bed was saturated with blood, and in
many places hard from gore which had
been dried in it,


Being thus Mortified, took a seat on
one side of the bed, with my saddle bags
close by me, my knife in one hand, my
revolver in the other, and my ammunition
convenient in case should need it. |
blew out the light, aud in darkness await
ed the denouemeqt, of the plot. How long
| had waited ! could not tell, but in spite
of my perilous situation my eyes grew
heavy, and | was almost overcome with
sleep. But an easy moving of the bed
aroused my perceptive faculties, and in
an instant | was wide awake 1t moved
several times quite easy and then became
could hear nothing. Presently faint
whisper from an adjoining room came /;
my eyes followed the direction, and saw
small stream of light pouring through
an opening in the PARTITION. / stole softly
to the spot and listened a moment. then
put my eye to the opening, and had fair
view of the inside


So horrible was the sight then beheld
that its reeolloctions will never be erased
from my memory. Hanging from the bed
with his head nearly severed from his
body, was an old gray headed man, while
the purple current of life was streaming
from cash. | reelcd moment with
dizziness, and was about to withdraw from
the scene, when the door opened softly
and person entered, | looked again,
and the three men had seen in the bar
room were standing near the dead man.


why Hams, said one, i thought you
had fixed him by this time


wen have trouble with that customer
replied Hams, shaking his head. He is
up to something, he put his bed over the
trap.


The devilr they both exclaimed, and
looked at each other in surprise.


I'VE must manage him somehow, said
Hams, he has money; am certain of
that


Hadn't we better attend to that ere gal
first !? said one. r.


Yes, the old man is fixed now for the
gal, and picking up the light, they left
the room.


What girl, thought l. Is it possible
that some persons as unfortunate as my
self have been compelled to remain here


| listened eagerly, and presently crash
came, followed by 4 shrill scream. |
sprang toward my door, but recollected
that had it well secured | hesitated a
moment, when another scream, more ter
rible than the first, followed by sharp
report of pistol 1t was but the work
of momeut to unfasten the door aud back
out. As | sprang into the passage | met
two men who fred simultaneously, but
without effect.


leveled my revolver and sent the con
tents of one barrel through the head of
one, who tumbled down stairs, dragging
his companion after him.


rushed into the room, and found the
girl sheltered behind bed, keeping Hams
at bay with Nplver AS l entered,
Hams sprang al with fendish ex-
rression, and, in spite of my efforts, seiz-
ed me in his Herculean clutches. My
pistol now was Of no use to me, SO hurling
it from me, drew my knife and soon put
an end to the struggle, gathered up my
pistol and soon hurried the girl into my
room and had the door barricaded then
explained to her our situation. and how |
came to discover that she was to be a victim.
But when | told her of the old man, she
family gasped it is my father, and the
next instant was senseless on the floor.
was in trying position, Iexpected every
moment that the attack of the robbers
would be renewed, and in all probability
/ they would oVerpower us, and then our