The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-06-20

onlStlc, ana, although endeaV0red to
separate the two, l became more con-
fused. / could think of nothing but
my position. Beyond that, if attempt
ed to go, | feresaw madness. So, to
avoid all that, l centered all my
thoughts on one purpose-selfpreser-
walton. To accomplish this, | could
not, even in thought, go beyond my
prison-house. Why proceed-why ev-
en- attempt to describe the sufferings |
underwent2 raved, / screeched, | fell
on the floor, rose again, reeled in mad
dening fury around my living tomb.
/ even meditated selfdestruction. l
argued the point with death. l quot
ed authorities 20 prove that suicide
was justifable in some cases, and mine
was case in point. My mind, weak
ened as it was, hesitated to grasp at
this mode of ending life, and there
came up at that moment, small,
child.like voice, saying "Hope-hope
on y Was it voice, or was it mere
ly Imagination copiuring up my
sounds to soothe me? "Hope !" start
ed new light seemed to enter nv.
soul, md illnminate the Cimmerian
darkness surrounding me. The reac-
ton caused by the strange phenomena
was too much for my strength. l lost
all consciousness, and fell as if dead.
X x
How long l lay thus I had no
knowledge when l came to myself it
was to hear dull sound as if some one
was striking the safe. Was help at
hand Then came grating sound
then a shock-then came a louder
sound, as if from the explosion cf gun.
powder--a flash, as of tightening. 1t
came into the safe and for an instant
the whole space was illuminated. What
could il mean? =? Was it dream? No!
no reality ! The safe-door was
thrown open, and as 1 rolled out on
the floor of the counting. house 1 again
became unconscious.
When came TO my senses | was
surrounded by four fierce looking men
--one was bathing my head, while an.
other was holding nae in his arms.
What could it mean was saved, but
how and by whom
They were burglars who came for
the purpose of plunder They told me
so ; and instead of money they found
what they took to be corpse. They
stood observation-disclosures to
hesitate how TO act. The safe was
opened the owner was there at their
mercy. Weak as / was, ] at once dis
covered the cause Of their hesitation.
"You came" l said, "to rob me, in.
stead of which you saved my life. The
amount of money which you would
have obtained is no inconsiderable
sum; it is there-there in that second
drawer from the right. Take it--di-
vide it between yourselves, and with
it take my thanks. You see I am very
weak-the excitement caused by my
incarceration.
One Of the men approached me and
said ave are robbers we are in
your power, but we are not murderers..
We came for money, but"
| interrupted him.
"No hesitation, sir ; it is yours-my
free gift-take it,"
He then Joined his companions, con.
suited awhile, then came to me and
said:
"Suppose, sir. that we were detect
ed T? Our entrance may have been OBJ
seIved-the money found upon US
the condition Of this safe--thus, you
see, upon such evidence we would be
convicted at once"
"Will you place that chair before
the table and help me to it? l am
completely unnerved. Seven hours in
that safe nearly killed me"
The chair was placed as ordered
the man who had spoken assisted me
to it. | took paper and pen, and while
those four stalwart, desperate men gaz-
ed upon ME, | wrote the following:
For valuable services, l pay these
four men for the soul of me l could
not write gentlemen) the sum of ST..
500. They rescued me from most
horrible death, for which, in addition
to this sum, they have my most heart
felt thanks.
[Signed] --
"Take that paper, sir. and if any.
thing should occur, come to me"
Thus was / saved, but it was many
weeks before | recovered from the ef-
fects of that night of horror.-Hart.
ford Times
-%%$-
"What," asks an exchange, care
the causes of drunkenness?" Well,
we can't answer for all Of them, but
we believe whiskey causes a great deal
of il; whiskeY sir. resolutelY stuck to