Morris tribune., 1880-08-05

UeSuu lo iuuibic ulOIc u1Stohtiys thAOW
of my coat and slippers, put out the light
in the ticket Office, and turned that in
my sleeping-room down to low fame.
Then drew the money package from
under the mattress and pinned it secure
ly to my wooden shirt under my vest. This
done, and the table so placed that ! could
reach both the lamp and the pistol, l
opened the door into the treight-room
some three or four inches and then threw
touched the pillow the instrument,
which had grown quiet now clicked off
for the third time, loudly, distinctly,
slowly, its words of warning: swatch the
box!'
This time the warning was not needed.
I had not gone to bed to sleep, but for
the very purpose of watching the box
Standing as it did, with the head close
to the door, and therefore close to the box
itself, the bed afforded the very best
point from which to keep an eye on the
suspicious freight. Had my faith in the
telegrarhic clicking been less, or had my
own sense of fgreat responsibility deserted
me for single moment. / should certain
ly have given up the job Of watching as
foolish, and in that case it Is not likely
that this narrative would ever have been
written. But believed in the thrice-re-
peated message, and did not let drowsi-
ness overcome patience. Twelve one, two
how very slowly the hours seem to drag
themselves. The low fame of light went
out, as the oil went dry. What relief
it was to hear the clock strike! At last,
somewhere about midnight, the storm
had broken. could see the stars as they
came out, through the window in the
freight room, which was on line of
vision with the box. How strangely still
it seemed after the mighty roar Of the
storm and sharp clap of thunder Not
click from the instrument now. Not
sound save the sturdy ticking of the
clock. Still I lay listening, watching,
with faculties all alert and my eyes
always on the oblong box.
a little past two-perhaps ten min
utes. The silence almost painful In its
profoundness. Nothing but the tick
tick of the clock, which, to my eager
ear, had taken ON this sound, which it
kept repeating over and over:
"WatcA-the box! Watch--the boxl''
What was that9
Not the clock, not the telegraphic in
strument. No, it was the sound as of the
grating of iron. Faint, very faint, yet
still audible to my ear! Breathing reg
uiarly and deeply, as one breathes in a
sleep, lay and listened. Another in
terval of silence, and then the grating
sound came again, this time trife loud
CT 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 rising slowly from the end
furthest removed from the bed. could
feel my heart humping away like a
sledge hammer, but l continued to
breathe heavily and watch keenly. Gen.
tly and noiselessly the cover was pressed
upward until it reached an angle which
completely shut out from my view the
window beyond. A moment later
the figure of a man came out of the
shadows, while the box cover was let
down as noiselessly as it had been
raised.
This then was the burden of the box.
This then was the meaning of the mys-
terious warning which the sounder had
spoken.
With cat-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 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 closed my eyes. As
I had anticipated, the ray of light was
directed toward my pillow, and by the
sense OF feeling knew it rested on my
face. Satisfied that was In deep slum-
ber, the figure, still with cat-likc 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 increased, but its rays
were now turned toward the safe. Oh
viOusly the robber believed the treasure
he sought was there. I waited until he
knelt down to examine the lock, and
then, with steps as noiseless as his own,
slipped from the bed and toward the
half-opened door. So intent was he in
examining the safe that it was not until
was within reach of him that he heard
me.
He sprang to his feet, bringing the
glass OF the lantern full in my face, and
reached for his revolver which he had
laid upon the top of the safe. But he
was too late. With the old rusty pistol,
held by its long barrel, l dealt him a
crushing blow on the top of the head
just as his fingers grasped his own wea p
on. He fell heavily without uttering
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 on the up-
turned face of the robber, saw that the
blood was flowing from the wound had
inflicted, and saw, too, that his face
was delicate in Its outlines and intelli-
gent in its expression. had time to no.
tlce no more, for I felt, now that the
danger was past, the need of aid. So,
alter binding the unconscious mans feet
and arms, and bathing his head In cold
water, I pulled on my boots and overcoat
and started in hot haste for the hotel.
Halfway on the road met covered
carriage drawn by one horse. I took it
to be the turnout of Matthews, the hotel
proprietor, and wondering what he could
be out tor at that hour, I shouted his
name. I got no response. Then cried
out at the top of my voice:
"I've killed a burglar down at the sta
tlonr' Whoever was in the carriage must
have heard me, but the horse only quick
ened his sharp trot, and disappeared in
the darkness.
They gave me good deal more credit,
the people OF Red Ravlne, for that nights
adventure, than deserved. And I do
not blame them for laughing a. how
things came out. For when a party of
US got back to the station my unconscious
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 itg Well, couldn't swear, but have
a notion that it contained the gentleman
who had come on with the body. At
all events, neither he.nor the body was
ever seen In the town again. I had the
satisfaction of delivering the money pack
IL IL n -