The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-11-09

stream of moonlight In the salon into
the shadow east, as have said, by the
arch and heavy folds of the porticre.
But knew / was awake when, losing
sight of him for minute there, saw
him again emerging into the rays OF
light which fell across the floor OF the
alcoye where lay. / knew, say, that
I was awake now, for could I not dis
tinguish plainly, as he came very slowly
and stealthily toward the bed, that bis
face was hidden by a sort OF Grape
mask? And yet still, for moment
more. / thought must be dreaming. L
had never moved or raised my head
from the pillow; I had simply opened
my eyes, add 1 still abstained from
movement while endeavoring TO realize
in what condition L was.
Suddenly, however, all doubt disap-
peared. / took III en- the instant the
fact that this was an attempt at robbery;
perhaps worse for, approaching the
little table at the bed-head, the figure
without rising from the floor lifted one
of his hands, as If to reach therarble top.
The man was within arms length Of me
now, and, without giving him the slightest
warning by any preliminary movement,
I endeavored TO spring out OF bed
straight upon him. For second [ had
him by the collar but, not being able
to get clear altogether from the bed
clothes, J. was checked, and he slipped
out of my grasp like an eel and disap-
peared in the shadow.
Instantly, however, I was on my feet !;
bat, thinking that the fellow probably
would be armed, [ did not attempt to
grope for him, buL made straight through
to the door Of the salon giving-on to the
landing, intending to raise an alarm and
prevent an escape but, before could
draw the bolt. saw him at the window
opening on to the balcony. His figure
came dark between me and the moonlight,
and Judging that, as the easement was
open, he must have entered that way,
and was now endeavoring TO get out
by it, I once more sprang toward
him and had him in my
arms just as he stepped on to the
balcony, and was in the act of climbing
over it. He struggled for moment or
two desperately, Of course but my hot
temper was up now, and, thinking OF
nothing but the insolent audacity OF the
intrusion and robbery, tore him away
with great violenc9-fOr he was but like
child in his strength compared to me
and saying, in my fury, Ho, no, you
scoundrel you want to get out this way.
do you? Then, by George, you shall
got" / flung him, as if he had been
truss of straw, over the balcony, into
good God the rushing river below
Then, and then only, for the first
time, as my bands quilted hold of him,
did I remember the situation of my
rooms. had been sleeping in differ
ent ones almost every night for the last
six weeks, and in the suddenness and
rapidity with which the whole of the in
cidents had happened, I entirely forgot
that below the balcony rushed the i'm
petuous Rhine. lightning does not
express the swift keenness of the agony
which shot through my brain as, glazing
after the wretched man, caught faint
glimpse of his falling figure, and heard
the faintost cry and splash rise for sec
ond above the rush Of the torrent.
Not being skilled in describing sensa-
tions, abstain entirely from attempting
to express what mine were now. I
pulled myself together in minute or
two, endeavoring to collect my thoughts,
and to settle what I ought to do. I
walked to the table where [ had left my
watch-it was gone; to the little s5and
at the bed head-my packet of notes was
safe; but the hand which had arrested,
only just in time, as it rose toward them,
belonged to some one who knew that
they were there that was evident. Then
my eye fell upon black object lying on
the floor IN streak of moonlight; it
was piece of folded Grape with an
elastic band attached. In the first en-
counter the thief's disguise had fallen
off-here it was land, remembered
that for second on the balcony I had
met the rascal's large dark eyes as they
seemed starting from his head with ter
ror.
The balcony! AS put my hand on
the side OF the balustrade, in the act of
looking over, it touched the top of
light ladder, the other end of which, on
examination, I could now family discern
In the moonlight rested not dozen feet
down on long, but less projecting, bal
cony than mine, for my rooms were over
a low-pitched e'ltreSol, to which this
lower balcony belonged.
Clearly, then, it was some one engaged
about the house-a waiter probably
who had attempted to rob me; one of
those who had seen me open my letter
and examine the notes. 7 bethought
me also then that my movements in my
room must have been watched, or that
stealthy hand would never have been
raised with such foreknowledge toward
the spot where / had placed the money.
A long acquaintance with foreign nab
its had taught me that an amiable Gus
tom prevailed among this rascally
scum of walters of boring gimlet-holes
in the corners of the door panels,
through which they might become &C
nuninted with the 1nriuatn rnrnnandinr s