Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1870-10-15

pOlQteu ~ me- anu LllaI Wus III Ile
mans face which cautioned me against
rashness in my helpless condition.
81 will sit down. l replied, and hear
what you have to say; but if choose
to do it l shall do my best to raise an
alarm in spite of your revolver"
Veil spoke, Carl, " said the foreign
er; "Louise always say he was a
plucky one.n
Now, then, Brunton, let us have no
nonsense. We have not met before, it
/ is true, but Louise has so well described
you, that putting another name on
your door was simply idlotic. Besides,
one of us has watched for your return,
and we communicated with him direct
ly when you landed. Go free If you
like, but we will have the plates"
"Dats the matter vid us" echoed
the German; "ve will have the plates"
~ know nothing of any plates,n ]
cried, "nor of Louise, nor Of you. All
l know is, that you will see the inside
Of a prison very shortly.n
"And you think you can throw us,
throw me over in this way Do you
think you deal with children?"
81 think deal with burglar. Most
certainly with rascal of some sort or
other ~
Here my two friends held whisper
ed conference. Then he Of the revolver
turned sharply towards me.
"Will you marry Louise? VIII you
give up the plates and marry my sis
ter ~
"She lote you like old boots" added
the German; and from which / opine
that he prided himself on knowledge
of English idiom.
In spite of my serious position | was
getting thoroughly amused. The dark
doorway held unknown terrors to my
excited imagination, but the two COM
monplace fellows who had made mis-
take, only caused feeling Of merri-
ment, even in spite Of the revolver.
~ am sorry | cannot oblige you," l
replied. "Iam flattered by the lady's
preference, but having wife already,
l fear must decline taking a second,
and as for the plates, please explain
what you mean"
; The answer to the tiippant speech
was a blow on the face which sent the
, DlOOh DllNullllAlS Ol1 blAN AlOOls
"You'll remember insulting the sis
ter of Louis Orlof' Hear, Baron, let
us gag him and search; evil be rails
ing an alarm presently"
They thrust piece of rope between
my teeth, compressing my windpipe to
make me open my mouth; and there
| sat helpless, whilst they turned out
the contents of my desk and drawers,
not forgetting my cash-box, which was
opened with the key taken from my
waistcoat pocket, and the contents ap-
propriated. Knowing that the two
scraps of paper I had found in the
waste-paper basket, and placed in my
drawer must have reference to my WIS.,
it, / watched very anxiously when they
, opened it. But they escaped notice,
, and felt that | had got some clue to
the mystery, even if these men escap-
, ed; and / had quite determined that
they should not escape, for l was Sc
curely bound, and had been working
hard to get my right hand free, and,
, thanks for having very narrow one,
| / now found myself able to slip it
through the loop which encircled my
wrist; but "bided my time" for /
. saw that a false move might bring q
bullet through my head.
, Ode plates is in re oder room, Carl
; Brunton, mon ami" said the Baron
smiling, and patting my shoulder. "Vy
not say? Wy we shoot you? You do
+ dem 50 well, we no get any like dem.
; And you use dem yourself, and den,
| Ach Gott! you upset de cart of de ap-
ple.n
Yes" I thought; and it's odd to
me if you don't upset your cart of de
; apple before long"
: ain dare; in back room,n asked the
, Baron with another amiable smile.
| said "Yes' " ith my eyes.
"See now, my Louis, you were too
3 rough. You pitch into him like dam.
, So see him amiable." Then to me
"And you will marry Louise, who
/ lofe you like old boots y
/ "My other hand was free now. /
tried to speak, and implored with my
eyes for the gag to be removed.
The Baron removed it, and while do
ing so resolved on a plan Of opera
} tions.
"You will marry Louise and give us
the plates?"
ii will give you every satisfaction. y
"That is business said Louis Orloff,
coming forward. First the plates +;
, then you return with us to New York,
and Keep your promise to Louise. Why
| give us this trouble? tell you frank
ly that the expense will be deducted
from your share, and that you will be
, strictly watched in future. | should
have cut your throat but for my pro-
mise to Louise. Now where are the
plates?n
Look in the closet in the next
room; rake out the Goals, and take
what you lind,n
"Good Come, Baron.n
And they left me to operate in the
Goals. Springing up, seized a revol-
, yer, darted to the door and in a mo-
ment had locked them in. But my
triumph was of short duration; for Or
lotI was on the other side like light
, ming, the rotten woodwork tore out un-
= der his vigorous wrench, and his hand
, was on my throat before could grope
| my way to the stairs.
, Then | knew that life depended on
} the struggle, ard fought like one pos
| sessed for the revolver. The Baron came
to his friends help; but found time
and opportunity to send him reeling
to the ground. Orlotf was the weaker
t man, but he outdid me in skill, and a
, dext orous feint threw me off my guard,
leaving the revolver in lis hands.
. Purp > with passion, he fired instant
ly, and felt sharp sting in my left
shoulder; and then all earthly things
seemed to be fading away, and world
opening to view.
When l ecoveret, found myself
4 laid ON q mattrass on the office-table,
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