Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-10-12
A MESSAGE THROUGH THEATR
BY r. II. TAGGARD.

covered from the impressions made bv .
glorious sunset, which even then left it's
footprints upon the clouds that lowered
In the western sky.
My horse stood at the gate already
saddled, awaiting ne, but | was deter
mined not to leave Uncle Tobv's house
until | had carried my point, and BEING
his nephew, had enough of the same
old blood in my veins to make me as
persevering as he was obstinate.
INC lie Toby, l must have that bird"
"Waal, nelly, ask me for anything else
IN the house except that, and it is yours"
Il don't want anything else, Uncle
Toby, but that you must give me-"
"Wa'al, now, nctfy, you know that ere
carricr-pigeon took the first prize at the
county fair
(which fact will only make me prize
1t dealer. Come, now, Uncle Toby, be
gencrous.'
"Wa'al, boy, the bird is your'n. You
always had your own way with old Uncle
Toby.'
To say that I was delighted would but
family express my feelings. The bird
was a beauty, as may easily be imagined,
and as bid old Uncle Toby good night,
and mounted my pony, with the cage in
my hand containing the prize 1 so dearly
coveted, drove home with light heart
and brain filled to OVERLOOKING with
plans in which the birds speed would be
tested. Numerous valuable prizes seemed
already within my grasp as I reached
nome. aud, having stabbed my horse, as
cended to my dark and lonely room.
was but sixteen years OF age at the
time, and on the night in question I was
the sole and only occupant of my fathers
mansion, the other members of the family
having gone On q summer trip to the
mountains, leaving me in charge. My
room was on the second floor overlooking
the road, and thither I had taken nv
bird, where in my solitude I could quite
ly admire its beautiful proportions.
distinguishing my lamp, I sat by the
open window, contentedly smoking my
pipe and enjoying the cool breezes that
swept across the lawn laden with the rich
odors OF the flowers, when nv attention
was attracted to some dark objects that
appeared to be approaching by the road
that led past our house. I listened
lntently, and above the whispers of the
summer breeze I thought I could detect
the hum of whispered conversation. It
was no unusual occurrence for tramps to
pass our place at that hour, and the cir
cumstance caused only ripple Of culaps-
lty to arise in my bosom, until 1 heard
latch OF our gate lifted, and distinctly
the tread OF many feet fell upon my ear.
was so surprised and startled at this
unexpected intrusion that I was momen-
tarily dazed, and before [ could decide
on plan OF action they had assembled
the door-steps, and I knew from the
spllntering OF wood that they had already
commenced operations to force an entrance
into the house.
By the light of dark lantern which
they carried, l discovered that they were
SIX in number, and all wore heavy black
masks, the more effcctuaiIv to prevent
recognition in case Of discovery. Then
my voice came back to me, and thinking
to make up for my youthful years in the
volume OF my voice, yelled out in thun-
dering tones:
"Hello? What are you doing there?"
The dark lantern was closed like a
flash, but yet l could distinctly define
the dim outline of the robbers as thew
stood like dark shadows in contrast with
the white balcony beyond. For a mo-
ment the stiffness Of death eusued, when
| received a reply, uttered in tones 7
shall never forget, and with an emphasis
that clearly indicated a purpose to carry
out what was threatened:
II say, youngster, just you take in
that head Of your'n and keep that baby
mouth closed, or I'll blow the top Of
your head offr'
The sharp click of a pistol followed,
and you can rest assured that needed
no second warning. What should I do2
Twas at least half mile from the near
est neighbOr, but the house was surround
ed, and escape was impossible There
was certain death in the very attempt it.
self.
The shot gun. An that was a GOOD
idea. I would get the gun and defend
the mansion to the bitter end. The shot
gun had left in the parlor, so as to have
1t "ithin reach during the long hours OF
the day when tramps were as thick as
huckleberries, and I had forgotten to
bring it up stairs that night. NV mind
had been so much absorbed by my car
rier. pigeon that had incautiously over.
looked the making of my usual prepare
tons for self defense.
I thought would 60 down and Get it
and actually opened my bedroom doc
for that purpose, when / heard a loud
crash below, which told me, as PLAIN as
words could utter it, that the hall-door
had been successfully forced, and tho
robbers were then actually in the house.
lctreated to the shelter of nv room.
locked and bolted the door, prey to nv
worst approximations. remembered the
cruelty of those masked men, and l knew
that If they did not murder me outright,
they would by gagglng so torture me as
to make even death itself desirable.
OF one thing I was satisfied that the
safety ofth robbers depended upon my
being secured, and to achieve that result
would be their first object. If + had
weapon. so that [ could have made an
effort to preserve my life, 1 would then
have been contented, but the idea of an
unarmed boy being thus left to the mer-
cy OF these unfeeling ruffians almost
drove me to distraction.
l heard their footsteps ascending the
stairs, and proceeded to barricade the
door, when thought flashed across my
brain. How was it that it escaped me so
long? The carrier pi geon that I had just
received from Uncle Toby would release
with message; 1t would return to Uncle
Toby's, and I would be saved, and the
robbers toiled in their search for plum.
der.
wrote letter hurriedly, secured it
to the bird, which placed upon the win