The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-08-06

afraid?
'Not Bit Il slip on my waterproof
and rubbers and draw the hood of m
cloak over my head
well, if you will, though l on
afraid Tom will scold at my letting yo'
60
'I'll put down the basket AMI run
and he will never know who left it,
Go to the rear basement door; HI
leaves that open for grandpa
Il know
I grasped the handle Of the basket
and hurried across the space betweer
The building and the house, and stole
s,ftly in at The basement door. in pur,
suance of my plan to drop the basket
and run.
In my rubber shoes my steps wer.
noi.elesss. and lad scarcely passed
the threshold when I was rooted to the
floor in terrible amazemenl.
Somebody was talking.
| crept forward and listened. There
was man in the vault, and q light
shvne under the door.
While I listened some one said -
There is q confouudcd draft here
Did you shut the door. S,Sith |?
Yes, but the wind might have blown
it open.'
Il had just time to dart under the
staircase and crouch down whcr 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
I had entered, and returned without
closing the vanlt door.
could see in by the dim light and
sec two men working at the safe locks
by the stream of light thrown from q
dark lantern.
There was the outline of man 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 to draw
those heavy bolts without attracting no.
tica. And the back being robbed, that
was evident. How could I prevent it :
I couM not get out; I could not reach
Tom. Suddenly I remembered the tel
egraph Office on the second floor. If l
could summon help from C., it was
only five miles. and there was long
job for the burglars before they could
open the safe.
could creep around the staircase
Ifone of those busy men turned his
head was lost. / crept softly on all
'ur-. slowly, watohfuftyJ und -s'ined
the stairs.
Up 7 darted. blessing my India rub
bcr shoes, till gained the door of the
telegraph Office. All was dark thsra
and I dared not strike match.
listened, and then leaving tn, door
open, CROPPED nv way to the we'll known
desk and gave the signal for C.
could hear my heart tbrob as ! wa'tet
for the answer. 1t came! Still work
ing in the dark, I sent this message:
Burglars in the Bayesvills Ban'
vault! Watchman gagged and bound
Can you send hclp@
Again the agony Of suspense in li-'
teniny, but at last the sound reached
me.
will send help immediately
l crept to the head of the staircase
afraid the clear ring Of the ius'rumen
had been heard in the vault, but nj
one came up stairs. The windows o
the telegraph office faced the street, 81
I returned, bolted myself in safely ant
sat down to watch.
The town clock gave one reasonan
stroke, breaking the deep silence, ant
no signs OF life were visible in the lon'
stretch of road leading to C.
was numb with cold, wishing hearth
that I had not left Toms basket unde
the staircase, thinking regretfully OF m
own cozy bed, when I heard afar OFT tn
sound of horses feet.
No sister Anne, in Bluebcard's tower
was ever more watchful than | was ther
Would the burglars take the alarm!
The building made corner of tw
streets, and saw eight mounted me
dash up the road, scprrate, and Will
four dismounted in front, four went
the rear. .
The burglars were not prepared ff
this flank movement, for while the pc
lice in front were laundering at tn
main entrance, the robbers rushed to til
rear basement door right into the arm
of the police stationed there.
I could hear the hubbub, pistol sho'
fired 1.-The shuttle of feet, cries, oaths, an
General confusion, aud 1 slipped dow
stairs and out of the now deserted mai
entrance and ran home.
Everybody was in bed, and | went
nv room and had a good crying spel
and oomiorted my half fruzen body
double blankets, where | soon f'
asleep.
All this was on Friday night, and
had no teaching to do until Monday so
, slept late, but coming down, l found {
the family prepared to make a hero''
3 Of me. -,
, Il never knew until mother told n
this morning. said Tom, that it wnsr
, grandpa who sent the telegraph to G.
o By Jove, Olive, you're spunky II y
.r, Ittle