Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-07-28

1
some one? have many time. We'll
about Carl He was here about two years
and call me jew if i could reckon him up
He used to come here about noon, and wor
up to eight or nine o'clock at night: bu
what business he worked at could neye
find out. 1 know he had big ledger, an
. two or three such books; but big ledge
won't make business any more than bi
carpet bag will, and he always carried one
he would would come and smoke q ciga
with me now and then; but never cam
up here during all that time, and he ken
this door locked. He always seemed L
be expecting blow, did poor Carl, NOR
like a rat in corner than anything else
poor beggar! Well, sir, one morning
found the key on my mat, and found tn,
place just as you see it, and have never
seen Carl since. One oftwo queer lookine
men have inquired soout him, and asked
if he was coming hack, and said mosi
likely he would. ana likely enough he will. >
Not at oil an interesting story"
thought, and felt inclined to yawn in Mr.
Mosss face; but thanked him for the in
formation, and promised 10 take possess.
ion in three days. which spent in presen-
| ting nv letters of Introduction, and making
other arrangements for the prosecution OF
my plans.
At length the eventual day arrived, and
stayed in my own Office, with my name en-
blazoned on the door and passage way. !
was waiting for friend to call on me, (who
had promised to put me in the way of doing
some business that very day, and felt impa-
tient in consequence.
The Office was clean and tidy, and the
floors had been well scrubbed.
Why hadn't they emptied the waste bas-
kei of all that lumber.
The Office keeper had not lighted a fire.
and took up the basket to perform the
operation myself; but from some cause or
other, / placed il on the table, and began
idly to burn the scraps one by one.
had nearly disposed of them all when
paper attracted my attention, and read it.
1t was torn so as to leave few words intact,
and it ran thus
'Lorise has given your description, and
you may rely on our inding you. Forward
the plates at once, Or"
Then another piece of some mysterious
paper, apparently plan of some place or
other
What did this mean2
Bat / had no time to consider, for nv
friend entered, and putting the two pieces
Of paper in my drawer, / emptied the bas-
do good days work.
Returning late in the evening, I relit the
fire. and addressed myself to the writing of
two important letters to be posted by 1:3O
that night, in order to be in time for the
Cunard liner, which sailed early in the
morning; and then it was that the black
darkness of the doorless room opposite to
me began to trouble me most.
1t had troubled me bafore but On fbfs
night it troubled me ten-fold. From child
hood had been imaginative, and knowing
this, stirred the fire called myself an ass,
and went on with my letter. My eyes
wandered to the black darkness of the
doorway. and / began to ransack my mem.
ory for statistics of men who could tell by
some occult power if any one were hidden
in the room they entered; and laughed
aloud when remembered that had read
OF one sensitive gentleman who by this
occult sense had found that a surgeons
skeleton was in closet behind him.
own dislike being in the dark, but
will do myself the justice to say that have
resolution enough to overcome the dislike
Hh srefore proposed to myself TO very
quiet walk into the dark room which troub-
led me, and without light, look out of
the window, and slowly return.
l went,-the very first step beyond the
threshold dispelled my fears. could see
the glimmer of the stars, through the glass
hear the rattle of the cabs outside. Why, |
1t was quite cheerful place after all
Alb there was a shuffiing noise there by |
the closet, and then my fears returned and |
Jvsrpowered me. / strove to walk out like |
a tragedy hero; but my pace quickened as |
neared the door, and heard the shutting |
noise close to me, and the next moment a |
powerful hand was at my throat, and help
less on tie floor, with the cold muzzle Of |
pistol pressed to my head, was bound to |
and dragged into the outer Office, thrust in |
my chair, and confronted by two quiet
looking men, one of whom laid his revolv-
ar on the table, saying at the same time,
with sn ugly sneer. $50 Brunton, we have
caught ycu at last"
The speaker was a mild, intelligent look
ing man of about 80 years of age In pro-
per dress he would have looked like q |
High Church clergyman. His companion /
Was evidently foreigner, and imagine, a
German, He was about fifty years OF
age. and q profusien of beard and whiskers
covered more than half his face. But he
had winning smile, and good teeth, which |
he often took an opportunity of showing.
I'VE have found you ut last"
1 am thankful TO say that am not ner-
vous when see o danger, and boldly |
replied
.'My name ia Harker and nos Brunton. |
Mr. Moss, the landlord of these premises |
has noticed my resemblance to his late |
tenant, and is satisfied that am not the |
same. Depend upon it that shall make |
you repent this outrage"
tried to rise and call for help, from the |
street, but the pistol was cooked at nae, and |
there was that in the mans eye which eau |
toned me against rashness in my HELPLESS |
position.
81 will sit down." / replied, 'tand hear |
what you have to say; but If choose to do
it, 1 shall do Hy best to raise an alarm in
spite o. your revolver"
yell spoke, Carl" said tho foreigner;
Louise always say he o plucky one."
'.Now then Rruptop," whispered the
oths. one, 'Letus haze no nonsense. We
ave not let before, it is true; but Louise |
has SO well described you, that putting |
another name on ycur door was simply |
idiotic. Besides, of one ours has watched for
your return, and we communicated with
him directly we landed. Go free, II you
like, but zoe via hare the plates"
s.Dat's the matter vid rs" echoed the
German; I'VE viii have the plates"
81 know nothing of any plstes, / cried, |
'.nor of Louise, nor of you. All know is
that you will see the inside OF o prison |
very shortly"
"And you think you can throw rs. throw |
me over in this way Do You think you
deal with childrenf"
Il think ] deal with . barglar. Most
certainly with . rascal OF some sort or
other"
Here my two friends held . whispered
conference. Then he of the revolver turn |
ed sharply towards me.
"Wii you marry Louise7 VIII you give
MP the plates and marry my sister,
"She lofe You old boots" added the
@ German aad from which l opine that he
prided himself on knoyledge Of English
idion.
In spite of my serious position, was |
getting thoroughly amused. The dark
doorway held unknown terrors to my ex-
cited imagination; but two commonplace |
fellows who had made o mistake, only |
caused Q feeling of merrimsnt in spite Of
the revolver.
u ann sorry cannot ebliee you," re-
Piled. Il am Hattered by the lsdVs pref |
>xonco. buf having ona wife alreadv fear