The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-11-10
stream of moonlight IN the salon into

light which fell across the moor Oh the
alcoye where / lay. L knew, say, that
/ was awake now, for could not dis-
tipguish plainly, as he came very Slowly
and stealthily toward the bed, that his
face was hidden by sort OF Grape
mask? And yet still, for a moment
more, [ thought l must be dreaming. =!
had never moved or raised my head
from the pillow; l had simply opened
nv eyes, aad i still ASHAMED from
movement while endeavoring TO realize
in what condition l was.
Suddenly, however, all doubt disap-
reared. / took in on the instant the
fact that this was an attempt at robbery;
nerbans worse; for, approaching the
little table at fhe bed-head, the figure
without rising from the floor lifted one
of ais hands, as if to reach the narble 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 1 had
him by the collar but, not being able
60 get clear altogether from the bed
clothes, l was checked, and he slipped
out of my grasp like an eel and disap-
peared in the shadow.
Instsntly, however, | was on my feet !;
bAt, thinking that the fellow probably
would be armed, did not attempt TO
grope for him, but 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 L could
draw the bolt, i saw him Mt the window
opening on to the balcony. His figure
came dark between me aud the moonlight,
and judging that, as the easement was
open, he must have entered that way,
and was now endeavoring TO get ont
by it, l once more ssrang 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 n moment or
two desperately, of course but my hot
temper was up now, and, thinking OF
nothing but the insolent audacity of the
intrusion aud robbery, l tore him away
with great violencs-for he was but like
a child in his strength compared to me
and saying, in my fury, " DO, no, you
scoundrel you want to got out this way.
do you2 Then, by George, you shall
go" ] flung him, as if he had been n
truss of straw, over the balcony, into
good God the rushing river below
x
Then, and then only, for the first
time, as my hands quilted hold of him,
did / remember the situation of my
rooms. had been slaeping 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, entirely forgot
that below the balcony rushed the i'm
petuous Rhine. lightning does not
express the swift ke5nness of the agony
which shot through my brain as, glaring
! after the wretched man, l caught FAINT
glimpse of his falling figure. and heard
the fsintcst cry and splash rise for sec
ond above the rush of the torrent.
Not being skilled in describing sensa.
tons, abstain entirely from attempting
TO express what mine were now.
pulled myself together in a minute or
two, endeavoring to collect my thoughts,
and to settle what ought to do. I
walked TO the table where had left my
watch-it was gone; to the little sland
at the bed head-ny packet OF notes was
safe; but the hand which had arrested,
only just liz time, as it rose toward them,
belonged 10 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 a piece of folded Grape with an
elastic band attached. In the first en-
counter the thief's disguise had fallen
of'-here it was and, / remembered
that for q second on the balcony L had
met the rascal's large dark eyes az 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 q
light ladder, the other end of which, on
exam nation, could now family discern
in the moonlight rested not dozen feet
down on long, but less projecting, bal
cony than mibe, for my rooms We're over
low-pitched GrtresoI, to which this
lower balcony belonged.
Clearly, then, il was some one engaged
about the house, waiter probably
who had attempted to rob me; one of
those who had seen me open my letter
and examine the notes. / bethought
mo 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 hab-
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 ac-
quainted with the private proceedings
of the occupants of the rooms, male or
female. YVES not surprised, therefore,
on reminding rly candle and examining
the door, to find several of these trous-
judas, as they are playfuIy called; one
partiC ularly, so large and 80 directed
that anybody in the outer passage could
observe all that went on within the room.
My impulse now was to raise IN
alarm; but an instant's reflection showed
ne If ] did must bid good-by to all
thoughts OF reaching Paris by the early
train, end of saving the limit of my
leave. And was it worth my while to
do this / decided in momcnt--most
certainly not. Was to expose myself
To vast personal Inconvenience and nos