Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-02-11
WHOLE NO 1868

| uVcuNps WV Wv b''N W.
sleep, but for the very purpose
of Watching the box. Standing as u
did with the head close 10 the door,
and therefore closer TO tho box itself,
tho bed afforded the very best point
from which to keep an eye on the suS-
pioious freight. Had my iaith 10 the
telegraphic clicking been less, or had
my own sense Of great responsible
lity deserted mo Tor q single moment,
| should certainly have given up the
Job OF watching as foolish aud, IN
that case, It is not likely that this mar
ratiye would ever have been written.
But believed in tho thrice-repea.ed
message, and did not let drowsiness
overcome patience. Twelve. one. two
how very slowly the hours seemed
to drag themselves AT last some.
where about midnight tho storm had
broken, The low flames OF the lamp
went out, as the oil had run dry.
What reliet il was to hear tho clock
strike. could see the stars rs they
came out, through the window in the
freight room, which was on line OF
vision with the box. How strangely
il seemed after the mighty roar ofthe
storm and the sharp claps OF thunder
Not q click from the instrument now.
Not a sound save the steady ticking
of the clock. Still I lay listening,
watching, with faculties all alert, and
my eyes always on the oblong box.
A.little past perhaps ten min
utes. The silence almost painful in
its proloundness. Nothing but the
lick-,ick OF the clock, which to my
eager car had taken on this sound
which it kept repeating over and over:
swatch -the-box! Watch--the
box
What was that
Not the clock, not the telegraphlc
instrument. No it was the sound as
of the grating Of iron. Faint, very
faint, yet still audible to my ear.
Breathing regularly and deeply as
one brealhes in sleep, I listened. An
other interval of silence, and then the
grating sound came again, this time
trihe louder than before. The light OF
the stars shining through the window
made the objects in the freight room
lust visible. Almost simultaneously
with the second grating noise saw
the cover of the wooden box rise slow.
" from the end iurhest removed
from the bed. I could feel my heart
thnmping away like sledge ham,
mer,. but continued to breathe heavl'
ly and watch keenly. Gently and noise
lessly the cover was pressed upward
until it reached an angle which COM
pletely shut out from my view the
window beyond. A moment later
the figure of a man came out from 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 was the meaning of tho
mysterious warning which the sound
er had spoken.
With cat-like tread the figure mov-
ed toward the door of my room. Still
J. lay as if 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
closed my eyes. As had anticipated
the ray of light was directed toward
my pillow, and by the sense OF feeling
I knew it rested moment on my
face. Satisfied that / was IN deep
slumber, the figure still with cat-l'ke
tread, glided through the bed room
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 turn
ed toward the safe. Obviously the
robber believed the treasure he sought
was there. 1 waited until he had
kuelt down to examine the lock, aud
then with step as noiseless as his own,
1 slipped from the bed and toward the
half open door. So intent was he
in examining the safe that it was not
until I was within reach of him ne l..
heard ME. He sprang to his feet,
bringing the lantern full into my face
and reaching for his revolver, which
he had laid upon the top of tho safe.
With the rusty old pistol, beld by the
long barrel, dealt him a crushing
blow on the head just as his fingers
crasped his own weapon. He fell
heavily. without utteriug a groan. The