Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-02-11

alyzed-for yoa must remember that
Old Billy's nerves wero strung to a
terrible pitch that night-tho rapid
aud uninteligible click, click was re-
sumed as If q demon again had got
hold Of the key. 1t was fully five
minutes before | mustered up courage
to pass INTO tho ticket Office and sit
down to the table myself. Not once in
that time had turned back to look
at the box. Almost at the instant OF
my sitting down to the table the click
ing stopped short as 1t had done be-
fore, and then those words were re-
pealed;
WATCH TIE BOX
Every dot, every dash, every letter,
every word, came with such horrible
distinctness that it seemed to send a
sharp pain lingling through my ears.
1t was like the loud whisper of some
ghostly voice. Then again broke out
the jargon OF sound that turned the
clicking into meaningless confusion.
Isprang up from the table, aud
with the now strengthenedl lconvi ctlon
that il was no delusion, no fancy, but
that the sound had come plainly over
the wires, felt my courage returning
and resolved to heel the mysterious
warning. The rolling of the thunder
and the mad rage Of the storm no
longer depressed me. l stepped back
boldl, into my own room, and rested
my eyes unflinchingly on the wooden
box. What YVES its mysterious freight !
Why had the phantom Of the storm
sent the startling words over the wire ?
What unknown hand had reached
ou, from the very lightning itself to
warn me of some impending danger ?
The questions rushed through my
mind as felt the dread fear disap-
pearing, and found myself of a sud
den grown strangely calm.
The clock struck ten. turned to
the shelf, and with a hand that no
longer trembled inserted the key, and
wound it composedly. Would it be
the last time l should perform that
simple task ? No matter. Happier
than most men because content with
my humble lot, it should never be
said that Old Billy flnched in the
face of duty. For that night it was
my duty-my own sacred, all impor-
tant duty-to guard the treasure LETT
in my sate-keeping. And guard it l
would while life remained.
When 1 finished winding the clock
I took down from the shelf an old
rusty pistol which had lam there tor
years uudisturbcd. 1t was not loaded
nor had 1 either powder or bullet any
where in the station. But the weap'
on was ugly.looking, and carried a
sort of a silent force in case OF too
aggressive argument. After examln-
ing the rusty lcek, put the pistol on
the table, made fresh glass OF toddy,
drank it lighted my pipe, and-closed
the door that opened into the freight
room. Now that I was thoroughly
myself again, I found it easy enough
to shut out the sight, that omlnous
oblong box.
1t was not until the clock struck
apain-that is eleven-that made
up my mind TO go to bed. All this
time the storm held on, although the
thunder had began to rumble more
dis,antly. l threw off my coat and
slippers, put out the light in the tick
et.ofice, and turned that in my sleep
ingroom down to a low flame. Then
] drew the money package from under
the matrass aud pinned it securely to
nv wooden shirt under my vest.
This done aud with the table so placed
that | could reach both lamp and pis.
tol, l opened the door into the freight
room some three or four inches, and
then threw myself upon the bed. just
a. my head had touched the pillow
the instrument, which had grown
quiet now, clicked off for the third
time, loudly, distinctly, slowly Its
words of warning:
WATCH THE BOX
This time the warning was not