The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-01-22

tken on this sound, which it kept re-
pating over and over:
1Watch-the-boxl Watch-the-
bo1r
What was that?
No the clock, not the telegraphic in
strument. No, it was the sound as of
the grsting of iron. Faint, very faint,
yet still audible to my ear. Breathing
regularly and deeply, as one breathes in
sleep, L lay and listened. Another in
terval of silence, and then the grating
sound cane again, this time trifie loud
er than before. The light of the stars
shining through the window made the
objects in the freight-room just visible
Almost simultaneously with the second
grating noise | saw the cover of the
wooden box slowly from the end
furthest removed from the bed. could
feel my heart humping away, like a
sledge-hammer, but | continued to
oteathe heavily and to watch keenly.
Gently and nOisdessly the cover was
pressed upward until it reached an an
gle which completely shut out from my
view the window beyond. A moment
later the figure of man came out from
tie shadows, while the box-cover was
lie. down as noiselessly as it had been
raised.
This, then, was the burden of the box.
This was the meaning of the mysterious
warning which the sounder had spoken
With cat-like tread the figure moved
toward the door of nv room. Still
lay as in deep sleep. On the threshold
the figure paused, and moment later
a single ray of light like a silver thread
pierced the darkness and fell upon the
bed. Luckily, it did not strike my face,
and in an instant l had closed my eyes.
As [ had anticipated, the ray of light
was directed toward my pillow, and by
the sense of feeling l knew it rested a
moment on my face. Satisfied that
was in deep slumber, the figure, still
with cat-like tread, glided through the
bedroom and into the ticket-office. My
eyes were wide open again by this time
The light from the dark-lantern had in
creased, but its rays were now turned
toward the safe. Obviously the robber
believed the treasure he sought was
there. | waited until he had knelt
down to examine the lock, and then,
with step as noiseless as his own, l
slipped from the bed and toward the
half-open door. So intent was he in
examining the safe that it was not until
l 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 had laid upon
the top of the safe. But he was too
late. With the rusty old pistol, held
by its long barrel, L dealt him a crush
ing blow on the head just as his fingers
grasped his own weapon. He fell
heavily, without uttering "a groan. The
lantern was extinguished as it fell, and
with trembling fingers L struck match
and lighted the lamp in the office. As
its rays fell upon the upturned face of
the robber, l saw that blood was flow
ing from the wound | had inflicted, and
| saw, too, that the mans face was
delicate in its outlines and intelligent
in expression. had time to notice no
more, for felt now that the long, nerv-
GUS strain was Over-now that the
danger was past-the need of aid. So,
after hurriedly binding the unconscious
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.
Half way on the road met covered
carriage, drawn by one horse. | took it
to be the turnout of Matthews, the hotel
proprietor, and, wondering where he
could be out for at that hour, l shouted
his name. l got no response. Then L
cried out at the top of my voice:
"I've killed burglar down at the
station!"
Whoever was in the carriage must
have heard me, but the horse only quick
ened his sharp trot and disappeared in
the darkness.
They give me a great deal more
credit, the people of Red Ravine, for
that nights adventure, than l deserve.
And l do not blame them for laughing
at how things came out. For when a
party of us got back to the station, my
burglar had disappeared,
and the tracks next morning showed
that the covered carriage, which had
met on the road, had drawn up at the
platform. Who was in it? Well, l
couldn't swear, but L have notion that
it contained the gentleman who had
come on with the dead body. At all
events, neither he nor the body was ever
seen in the town again. had the sat
isfaction of delivering the money-pack-
age safely to Eldridge & Ricketson, but
the check they gave me was really not
merited. For what would have hap
pened had it not been for the mysterious
which no man sent?