Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-09-15

"Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick !" the
battery called out, and l listened
to the message. "Keep COOL
Gould has gone for the police"
Strange it was, wasn't iti That
| should sit here and talk through
$50 miles space with o man not
half mile from me.
"What's that signerty ~ euquir-
ed my companion, as the ticking
ceased, and l replied that the
clerk Of Cahoe had just written off
the message and sent it out. He
seemed satisfied and settled 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 watching the minute hand Of
the clock; five minutes seemed
like so many months. My COM
panion seemed nervous too. He
moved uneasy in his chair.
"Ain't it about time we heard
from Jim 2" he asked at length.
ave shall get word from him
in few moment now" / answer
ed, and fell to watching the clock
again. Five minutes more passed.
Lynch got up and began pacing
to and fro across the room.
81 don't believe I'll wait any
more. I've got to see man down
at the Pennsylvania House, and
he'll be abed if / don't get there
pretty soon."
"Hold on there moment and
I'll see what they're up to-" / cried
hastily, and I touched the key
again. "Make haste" was my
message, 81 shall lose him if you
do not. Not a moment to spare"
Straightway came the reply, short
but encouraging:
"A squad of police started for
the depot five minutes ago.
Thank Heaven! They ought to
be here now. | looked at Lynch
and thought of the $500.
oval, what's the word?" he
growled impatiently.
"Your friend is coming" l an
swered, for want of q better reply.
"Comin'! Comm! Wharf,
"Coming to the Office of Cahoe.
He probably has an answer for
YOU"
"An answer for me9 Jim Eel
lers? What should he answer fer?"
Lynch stood in stupid thought for
a moment and then looked at me
with dangerous light in his eye.
"Look here, young fellow" he
cried, otis my private opinion
you're lynn to me. And eff we are
=" here he uttered an horrible
oath-I'll cut yer skul!--::ng heart
out. don't know anything about
that thar masheen, but swar Jim
Fellers haint got nothin' to answer.
More like he'd git up and scatter
when he heered the message"
He stood glaring at me as he
uttered these words, his hand on
his revolver. l cannot account for
it. AS before remarked, / am a
timid man by nature, but this ac-
ton only made me holder. Every
thing depended upon keeping him
few seconds longer. 1t must be
done at any cost. / tried a new
plan.
"What do you mean, sir" !
shouted, rising, "by coming into
this Office and talking in that style ?
Do you think I'll endure It Leave
this room at once, sir, or III" and
l advanced threatingly toward him.
My unexpected attitude seemed
to amuse him more than anything
else, but it silenced his suspicious.
He put his hands in his pockets
and delivered loud laugh in my
face.
wal, wal, my bantum, ye needn't
git so cantankerous. Who'd think
such little breaches as you had
such spunki Haw, haw, haw.
Why I could chaw you up 'thout
maxim two bites of ye."
swell sir" said, still apparent
ly unmolified, "either sit down and
hold your tongue, or else leave
the Office" and he good naturedly
complied.
Once more we were sitting and
listening to the ticking of the
clock as the minutes dragged their