River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-09-13

a cry! The cry Of strong man takel
I unawares, struggling desperately for hi
\ life! Immediately following upon tn
awful voice came three loud knocking
upon the wall close to Gordon's ear. AnC
then, save a ereaking from the woodel
bedstead, all was still again. Still, will
! the stiffness of death and night.
I Gordon sat up in bed, every nerve
/ trembling with horror His blood froz,
in his veins; the perspiration broke ii
cold beads upon his forehead. Hardly
daring TO draw breath, he listened, with
an awful sinking at the heart, for whai
should be the next sound. But all was as
still as the grave-nothing TO be heard
save the ominous shooting of bolt in
some far-of passage. Still he listened
listened, with that fearful cry still
sounding in his ear, those terrible knock.
ings upon the wall still echoing in his
heart.
The room was as dark as pitch
Not 50 much as glimmer of light to he
seen through the little pane over the
door
What was he to dol lie could not get
into the room, even ii he could summon
up sufficient courage to make the at
tempt; he might shout for assistance, but
who would hear him in that cursed build
ingl
Summoaing up all his resolution, be
leapt out of bed and groped for the
matches. In vain; he could feel nothing
but the tin candlestick, and, as he touch
ed it, he recollected that the candle had
burnt itself out So he had to abandon
the idea of light. He felt absolutely
helpless. There was nothing whatever in
the room which would serve as weapon,
even if there had been light enough 10
make use Of it. Oh, for a good heavy
brass candlestick If ever he came safely
out of this he would never again travel
without pistols
What was thati A faint creaking OF the
bed in the next room made itself heard,
and all his dread revived at the sound.
He could endure this awful suspense no
longer; he must do something, come what
might. And ne slipped silently out of
bed, and with all his strength endcavored
to open the door leading into the other.
But to no purpose; the sturdy oak with
stood the utmost strength. There was
positively no release for him or help for
his friend; he was like rat in trap, es-
cape completely cut off.
Then indeed his heart sank within him
He could do nothing but get back to bed
and wait for the longed for morning.
Then he would know the worst. Accord
ingly, after another futile tug at the mas
sive oak door, he crept feartully back to
bed, each creak of the boards beneath his
bare feet bringing his heart with jump
into his mouth.
For a long hour he lay with his eyes
wide open, vainly endeavoring to tathom
the darkness darkness which could be
felt, so intense was it. But at length,
weary with watching, and in spite Of his
determination to the contrary, he fell in
to an uncomfortable sleep.
1t seemed to him that he had been but
shsrt time asleep when he was sudden
ly awoke by the loud crash ofhis stick as
it fell on the oak floor. Some one was
coming into the room, and all his horror
and dread returning to him, he stepped
quietly out of bed, prepared for the
worst.
But whoever was seeking to gain adj
mittance was apparently equally startled
at the unexpected crash within; for, with
a surprised sch, bien!o the door was
thrown quickly open, letting in at the
same time bright flood of light. And
Emile entered Monsieur Emile Thouret
himself! Not with huge cash in his
throat or a distorted countenance, but
with cigarette between his lips and a
collar in his hand, seeming very much
amazed at the appearance of mingled as
constituent and relief with which he was
received.
"Well," said he cheerfully, and how
do you find yourself after your nights
rest, ehl"
But Gordon could find no words to re-
ply; and when at lenght his speech re-
turned to him, it was to say;
"Rest! rest. have not had any. |
thought you were being murdered. What
the devil did you make all that noise for,
if you were notsi
"Noise." returned the other, with q
look of innocent surprise; "what noise!
made no noise"
so, did you mott" retorted the indig-
nant Gordon. "Then, pray, who was it
that gave that diabolical scream and
thumped frantically on the wall just as
the cathedral clock was striking twoi"
"Ah," replied Emile, happy thought
striking him. "Ah, now think under
stand. l do recollect feeling little un-
comfortable in the night. Twas dream
ing that that rascally fellow with the
scowl vas choking me. Without doubt
it was the kartoffel-salad."
Cd the kartoffel salad" returned
Gordon furiously. D the kartoffel-
salad" And the recollection of his wrongs
was such that he could trust himself TO
pursue the matter no further; but dress
ing with much rapidity, he crammed his
few odds and ends into battered KNAPP
sack, muttercd hasty goodbye, and
fastened down stairs.
Politely. but firmly, declining the pref
" Lieschens suggestion that der Herr
should finish the kartOffel-salad of which
der Hers friend had so highly approved
on the previous evening, he settled "die
Rechnung and departed.
The rays OF the morning sun fell aslant
on the dewy grass and white dusty road.
The green lizards popped their heads out
from their stony beds to see whocould be
SO early afoot Only an Englishman with
a knapsack on his back, and sunburnt
nose.
But the travellers face was grave and
thoughtful; and the lizards watched him
lazily as he pursued his solitary walk, nc
longer startling them with a loud and
CHEEKY jodl.