The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-07-23

leerlng at me.
Awed by the silence, | stood {
moment at the head Of the stairway
and it just occurred to me that the
mysterious robber might have got in
through the skylights. at the same
moment | was startled by seeing in
the dim light, the figure Of man
moving AMONG the boxes and bales SO
noiselessly and so perfectly at ease
that he did not seem to be earthly.
My first thought was actually of
ghosts, and | felt an impulse to rush
headlong down stairs; but az in
stant's reflection told me that the
figure was that of man-and very
probably the very man | had been
looking for. SO, moving slightly, so
as to stand in the shadow of pillar,
| watched his movements.
No, it was not a ghost. Ghosts 90
-
not about among the rich goods of a
wholesale house, quietly collecting
valuable little packages from newly
arrived boxes ofsilks and tying them
together i'll convenient bundles.
This party did. He was a man-and
big man, too.
His movements at last brought
him to within ten feet of me and /
felt that the time had come. He was
evidently larger than myself, but the
consciousness, that | was in an hon
est cause nerved me and / sprang
from my covert and graspcd him
around the body.
He dropped his bundle, uttering a
startled exclamation, but recovered
his selfpossession almost instantly
and stroye to free himself. Then
began a desperate struggle-on his
own part for liberty, on my part pro-
badly for life.
We reeled hither and thither, sway
ing against boxes and pillars, falling
to the floor and rolling over and over.
with clatter that walked the build
ing to its foundation; and finally
still struggling, once more rose to
our feet. At last his strength proved
superior to mine and he succeeded in
disengaging himself, when he hurled
me from him and sent me staggering
some feet. We stood an instant con-
fronting each other and in that in
stant | recognized him.
"Joe Williamsl" | exclaimed, or
rather gasped, for my breath was
nearly gone.
Yes, it was Joe Williams the por-
ter-the good-natured and reputedly
honest fellow, who had been for
years in the service of B & Co.
lie was on the point of fleeing when /
spoke, but he now confronted me
tiercely, exclaiming:
ayes, Harvey Slater; but you
shall not live to expose mel"
AS he spoke he drew a heavy
pistol and leveled it
at my breast-the muzzle scarcely a
yard distant. He naturally took a
step backward in doing so, and that
step probably saved my life; for he
stepped fairly into the OPEN hatch
way and fell backward with
starteled scream. SO sudden and
unlooked-for was his disappearance
that could not realize it at first, and
was beginning to fancy it all dream;
but | was brought to my senses by
hearing the Gathering noise far be-
low, and loud report that woke
harsh echoes i'll every corner and re-
cess of the building. The pistol had
fallen to the lower floor and eXplod-
ed. At that moment a neighboring
church clock struck one and the toll
ING of the hour had never sounded
SO ghostly before. | fancied it the
funeral knell of that wretched man,
who must have fallen fifty feet, and
who now probably lay a hideous
mass on the lower floor. l stood
moment listening, while cold per
spiration started from my forehead,
and / trembled as with ague. A
deep groan reached my ears; then |
heard rapid footsteps on the deserted
street, followed by bold knocking
at the front door.
'What's wrong in there?" shout
ed an authoritative voice, "Open the
door!n
And the knocking grew louder.
I crept to a window, opened it and
looked down upon the street. Sew
eral policemen were at the door.
"Are you oficers2" asked, still
trembling.