The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-08-05
sounder click Of 9 message like that.

I felt my courage returning, and resolved
to heed the mysterious warning. The
rolling of the thunder and the mad roar
of the storm no longer depressed me.
I stepped boldly back into my own room,
and rested my eyes unfinchingly on the
on the the mysterious box. What was
the mysterious freight? Why had the
phantom of the storm sent those words
ever the wlresa What unknown hand
had reached out from the very LIGHTNING
itself to warn me of dangers These
questions rushed through my mind as I
felt the dread fear disappearing, and found
myself of a sudden growing strangely
calm. a,,--st-
The clock struck ten. I turned to the
shelf, and with hand that no longer
trembled, inserted the key and wound it
composedly. Would it be the last time
that I should ever perform that simple
task? No matter. Happier than most
men, because contented with my humble
lot, it should never be said that old Billy
flinched in the face of duty. For that
night it was my duty-my own sacred,
all-important duty-to guard the treas
ure left to my keeping. And guard it I
would while life remained.
When had finished winding the clock,
I took down from the shelf an old rusty
pistol which had lain for years undisturb-
ed. It was not loaded, nor had I either
powder or bullet anywhere IN the station.
But the weapon was an ugly looking one,
and carried sort Of silent force in case
of too aggressive argument. After ex-
amining the rusty lock, put the pistol
on the table, Ii GIFTED my pipe, and
closed the door that opened into the
feight-room. Now that was thorough
ly myself again, found it easy enough
to shut out the sight of that ominous OBJ
long box. ,-....-.
It was not until the clock struck again
that is eleven-that I made up my
mind to 90 to bed. All the time the
storm held on, although the thunder had
begun to rumble more distantly. threw
of my coat and slippers, put out the light
in the ticket, Office, and turned that in
my sleeping-room down to a low fame.
Then drew the money package from
under the mattress and pinned it secure
~ to my wooden shirt under my vest. This
done, and the table so placed that could
reach both the lamp and the pistol, I
opened the door into. the treight-room
some three or four inches and then threw
myself upon the bed. Just as my head
touched the pillow the instrument,
which had grown quiet now clicked of
for the third time, loudly, distinctly,
slowly, its words of warning - Watch the
| boxr'
This time the warning was not needed.
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
telegraphic clicking been less, or had my
own sense ofgreat responsibility deserted
me for single moment I should certain
| ~ 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 flame 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 a
click from the instrument now Not q
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 il
kept repeating over and over
sWatch-t the box! Watch--the box'
What was thats
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 earl Breathing reg.
ularly and deeply, as one breathes in q
sleep, I lay and listened. Another in.
terval of silence, and then the grating
| oOuAO SoLAC O. dA1S tu1n tIlAO d kAi1O AOOoe-
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 I saw the cover Of the
wooden box rising slowly from the end
furthest removed from the bed. Icould
feel my heart humping away like a
sledge hammer, but continued to
breathe heavily and watch keenly. Sen
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 q man came out of the
shadows, while the box cover wss 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 moment later 8
! single ray Of light like g silver thread
pierced the darkness AID fell upon the
II 49, ss.a4 49, - 3