The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-06-14

u bh0 a1ocAeu QOOr, Wh0n L heard
them try that one first! Had it been
open, should have been discovered
at once. stShall break the glass?"
asked one. 'tWhat for, you fool?"
whispered the other, ''to make n
row? There's a door on the other
side; try that first" ''S'pose we find
some one here?" asked the first voice.
and in reply 1 heard significant tap
and q low laugh. Their feet were
listed, SO that 1 could hardly hear
their tread as they neared me. I
raised my arm that it might have full
play lnstantaneously, and gripped nv
weapon with firm determination to
be beforehand with one of the men
at least. [ shudder now as [ think
of the savage eagerness with which L
awaited my opportunity. It was not
long in coming; the handle of the
door turned softly, and by the dim
light of the lantern / saw rass before
me a short burly figure. I could not
see his face, but / knew its type from
what [ did see; the man was Il coarse,
heavy scoundrel-by trade u night
robber, and, if need should be,
murderer. [ felt no remorse, but
with the full sweep of my arm
brought down the heavy poker on
the back of his bull-neok, lust at the
base of the skull. The blow was
well aimed; he fell like an OK; but
even before he reached the ground,
L had left my retreat and turned to
face the second man, who L knew
must be following him.
The light of the lantern, as it fell
with the burglar, was thrown on
face 1 had known for years. My arm
fell powerless, and though my lips
moved to pronounce name, L was
dumb. The light was dashed out,
but through the dark saw the CLEAN
of Langston's eyes, as, with savage
oath, he sprang on me. Unprepared
rs L was for his attack, L lost my foot
ing, and we rolled together over the
man 1 had felled.
Langston and / were both strong
men, but in the days of our friend.
ship, 1 had always had, in our trials
OF strength, to acknowledge his SUI
periority. His dissipatcd life had
deprived him of some of his usual
force, but rs his grip closed on me, [
felt that the madness of his rage had
more than restored it all to him.
Luckily, we fell in such way that L
recovered first, and thus gained an
advantage in our relative positions,
without which my chances would
have been gone. The struggle was
terrible; was it long? I Thought so;
for the efforts and cXcrtions of many
q minute were crowded into, perhaps,
only few seconds.
l felt that his fury was oyerpowcr-
ing me, but by Tremendous effort,
L threw him from mo and sprang to
my feet. My weapon-could L only
regain it! As L gropcd for it, lie
seized me again. l felt cold circle
press against my cheek, but once
moro | tore myself from him; there
was q bright flash, ana felt that | /
was hit-I rocled and fell Even rs
| fell, L heard Il wcll-known, dearly
loved voice. Quick. quick. they
arc numbering him!" then grcwl of
rage from Il gruf' voice, the crash of !
yielding timber before heavy shoul- |
der, anl-nothing more.
1t was many weeks before Julia.
herself pale with long-continued
watching, would let me question her
upon what had happened. Alarmed /
at my not appearing as I had pro-
missed. she had with difficulty been
restrained by Uncle John from at
once going of i'll quest of me. Nearly |,
an hour passed, and Uncle John be- .
gan to think that there was, perhaps, |
some cause for uneasiness, when !
there was ring ut the bell. All i'm
patience, Julia rushed to the door. !
1t WAS Mrs. Cole, the wife of the
watchman; she knew my address
from her husbands having OCCASION
ally taken parcels home for me; knew
also that was to be ut the bank on
Christmas Day, and SO, she explain
ed, her husband not having come
home, she had called to know whe- |
ther | could tell her what had become
of him.
Uncle John, on hearing this, at
once determined to start. 1t was
terrible night; snow was falling fast,
and the wind was raging, but Julia
would not hear of being left at home;
so-she had her way, like real wo-
man, as she was. Uncle John posi-
lively refused to take Mrs. Cole, who
was, therefore, left behind; and
hackney coach was soon got, and the
two reached the city. Though he had
consented to do this, Uncle John did