The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1878-07-25

Somebody was talking.
crept forward and listened. There
was man in the vault, and light
shone under the door.
While l listened some one said;
" There is n confoupded draft here.
Did you shut the door, Smith"
Yes, but the wind might have blow II
il open
Il had just time to dart under the
staircase and crouch down when the
door of the vault opened and a man
came out.
He crossed the entry, drew two heavy,
noisy bolts, fastened the door by which
| had entered, and returned without
closing the vault door.
l could look in by the dim light and
see two men working at the safe locks b
the stream of light thrown from a dark
lantern
There was the outline OF 8 msn bound
and gagged upon the floor, but | could
only conjecture that it was Tom, for
could not see distinctly.
There was, nicely Gagged, for it would
be impossible for me 10 draw those heavy
bolts without attracting notice And
the bank being robbed, that was evident.
How could | prevent it7 I could not
get out; could not reach Tom. Sud
denly / remembered the telegraph office
on the second floor. /. | cyuld summou
help from G -, it was only five
miles, and there was q long job tor the
burglars before they could open the fate,
1 could creep around the staircasel II,
one OF those busy men turned his head l
was list. l crept softly On all fours
slowly, watch(uliy, and gained the stairs
Up darted, blessing my India rubber
shoes, till I gained the door of the tele,
graph Off .e. All was dark there and /
dared not strike a match.
listened, and then leaving the door
open, CROPPED my way 10 the well known
desk and gave the signal for c. 4
could hear my heart throb as l waited
for the answer. 1t came Sill working
in the dark, sent this message;
Burglars in the BaysviIle Bank
vault Watchman gagged and ,h4and !
Can you send belp?"
|
Again the agony Of suspense in listen
ing, but at last the sound reached me
"Will send help Immediately"
crept to the head of the staircase,
afraid the clear ring of the instrument
had been heard in the vault, but no one
came up stairs. The windows of the
telegraph Office faced the street, 60 Te
turned, bolted myself In safely and sat
down TO watch.
The town clock gave one resonant
stroke, breaking the deep silence, and no
signs of life were visible in the long
stretch Of road leading to G..
was numb with cold, wishing heartily
chat | had not left TOMS basket under
the staircase, thinking regretfully of my
own cozy bed, when l heard atar off the
sound Of horses teet.
No sister Anne, in BIuebeard's tower.
was ever more watchful than was then.
Would the burglars take the alarm1
The building made a corner Of two
streets, and l saw eight mounted men
dash up the road, separate, and while
four dismounted in front, feur went to
the rear.
The burglars were upprepaEed for this
flank movement, for while the police in
front were laundering at the main en-
trance, the robbers rushed to the rear
basement door right into the arms of the
police stationed there.
could hear the hubbub, pistol shots
6red, the scutle of feet, cries, oaths, and
general confusion, and | slipped down
stairs and out of The now deserted main
entrance and ran home
Everybody was iu bed, and / went to
my room and had good crying spell,
and ccmforted my half frozen body in
double blankets, where / soon fell
asleep.
All this was on Friday night, and |
had no teaching to do until Monday, 60
slept late, but coming down, / found all
the family prepared to make heroine of
me.
i never knew until mother told me
this morning" said Tom, I" that it wasn't
grandpa who sent the telegraph to c..
By Jove, Olive, you're spunky il you
are little" %
gave up when four of them pouneed
on me fIom one of the upper rooms
They must have got there during lie day
and hid there"
/ tried to make the knights promise
not to tell my adventure, but could not
Before night all BaysviIle knew how
Olive Hudson caught the burglars.
vas in The ofiee with grandpa, when
over the wires came this message
"What does Olive Hudson look like 3?
Everybody in Dryden is talking Of her
great exploit
flashed back
"What do you suppose such a woman
would look like? She is nearly SIX ieet
tall, hrosd-shouldered, and loud voiced,
a perfect elephant"
Was it really yourself, Elepant
"Dear Lion, it was +"
DO you know, / want to see you.
am geing to New York to day, but I'll
be back next spring. 2 @1
II be came 10 Bsysville be did not see
me. ran away in it Of sbyness,
II March a wonderful thing happened.
NJ .sLa-t. hra{L.. - HI L.-