Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-10-17


purpose, when heard a loud crash below,
telling me plain as words could utter il, that
the hall door had been successfully forced,
and that the robbers were then actually in
the house.
retreated to the shelter OF my little room,
locked and bOlted the door, a prey to my
worst apprehensions. Remembered the cru
city of these masked men, and | knew that
if they did not murder me outright they
would, by binding and gagging, so torture
me as to make even death itselfdesirable
OF one thing was satisfied, that the safe
ty of the robbers depended upon my being
secure, and to accomplish that result would
be their first object. If | had had weapon
so that | could have made an effort to pre-
serve my life, would have been contented;
but the idea of an unamcd boy being thus
left to the mercy Of these uniceling ruflans
almost drove me to distraction
heard their footsteps ascending the stairs,
and proceeded to barrcadc the door, when
Il thought flashed across my brain How
was it that it escaped me so longY The car
rer-pigeon had just received from Uncle
Toby would release with a message; it
would return to Uncle Toby's, and would
be saved, and the robbers ioied in their
search for plumber.
wrote message hurriedly, secured it to
the bird, which placed upon the window
sill, when, after moments hcsitation it as
cended skyward, and when it passed from
my sight was flying like the wind in the di-
recton Of Uncle Tobys. The message read
az follows:
"UNCLE Tony The house has been en-
tered by six masked burglars. Come i'm
mediately. Bon"
Scarcely had the bird started on its home
ward flight when the robbers reached my
door and tried to force it; but had pushed
my bed against the doorand with my personal
efforts to prevent them from entering had
improvised barricadc that promised to re-
sist all attacks made against it.
The prolonged defense | was making in
censed and exasperatcd the fellows to such
a degree that they poured forth threats of
vengeance upon me. Their patience became
grazed my check, warned me of the danger
of my longer remaining in that position. 1t
had been fired through the panel of the
door
| rushed to the window and gaZcd out up
on the lawn below. The distance was great
and it seemed to me that, while torture
awaited me if captured by the robbers, there
was certain death in a leap from the win
dow.
What should do? The distance to Uncle
Toby's house was hut five miles, which the
pigeon must have covered by this time But
suppose the bird should not be discovered
Suppose Uncle Toby had gone 10 his room
for the night, and my message would not be
seen and read before morning? The very
thought was SO agoni2ing to me that | re-
fused to entertain it.
All this time the fellows were working at
the door. The bolt was forced and slowly
but surely the harricadc was yielding to the
power outside. | saw masked face peer
through the opening thus made, and the
glimmer of the dark lantern outside
could remain no longer Death itself seem
ed preferable to the uncertainty Of my fate
ut the hands Of these desperate fellows.
rushed 10 the window, and, without hes
itation, jumped. II seemed TO me to be
II life time before | struck the ground, and
when did rolled over upon the grass, tenn
porariIy parllyzed by the shock had re-
ceived. When attempted to rise the grip
of an iron hand pressed my throat, and
felt the cold steel of pistol as il was press
ed against my temple
TO resist meant death The house was
surrounded | held my peace while the
robbers proceeded 10 bind me, for whenever
displayed any resticssncss that cold steel
was pressed against my head. The only
struggle made was when he attempted to
insert gag IN M mouth, but had 10 sub
nit, for | received i bow from the butt Of
the fellows pistol that multiplied Tia stars |
saw in the haven hundrrdioh.
Complri y discouraged, CAV myser up
in despair | resisted no lon9rr, c.osing my
eyes 30 -hdt oIt, a il w,ry Ia g.oomy pros
poet before ma. Somewhat surprised At the
prolonged he ~ Of The rDbb,r in p'rl;.r-tins
my pinionin}, | opened my cye..
Unc.e Toby stood over me. Sirta.hcl up
on tn gri'' ~ M sil'wll The 10 .nw who
had securrI m,', a gaping wound in his head
affording an explanation Of the sudden end
ing Of his attempt upon my liberty.
A dozen determined and wel-armed men
were with him. The masked robbers at first
showed a disposition 10 resist, but on rcflec-
ton, seeing the hopcessncss of such an at
tempt, they surrendered Internationally.
At the next term Of the court they were
each sentenced TO fifteen years imprison-
mcnt
Uncle Toby was making his final round
of'his grounds on the night in question,
when the rustic Of a birds wings attracted
his attention. 1t entered the pigeon-cote. I'M
able 10 control his curiosity, and anxious to
ascertain the cause Of such a peculiar pro-
cccding, he procureda ladder, assembled to
the cote, and there 10 his surprise he found
that the carrier-pigeon had already returned
and with message. lie read it, summoned
his neghbors and arrived just in time 10 bag
the fellows.
The old bird is dead now, but while it
lived there was not money enough in our
town 30 buy it from me.
- -
"Why don't you get That Pastor Of
OursT" said one young lady to another, az
they were looking over line Of novels, in
Parter 81 Coates, yesterday, 10 which the re-