Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-04-06

"Bnt I'll tell you soon whether he's
there or not. Sit down."
So Lynch reluctantly took his seat,
! looking around at the doors and windows
once in while in an uneasy way. was
determined 10 take him now a. any cost :
and verify believe should have planted
myself in his path had he insisted upon
going now.
Tick, tick, tick. tick :" the battery
called out. aud | listened TO the message.
keep cool. Gould has gone for the
police" Strange it was, wasn't it? That
should sit there and talk through two
hundred and fifty miles OF space with a
man not half mile from me.
whats thet signerly?" inquired my
companion, as the ticking ceased; and l
replied that the clerk at Cohoe had Just
written of the message and sent it out
He seemed satisfied and sepled back in
his chair, where he sat in sullen silence,
his jaws going up and down,as he chewed
his weed
O. how slowly the minutes crept along.
The suspense was terrible. sat and
watched the minute hand of the clock,
and live minutes seemed as many months.
My companion seemed nervous too. lie
moved uneasy in his chair.
Amt ii about time ye heard from
Jim?" he asked al length.
I'VE shall get word from him in few
moments now" answered, and tell to
watching the clock again. Five minutes
more passed. Lynch got up and began
pacing to and iro across the room. AT
length he paused and said
Il don't believe I'll wait any more.
I've got TO see man down at the Penn.
sylyania House, and he'll be abed eli |
don't git thar pretty soon"
Hold on a nom ent and I'll see what
they're up to-" | cried hastily. aud
touched the key again. Make haste
was my message. II shall lose him il you
do not. Not moment TO spare.
Straightway came the reply, short but
encouraging. "A squad Of police started
Tor the depot five minutes ago" Thank
Heaven! They ought to be here now. |
looked at Lynch and thought of the five
hundred dollars.
"Wal, what's the word?" he growled
impa,iently.
Your friend is coming" ! answered
for want Of better reply.
Comm" COMM Wharf
Coming 10 the Office of Cohoe. He
probably has an answer for you"
IAN answer for me? Jim Fellers
What should he answer for" Lynch
stood in stupid thought for moment and
Then he looked at me with a dangerous
light in his eye.
Look 4 here. young teller" he cried.
"irs my private opinion you're lyin' to
me. And ef We are"-here he uttered
horrible oath-"I'll cut yer skulkin' heart
out. don't know anything bout thet
thar macheen. but / swar Jim Fellers
hain't go, nolhint TO answer. More like
he'd Git mp and scatter when he heered
thet message"
He stood glaring at me- as he uttered
these words, his hand on his revolver !
cannot account Tor Il. As before re.
MAJ ked, am timid man by nature.
But this action only made me bolder.
Everything depended upon keeping him
few seconds longer. 1t must be done
at any cost. tried q new plan.
What do you mean. sirf" ! shouted
rising. "by coming into this Office and
talking in that style' Do you think I'll
endure ltp Leave this room at once, sir.
or Ill" and I advanced threateningly
toward him. Ny unexpected attitude
seemed to amuse him more than anything
else. but It silenced his suspicious. He
put his hands in his pockets and delivered
a loud laugh in my face.
"Wal, wal. my bantum, ye needn't git
SO cantankerous. Who'd thought such o
little breeches as you had such spunk
Haw haw haw Why,I could chaw you
up 'lhout maxim two bites Of ye."
"Well. SIR" said, still apparently
unmollifed. "either sit down and hold
your tongue, or else leave the office" "
And he good naturedlY complied.
Once more we were sitting listening to
the ticking of the clock as the minutes
dragged their slow length along, Would
help never come? Three minutes more.
Great Heavens The suspense was be-
coming intolerable. l must go to the
stair and listen if die for it. arose
and took step toward the door, but a
voice stopped me.
Hold ~ shouted Lynch, standing up
right, all his suspicious aroused once
more; eyer can't go out Of thet door
afore me. Come back here -
SIR
Come back here, or by the Eternal
-" and the pistol muzzle looked me in
the face. He stood. now half turned
from the door and was facing it. Slow
ly, without a particle OF noise, saw the
knob turn and b lace under blue CAP
peep in. Thank God Help had come
felt 10Y uncomfortable come over me.