Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-05-03

ed over toward the bed. My eyes were
widely open, but / closed them in time
not to be detected. Watching him,
steatbip, | saw him open the door of the
safe, which he entered without drawing
The KEY from the lock.
Here was the opportunity for which l
had waited and watched. sprang light
" from the bed, and with one bound
reached the safe, dashed the door to,
turned the kew, and with one loud shrek
fell PROSTATE and senseless on the floor
| of the dark room.
How long lay on the floor / do not
know-probably for few moments only
- but as was unconscious. it seemed,
when | came to myself, as if the interval
had been long one. | was aroused by
his blows upon the iron door, and found
myself weak after the long nervous ten,
sion, but still calm. remember the sat
isfaction with which | thought, while |
lay there before rising. that he could not
escape, mingled with vague and foolish
dream that he might in his rage burn the
valuable contents of the safe. He pound :
ed desperately on the door, and swore
fearfully at finding himself entrapped.-
But as took no notice of his outcries
he soon grew quiet.
Presently | rose, lighted a candle,
dressed myself with all possible haste,
and with trembling fingers, turning often
TO look at the safe. from under the closed
door of which | more than half expected
to see blood trickling-why | cannot tell
except that my mind was full of images
of horror. was soon in readiness /
had no means of ascertaining the time, as
he had my watch in his pocket, and
there was no clock in the room. Taking
the candle, FASTENED 20 arouse Dinah,
who, as shook her, slowly opened her
eyes, and with scarcely more than her
usual slowness pronounced her formula !:
swell. Mss Lille, what shall | fly
Lord a massa! what's de matter wild the
child? You amt seen ghost, have you,
honey?"
mo Diaah; but I've been something
worse than ghost. I've caught rob
Der and he's in the safe. What time is
il 2" and looking at the clock that licked
slowly aud deliberately-as how could
Dinah's clock help doing II saw to my
great relief that it was near midnight
We had scarcely got down stairs when
| beard the sound of wheels. A mo-
ment more and my husband was in my
arms, listening with amazement to rapid
narrative of my singular adventure. |
wouldn't suffer him to open the safe until
SiIas has summoned assistance from the
neighboring houses. feared my des-
perate prisoner might still escape. When
the safe was opened, there sat my burg
lar on the trunk, half stupefed for want
of air, a knife in one hand, the package
of money in the other, and the burned
out candle at his feet. He was recogniz-
ed as an old offender, who had not been
long ouG of State Prison, to which, in
due course of law, he was soon sent back
for a term of years, which | devoutly
hope may last as long as he lives; for |
confess | should not feel easy to hear
that he was at large. The look of rage
he gave me on coming out of the safe
will not soon be obliterated from my
memory.
My husband, | need hardly say. was
greatly pleased with my safe investment,
and complimented me highly on the
courage and GOODNESS which had doubtless
saved my life as well as our money. The
love and pride with which he regarded
me, and with which he always to this day
rehearses my exploit, were of themselves
a sufficient compensation for the horror
aud agony of that long summer night.