Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-12-20

when there was tap on the inner
door.
'.Robertw Alice said.
"Yes, love! Speak low, there is 8
man under my window"
"Are you alone in the room?''
'Yes, DEAR -.s- -.--..-..--., l..
81 am going to Postyille. There il
no man under my window, and L can
get out there. / have six long roller
towels here. knotted together and
have cut my white skirt into wide
strips to join them. The rope so made
reaches nearly to the ground | shall
fasten il to the door knob and let N.Y.
self down. 1t will not take long to
reach home, saddle Selim, and reach
Postville in time. Don't fear for me
When you hear a hen cackiing under
smy window you will know 1 am safely
on the ground.
Little Alice, My heart throbbed
heavily as 1 heard her heroic proposal,
but l dared not stop her.
"Heaven bless ana protect you," l
said and listened for the signal. Soon
the cackling noise told me the first step
of her perilous undertaking was taken.
1t was dark, cloudy, and threaten
ing a storm, and nearly as | could
guess, close upon nine O'Clock. She
had to go six miles and | could only
wait and pray. l was too much
stunned ever yet to realize the heroism
of this dark ride through wild coun-
try, with storm threatening.
Nine O'Clock, AS the bell of the clock
ceased to strike, a rumble, fash, told
that thunder stormwas coming grapidly.
Oh, the long, long minutes of the next
hour.
Ten O'Clock. The rain falling in tor
rents, the thunder pealing, lightning
flashing, Often | had held her, white
as death, trembling, almost faintlng, In
such a storm as this. Had she feared
to start with the storm in prospect, or
was she lying somewhere on the wild
road overcome by terror, or perhaps
stricken by lightniug?"
Eleven O'Clock. The storm was over,
though the still night was still inky
black-no sound TO cheer me, none to
make the hideous suspense more en-
durable. A host of possibilities, like a
frightful nightmare, chased one another
through my tortured brain.
Would the next hour ever pass? Once
the clock tolled midnight all was safe.
/ was drenched with perspiration
wrung from me by mental agony one
hour, chilled with horror the next. No
words can describe the misery of wait
ing, as the minutes dragged along. In
the dead silence far-of sound struck
a thrill of horror to my heart, far ex-
ceeding even the previous agony. Far,
far away faint whistle came through
the air. Nearer and nearer, then the
distinct rumble of the train growing
more and more distinct.
The midnight train was coming
swiftly, sure, TO certain destruction
Where was my wife? Had the ruftians
intercepted her at the cottage? Was
she lying somewhere upon the road!
Her heroism was of no avail, but was
her life saved? In the agony of that
question the approaching rumble of the
train was lost; far more did | feel the
bitterness of Alice dead than the terror
of the doomed lives the train carried.
Why had l let her start upon her mad
errand?
1 tried to move and writhed IN impo-
tent fury upon my chair, forcing the
cruel cords to tear my flesh as l vainly
tried to loosen even one hand The
heavy train rumbled past the telegraph
office. 1t was an express train, and did
not stop at my station, but as | listened,
every sense sharpened by mental tor
ture, it seemed to me that the speed
sleckened. Listening intently, knew
that IL stopped at the embankment, as
nearly as could judge. Not with the
slackening crash l expected, followed
by walls and groans from the injured
Messengers, but gradually and carefully.
A moment more and | heard shouts.
the crack of fire arms, the sounds oil
some conflict.
What could IL ALI mean? The minutes
were all hours till heard key turn
in the door of my prison and moment
later two tender arms were round my
neck. and Alice was whispering IN my
ear.
serbey will come in a few minutes,
love. to let you free, The Williams leit
the kew in the door, 1 thought OF that
before | started, but there was man al
the front watching. l crept around
the house and saw him though dld not
dare to be seen. -,
"But have you been to PostViiie
Eyes, dear"
sIn all that Storm
"Selim seemed to undersienu. he
carried me swiftly and surely. L was
well wrapped in my WATERPROOF cloah
and hood, When 1 reached fostV'iie
the train had not come up.
"But it is here?" .F
"Only the locomotive and one Ca car,
rage. In that carriage was sheriff.
deputy sheriff and twenty men armed
TO the teeth, to capture the gang at tht
embankment. 1 came too, anu thes
lowered me from the platform whef