The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-03-10

III TO talk. The nurse, doctor, and hus-
oanu heard the words plainly, and all
hearo alike. They made no impression
On tne first two, but the physician had
no sooner departed than the husband at
on0e SET out for the store, nervous and
fearful. He reached it in half an hour,
anu Ihdlng everything all right on the
OUTSIDE he hesitated about going in.
hlter moment he saw policeman
block and half away, and he unlocked
". 1ne door, passed in and struck light.
Inc odor of cigar smoke was strong
enough now.
Inc merchant had no firearms, and
as ne looked up the dark stairway he
PICKED up the cOal-shaker for weapon.
ne heard no noise on the second floor.
Ills wlfe's words forced him to ascend
.he next flight of stairs. There are but
le" goods on the third floor, and some
times 1t is not visited for two DAYS at a
tlme' Everything seemed to be all right,
out as the merchant cast his eyes aloft
ne saw that a scuttle-hole in the roof
was open. A ladder LED to the roof as a
nre-escape, and one could traverse a
whole block on the roofs. The man
placed his light on the floor and as
cended the ladder, thinking perhaps
some careless hand had left the scuttle
open. He had not the least fear now,
and went boldly ahead. The door was
thrown back on the roof, so that he must
needs go clear up. As he stepped out
on the roof and rose up, he staggered
or-slinped, and this fact saved his life.
! lEoSerful blow from club just missed
his head, and 50 great had been the force
exerted by the striker that the club flew
from his hands and rolled along the
grateled roof to the water-trough. The
slip, the blow, and the discovery that
there was stranger on the roof were
made Vt the same instant; and before the
merchtat had fairly Strengthened up the
assassin had clutched his throat and bent
him owe on the roof.
The MERCHANT threw up his hands and
caught tie fellow by the hair, and his
sudden Jek was followed by an exclama-
ton of pail The robber broke his hold
and startedto escape, but the other had
only reached his feet when the other
returned to The attack. They clinched
each other without word. The assas-
sin was the stronger, but the merchant
the more agile They were below the
scuttle and naturally worked toward the
caves. Indeed, the stranger soon be-
trayed the fact that it was his plan to
throw the merchant into the alley. He
could pick him up, but as he attempted
to move along the merchant would trip
his legs. They struck each other with
their fists-they seized new holds-thcy
strained every nerve for an advantage,
and twice they rolled over and over on
the roof. All this without a word. One
did not dare raise CRY. and the other
knew that his life depended on his oun
desperate efforts.
At one time the two men stood I'd tf
very edge of the roof, str4iniaa eel
ging. If one went the other maf
and after glimpse into tbe dsfk
below both instinctiyely dua Il
The assassin now began o. hreafaa III
lily, as if losing his wind, AMI lem
chant forced the fight Had hr hren
little stronger he might have Cantara
the fellow, as he tripped him fsIcc In
SuSSSoolOu, but bOulh lNA ANlA hllAi .l'NH M
As they were struggling up from the last
fall the merchant received a blow ia the
throat end that for moment made him
weak and almost helpless. This oppOr-
tunity was seized by the assassin TO es-
cape. He ran off over the roof, but
which way cannot be told, as the mer-
chant was almost in a faint. Ii was
full half hour before he was able to leave
the store, and then aprivate Waterman
called carriage for him. 1t was found
that the scuttle cover had been forced
up with an iron bar, and it was plain
enough that the robber was coolly smok-
ing his cigar in the third story when the
second floor was first searched He
was very likely in the Office in the
ground story when the merchant first
ratified the door.-DetrOit Free Press.