Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-07-08

shadows, while the box cover wa: let
uown as noiseiessiy as it had been
raised.
This then was the burden of the box.
This was the meaning of the mys-
terious warning which the sounder had
spoken.
With cat-l like tread the figure moved
toward the door of my room. Still
lay as in deep sleep. On the threshold
the figure paused, and in a moment
lat er single ray of light like silver
thread pierced the darkness and fell
upon the bed. Luckily it did not strike
myface, and in an instant / closed my
eyes. AS had anticipated, the ray of
llght was directed toward my pillow,
and by the sense of feeling I knew it
rested on my face. Satisfied that was
in deep slumber, the figure, still with
cat-like tread, glided through the bed
room and into the ticket office. MY
eyes were wide open again by this time.
Ihe hight from the dark lantern had in
creased, but its ravs were now turned
toward the safe. Obviously the robber
believed the treasure he sought was
there. waited until he knelt down to
examine the lock, and then, with steps
as noise .ess as his own, slipped from
viz btb anu bOWdEu
door. So intent was he in examining
the safe that il was net until / was
within reach of him that he heard
me.
He sprang to his feet, bringing the
glass of the lantern full into my face,
and reaching for his revolver, which he
.ad laid upon the top of the safe. But
he was too late. With the rusty old
pistol, held by its long barrel. dealt
him crushing blow on the head Just as
his fingers grasped HE own weapon. He
Iell heavily without uttering groan.
The lantern was extinguished AS it fell,
and with trembling fingers | struck
match and lighted the lamp in the office.
AS lis rays tell upon the upturned face
OF the rotber saw that blood was flow
ing from the wound had inflicted, and
l saw, too, that his lace was delicate in
1t9 outlines and intelligent in expression.
L had time 10 notice no more, for felt,
now that the danger was past, the need
OF aid. So, after binding the uncon-
scious mans feet and arms and bathing
his head in cold water, pulled on my
boots and overcoat and started in hot
haste for the hotel.
Halfway on the road met n covered
carriage drawn by one horse. / tookit
TO be the turn out of Matthews, the
hotel proprietor, and wonder ing what
he could be out for at that hour, /
shouted his name. | got no response.
Then / cried out ut the top of my
voice:
I've killed burglar down at the
stationW Whoever was in he carri lge
must have heard mo, but the horse only
quickened his sharp trot, and disap-
peared in the darkness.
They give me a good deal moro credit,
the people Of Red Ravine, for that nights
adventure, than 1 deserve. And | do
not blame them for laughing at how
things carle out. For when n party OF
us got back to the station my uncon-
scious burglar had disappeared, and
the tracks next morning showed that
the covered carriage which | had met
on the road had drawn up ut the plat
form. Who was in il? Well, l couldn't
swear, but have "A notion tha. it con.
tained the gentleman who had come on
with the body. AT all events, neither
he nor the body was ever seen in the
town again. | had the satisfaction OF
delivering the money package safely to
Eldfdge q Rickeston, but the check
they gave me was not really merited.
For what would have happened had it
not been for the mysterious message
which no man sent?- Washington Post