Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-01-19

at is ingenious-tenibly in
genious," l replied.
81 am sorry shall be obliged TO
shorten your days." said he, "but
Necessity knows no law"
"But Joe," said l, "why need
you add the crime of murder to
the list of your sins! God knows
It will be long and black enough
without being blood-stained."
ooh, don't consider this mur-
der-the clock is going TO do the
killing, not l."
at is all the same"
"To you it will be, not to me-"
"Joe, cut the string that is attach
ed to that weight, and / solemnly
vow never to reveal that you are
the robber," said l, blushing as /
made the offer.
"Can't trust you. Dead men
tell no tales"
"Joe, l have a daughter who
looks to me for her support"
eff she is young and pretty,
there will be no necessity for her
starving to DEATH said he, with o
satanic smile. (He had removed
the false face).
"Oh, Joe, spare my life, pray
you !"
81 told you | could not do it. !
must be going; time is precious
goodbye" With these words he
took up his box of gold, and un-
locking the door went out.
| continued my entreaties until
the door was closed, and then re-
lapsed into silence.
1t was half-past twelve, and the
alarm was set at one; unless help
came, l had just half an hour
thirty minutes-ls00 seconds-to
live. Oh how short the lime SEEM
ed! bnt if could have only those
few minutes to prepare my worldly
affairs, it would be q gracious boon.
In my pocket was two thousand
dollars in greesbacks, which | had
received that very evening in pay
ment of mortgage. II was only
two thousand dollars, but it was
all the money I had in the world,
and when the explosion came, that
would be scattered to the fore
winds OF Heaven, and not one cent
would remain for my daughter
my darling Nellie.
What would she dol God grant
that the vile insinuation made by
Joe should never be her fate; bet
ter, q thousand times better, death
and oblivion.
Rapidly the minute hand was
approaching the figure IL; it SEEM
ed as though ! could almost see il
move; already it was past 10, and
the alarm might go of at any mo-
ment, for it is seldom set exactly.
Tick! tick tick ! the seconds
were each as valuable as diamonds ;
how l wondered that l had never
known their worth before.
Only five minutes remained ; ]
made q gigantic effort TO release
myself; no use. 1 tried to reach
my head down and bite off the
string attached to the trigger, but
although l almost dislocated my
neck, it was still six inches away.
Tick tick tick only > 10
minutes,-l50 seconds remained,
and no hopo OF relief.
The minute and a-half soon pass
ed away, and only one minute in
tervened between me and eternity.
| commenced to count the seconds,
closing my eyes So as to shut out
the sight Of the cruel hand so
frightfully near the II.
One,-two,-three, FOUR Eve,
six the beat seemed to be
growing fainter seven, eight, nine
fainter still, ten, eleven, tw--, but
why didn't | hear it! Could it be
that the clock had stoppedl
l opened my eyes in surprise
the pendulum was motionless.
was APPALLED,. Had the hand OF
Providence intervened TO save my
life Z! / thou lat for timo it must
be so, aud my heart was overflow
ed with thanksgiving to the great
holy, Father.
"This is q miracle, and the first
one that had been. performed in
800 yeHssY exclaimed. aOGod,
thanh tho ~ W ..f - fr