Year: 1860




cd so mysteriously connected with this ad
venture Of mine / was now completely
my own master by vigorous effort of the
will quelled the sahdowy fears which be.
eiged my heart, and looked out with strain
ing eyes to discern, if possible, the means
by which the dog could thus make his ap-
pearence outside second story window.
A transient moonbeam showed me one of
the numerous outbuildings before mention
ed, at right angles with the wall of the
hosuse, and from the caves of this all along
the side Of the house extended narrow
plank, about Eve inches wide A thick cloud
obscuring the moonpgain precuded further
observation, aud turned from the window.


felt confident that my cigar case was
empty Of mataches, but, to test the accura-
cy Of my dream, felt for it, opened it and
discovered at least twenty. struck light.
and, as expected, there was the dog up.
on the bed in the very attitude of the yis-
ion. All doubt now vanished from my
mind that | had been mysteriousIy warned
of intended foul play of some nature, and /
stood a moment resolving in my mind the
best course of action. This speedily de.
cided on. Going up to the dog | carress.
cd him, and was on the point Of carving
him to the window, when--to make nv
dream more exact prophecy-he turned
bis nose toward the ceiling and commenced
whining very low. instantly seized him
and hurled him out of the window with
some little compuuctions at thus treating
my only friend in the accursed house, but
could make no delay.


Laying some clothes on the bed Ia the
form Of man as nearly as possible, and ex-
tinguishing the candle, retired to the
farthest corner Of the room, aud sitting
down 10 one Of the chairs I bad placed
against the door, with my revolver ia my
hand, determined to await the issue of
events. For half an hour sat perfectly
still, listening to every whistle and sigh of
the wind, which blew Internationally through
the window had left open, aud straining
my eyes whenever there was O CLEAN Of
light to discern wheather there was any
movement in the trap-door. AT last, when
momentary ray shone 10, saw it partly
open, and now ! anxiously waited in silence
aud darkness for the next development of
this awful my,t:ry. Presently l heard a
low crcaking, Us Of ropes, theu tremendous
crash, the report of pistol, the sound of
| heavy feet overhead, aud the fall of some
dull, yielding body outside the window.
The pause which followed these almost sim
ultaneous noises was broken by low groans
of pain from the ground benealth my win.
dow and the general nurmur of great dis
turbance in the lower part of the house. L
hastily relit the candle, and going to the
bed found vast stone had been dropped
upon the pillow where my head had previ-
ously lain. Suddenly remembering the pis-
tol l had left beneath my pillow, with the
utmost strength | rolled the massive stone
and found the pistol discharged.


Instantly sthe truth flushed across my
mind. rushed to the window, and look
ing down saw the woman and the m.n |
had noticed in the barroom the night before,
bending with torches in their hands over
the PROSTATE body of my host, who was
evidently in the agonies of death. The ruff
fan had been waiting outside the window
until the accomplice had performed his bel
lish work, in order to rob my mangled
corpse of the money be knew had in my
possession and the pistol being accidental.
ly discharged by the fall of the stone, the
ball had pierced his brain, entering through
the evil eye which had given me such a thrill
of horror.


At the discovery Of this hideous plot and
its awful retribution, my senses threatened
to deserst me but rejecting that in such
house l could be hardly safe, no soon.
er had they carried the dying man within
than 1 clambered down outside, took my
horse from the stable and mounted him un-
observed.


As passed the house, however, and
looked back at the room had SO recently
occupied, and which had so nearly been the
scene of far different tragedy, | saw lights
iu the window. The sound of my horses
hoofs drew the attention of the man within,
who had assembled to see what had become
OF me and ascertain the cause of his com,
rades death and instantly levelling rife
at me, he fired. As was looking at him
the very moment, l Anticipated his action
by clapping spurs to my horse, thereby
somewhat dis concerting his aim and in all
probability saving my own life, for the ball
grNzcd my shoulder, causing scar which
remains to this day. Ten long miles had
my good horse to gallOp before | reached
the nearest justice of the peace, and return
ing as speedily as possible we found our
birds flown and the house half burned to the
ground


No information in regard to them could be
obtained, except that they had lived in this
habitation about two years aud had been
stunned and feared by the settlers of the
neighboring country. The confagration of
the house was arrested, bat nothing was dis
covered throwing any light on the matter.
The body of the foled murderer was taken,
charred snd scarcely recognizable. form the
ashes of his dwelling, where he had op-
parently been flung by his associates as
the quickest mode of barying him. Having
ascertained the futilty Of further investiga-
tion, at least for the present, we rode away,
and passing through an adjacent wood, the
dog which had played so strange part in
this most strange drama made bis appear.
ance suddenly on our left ami followed ouI
horses to the village Of R.. In graft
tude for his efforts to preserve me from de
struction. / henceforward shared my home
with my unwelcome monitor.


T. -. ~ Ar H. NJ. U;oton,s enaaoh