Year: 1868




ulars was generally brave and silent
man; but evening, being hard
pressed, he told the following story:


1t was on the close of a sultry
evening in August that | took my way
along a woodland road that led to
the town of W, in the State Of
Virginia. The extreme sultriness of
the weather had wearied me more
than either the length of the way OF
the roughness of the road; and wher
at length [ came in sight of comfort
able inn, nesting among trees on the
roadside, felt extreme delight. Il
was a small house, but a clean one
and the general air OF neatness which
characterized it was most attractive
to the weary traveller.


The western part of Virginia had
about this time been much troubled by
a gang of desperadoes, whose robber
les and acts of violence had both
startled and Mortified the community
All efforts to catch them had been il
vain, and the road which | travelled
enjoyed the unenviable notoriety of
having been the scene of by far the
greater number of their crimes. Ii
was, therefore, with feelings of deep
satisfaction that | entered the door
of this peaceful cottage.


The interior correspCnded with the
exterior. Nothing but cleanliness and
neatness met my eye. | was encount
cred at the door by woman of very
prepossessing appearance, who court
eously invited me into the parlor. ]
informed her that | proposed passing
the night at this house, and asked her
if she had accommodations for my
horse. She answered in the afirma
tive, and went out to call the hostler
In few minutes tall, Unlocking man
came forward, and proceeded to lead
my horse away, not however before |
had removed the saddle-bags and tax
en- them under my own particular
care.


The woman soon came in, and bus.
led herself with arrangements about
my dinner | noticed that she had a
troubled expression and frequently
cast uneasy glances at me. This
did not notice particularly at first. or
rather | attributed it to the ordinary
anxiety which any careful landlady
might feel about the success of her
dinner.


Dinner passed over very well, and
| adjourned to the chief room OF the
inn to take my post-prandial smoke
| found there several men of sinister
aspect sitting, ornnnd tho G--o rl~oa
The moment | entered they stopped
talking and relapsed into silence


These men were evidently habitues
of the house. How this modest look
ing woman ever came into connection
with such men | could not imagine
However, there it was. These men
who were nearl y a dozen in number
were certainly about the widest SET
of desparadoes i'll appearance that
ever saw. After some minutes of 81
lence they rose one by one and let
the room.


| carried my saddle-bags with me
as | entered the room, and | noticed
that my care of them attracted the
notice of these men. | soon finished
my smoke, and then rising | took my
things and inquired for my bedroom
The woman took the light and led the
way. As | came to the door she turn
ed around and faced me. Handing
me the light she suddenly clutched my
arm, and with a pale face, and in {
thrilling whisper, she said:


"For Gods sake, take carel They
are going to kill and rob your


Before | could recover from tn,
start her words gave me she wa.
gone.


mechanically entered the room
put down the light, and stood like on,
stupeGed.


What words were these! "Kill me
rob me !" What did the won an mean
As | thought of these words the be
lief forced itself upon me that thi
h ouse, Notwithstanding its simpl,
neatness, was somehow connected
with these very brigands of whom
had heard so much. For a moment
felt paralyzed.


You may well believe it was fear
ful moment Here was |, alone, in
lonely part of the country. complete
ly in the power of these villains. A
to the woman, she had warned me in
deed; but why had she not warned
me before ? | thought of escape, bu
that was impossible. Supposing tina
could get away from the house,
could not hope to avoid the pursui
of these ruffians along the road; ant
to take the woods was certain death.


At length the very desperation o.
my situation reused me to action
Here" | thought, 81 will wait an,
receive my doom, | will sell my lif
as dearly as possible; | will not fly
| will remain here, trust in God, an,
fight to the last" After this decision
| felt better. | went to the door an
barred it as we'll as | could, and put al
the furniture of the room against il
| also crammed some pillows agains
the windows. Then, opening my sac
dle-bags, took out my pistol case, t
see how my arms were.


My arms consisted of two of tn
most beautiful revolyers that eve
were seen. Both were seven shoot
ers with the very latest Improvement
"a movable chamber for the insel