Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-03-19

dred and fifty miles of space with a NAL
not half a mile from me. 7e4
''What's that signerfy?" inquired N
companion, as the ticking ceased; and
replied that the clerk at Cohoe had jus
written the message and sent it out. Fl
seemed satisfied and settled back in hi
chair, where he sat in sullen silence, hi
jaws going up and down, as he ehewed hi
weed.
O. how slowly the minutes crept along
The suspense was0 terrible. I sat anG
watched the minute hand of the clock
and Eve minutes seemed as many months
My companion seemed nervous too. He
moved uneasily iii his chair.
s.Ain7t it bout time We heard from jump
he asked at length.
ssWe shall get word from him in a few
moments now,'' 1 answered, and fell tt
watching the clock again. Five minutes
more passed. Lynch got up and began
pacing to and fro across the room. All
lengthshe paused and said:
II don't believe III wait any more. I'vs
got to see a man down at the Pennsylvania
House, and he'll be abed if I don't git thai
pretty soon.''
'tHold on moment and III see what
they're up to- l cried hastily, and l
touched the key again. snake haste
was my message. II shall lose him if you
donot. Not a moment to spare" Straight.
way came the reply, short but encourag-
ing:s'A squad of police started for the de-
pot five minutes ago.' Thank Heaven!
They ought to be here nowl I looked at
Lynch and thought Of the five hundred
dollars.
oval, what's the word?" he growled
impatiently.
Your friend is coming answered for
want of a better reply.
''Comin'! Comm! Wharf"
Coming to the office at Cohoe. He
probably has an answer for YOU"
1'An answer for me? Jim Fellers? What
should he answer for?7 Lynch stood in
stupid thought for moment, and then he
looked at me with dangerous light in his
eyes. AsaaEL
'sLook here, young feller," he cried,
Its my private opinion you're lynn to
me-" and eff ye are"-here he uttered a
horrible oath-"Fll cut yer skulkin' heart
out. I don't know anything bout that
thar masheen, but L swar Jim Fellers
hain't got nOthin' to answer. More like
he'd git up and scatter. when he heerd that
message"
He stood glazing at me as he uttered
these words, his hand on his revolver. l
cannot account for it. AS before remark
ed, I am timid man by nature. But this
action only made me holder. Everything
depended upon keeping him a few seconds
longer.-It must be done at am cost. l
tried new plan.
"What do you mean, sir?'' shouted ris-
ing, ''by coming into this office and talk
ing in that style? Do you thing I'll endure
issa- -Leaye this room at once, SIR, or I1ll--'A
and advanced threateningly towards him.
My unexpected attitude seemed to amuse
him more than anything else, but it silenc-
ed his suspicious. He put his hands in his
pockets and delivered a loud laugh in my
face.
7 "Wal, wal, my bantum, ye needn't git
SO cantankerous. Who'd thought such a
little breeches as you had sach spunk?
Haw! haw! Why could chaw you up 'thout
making two bites of ye."
s'Well, sill" said apparently unmollifed,
sseither sit down and hold your your ton
que, or else leave the Office" And he good
naturally complied.
Once more we were sitting listening to
the ticking of the clock as the minutes
dragged themselves slowly along. Would
help never come? Three minutes more.
Great Heavens! The suspense was becom-
ing intolerable. I must go to the stair and
listen if die for it. l rose and took
step towards the door but a voice stopped
me.
s'Hold!" shouted Lynch, standing up
right, all his suspicious aroused once more,
Eyer can't go out of that door afore me.
Come back here!'
"Sir!''
ssCome back here, OF by the eternal"
and the pistol muzzle looked me in the
face. He stood now half turned to the
door and I was facing it. Slowly without
particle of noise, I saw the knob turn
and a face under blue cap peep in. Thank
God! Help had come! felt joy uncon-
trollable come over me. I must keep the
murderer's attention an instant longer till
some one could spring upon him from be-
hind. I walked straight up to him, but
his quick ear had caught q movement be-
hind. AS he turned with an oath, sprang
upon him, and bore down his'arm just as
the revolver went off, the ball burying it.
self harmlessly in the floor. Before he
could free himself from my grasp, half
dozen officers were upon him and he was
quickly secured.
The next morning the papers We're filled
with glowing accounts of the capture of
the murderer, and praises of my conduct.
The principal business men of the town
made up a purse Of five hundred dollars
and presented it to me; and this with the
reward that was paid me the following
week, enabled me to get married the fol-
lowing week, enabled me to get married at
Christmas. But I shudder at. the remem-
brance Of that half hour, I spent alone
with Tim Lynch; and do not think one
thousand dollars would tempt me to go
through it again.
THE CHINAMAN's NOAH.-It is belIev-
ed that Fohi, the first King of China, is
identical with Noah. The Chinese them
selves claim that Fohi had no father; and
Noah, although subsequent to the flood
the great progenitor of the race, was, him
self at that time fatherless. The mother
of Fohi~ is said to have borne him encom-
pa ssed with a rainbow-an evident allusion
to the bow OF promise revealed to Noah as