The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-06-08

Martin then resolved to examine the
ground Immediately under the window,
for traces left by the feet of ladder, or
by those of robbers. He was aware Of
the risk attached to such course, but
that could not deter him from seeking
clew to the disappearance Of his favorite
dog. He was OH the point of going out
when it occurred to him that his duty
to his employer, which was always
paramount consideration In his mind,
forbade that he should take so rash
step,and that he had already been guilty
of gross negligence in leaving the brok-
en- window for an instant. So he hur-
ried back to the room from which the
dog had disappeared, and prepared to
watch there until morning. The fate
of the dog had warned him of the dan
ger of having light in the room, and
thus making himself a conspicuous tar
get to any one or anything outside; so
he extinguished the fire, covered up his
lantern in one corner of the apartment
and sat in the dark, with his finger on
the trigger of his pistol, awaiting furth-
er developments.
AT this junction there was a lull in
the gale, which had raved with MANIA
cal fury for several hours, and Martins
acute ear heard an indistinct sound be-
low that was evidently caused by some
one creeping on his hands and knees
Martin had often heard hunters crawl
ing in that manner to surprise their
game.
A momentary silence ensued, and
then he heard the tree violently agitated
as if some giant were ascending it; for
there was no wind blowing at the time.
A moment afterward, what appeared to
be the legs of q burglar was thrust
through the window, and he fired one
barrel of his revolver at it, but was un-
able to fire second, as the exploded
percussion cap had got wedged in be-
hind the chamber of the pistol SO as to
prevent it from revolving.
But Martin meant business; so he
threw the revolver at the mysterious Oh
ject, and then followed it up with q
BOWEL knife. But it soon dropped from
his paralyzed hand, as he was jerked
through the window, and found himself
in the coils of boa constructor.
The menagerie tent had blown down,
the pole of it falling upon the serpent's
cage, and so bending the iron rods as to
let out its inmate.
Some hours afterward the menagerie
men were engaged in repairing damages
when they were horrified to see the
enormous boa returning to its cage with
the insensible night-watchman in its
powerful folds.
If Martin had offered the least resist
!ance the boa constructor would have
crushed every bone in his body (; but as
he tainted Immediately, it supposed he
was dead, and was conveying him back
to his cage to perform the process of de-
glutition at its leisure for it was al
ready surfeited by the dog which IL had
swallowed Upon being attacked by
the men, the boa at once dropped its
prey, and Martin received medical aid
as promptly as possibly, but remained
unconscious for upward of twenty-four
hours.
The morning after the memorable
night Martins employer was taking
horseback ride at an early hour when he
noticed that the front window of the
warehouse had been shattered to atoms
so he thereupon entered the building
with his private key, but found no clue
to Martin except the revolver, with one
barrel discharged, lying on the floor, and
the bowie-knife upon the ground out
side. He forthwith made inquiries
about the neighborhood, and was in
formed of the occurrence at the men,
agerie.
What was the color of the mans
hair P" he asked with a view to iden-
tifying him.
White as the driven snow," was
the reply.
" Them" said he, " it must have been
a different man, for Martins hair was
as black as coal"
Don't be too sure it isn't the same
man." observed bystander for
such an adventure is enough to turn
any mans hair white in five minutes"
The proprietor of the warehouse evil
IDENTIFY thought the suggestion entitled
to weight for he straightway repaired
to the bedside of the wretched man, and
instantly recognized him as the faithful
watchman, in spite of his snow-white