The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1873-07-10

den and unlocked for was his dis
appearance that l could not real
ize i. at first, and was beginning
to fancy it all a dream /; but | was
brought to my senses by hearing
the. Gathering poise far below,and
loud report that woke harsh
echoes in every corner and recess
Of the building. The pistol had
fallen to the lower floor and ex-
ploded. At that moment a neigh
boring church clock struck one,
and the tolling Of the hour had
never sounded SO ghastly before.
| fancied it the funeral knell OF
that wretched man, who mnst
have fallen fifty feet, and who
now probably lay a hidcous mass
on the lower floor. l stood a mo-
ment listening, while a cold pers-
piration started from my forehead,
and l trembled as with an ague.
A deep groan reached my cars;
then | heard rapid footsteps on
the deserted street, followed by u
bold knocking at the front door.
whats wrong in therea" shout.
ed an authoritative voice. N"Opon
the door !"
And the knocking grew louder.
l crept to window, opened It.,
and looked down upon the street.
Several policemen were at the
door.
care you officers ?" asked,
still trembling.
"Yes, what's the mattcr9"
81 will come down and open
the door," 1 rejoiucd closing the
window. f"'
hurried down the four flights
If stairs, and dark as it was it
seemed but second till | had
reached the street door, which |
untastcned and opened. To my
surprise one of the officers seized
me saying:
"Oho! We've got you at last,
chi Don't try to escape, or you
are dead man !"
"Lct GO of me !" / said half.
Indignantly. '.You need not fear
my escaping, l am employed by
B 81 Co., and have been
watching the store, as can easily
prove to you. l encountered a
burglar on the fifth fl or, and he
has fallen down the ha.chway."
"Well, ! guess You're telling
the truth" said the officer, taking
lis hand off my arm; but we must
keep an eye on you, Will you
light the gas 2" '.''' H'l .
"Certainly." "'r
I had some matches in my pock.
ct, and quickly lighted several
burners. A pistol was found on
the floor; but no mangled body.
We peered up the open hoistway;
but now that the lower story was
lighted, all looked gloomy above.
"Let us search every floor"
said one of the officers.
::'Be,ter secure the door first," /
suggested. ni if' t','6 All ~ 'r,s.
"True enongh!" he replied. 81
think you're right,or you wouldn't
want yourself locked in" ~e0f'
l carefully locked the door, and
with the three policemen ascendcd
from foor to floor, lighting the
ens in each story, but finding
nothing on tho eecond or third
floor, to reward our search On
reaching the fourth, however a
horrible aud ghostly sight met our
eyes. 1t was the figure OF o man
hanging In mid air st the hoist
way, his dangling feet nearly on a
level with the floor. The body
was apparently lifclcss, tho head
had fallen over on the left sboul-
Ger, and the face was deathly
pale; but we heard a slight groan
as We. approached. 1t@A 7pi''4n
The figure was that Of the por-
Ter, and ho was not dead, or oven
fatally hurt. In the fall he had
been canght by The point of the
iron bo'k at the end Of the rope
hanging in the hoistway. 1t had
entered the thick muscles OF the
right arm between the shoulder
and elbow, and had TINS held
him suspended, and saved him
fall Of fifty feet, The pain, how
ever, had been so intense that l,e
had Immediately tainted, and was
still unconscious. lie was now
speedily released from bis terrible
situation, resuscitatcd and carried
to apolice station.Is n raj o. -
TaJoe Williams made afnll cou1
fession, and nearly all the stolen
oooda rora recovernd Ho had