Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-04-20


before they could open the safe.
| could creep around the staircase ? Il
one of those busy men turned his head
was lost. l softly crept out on all fours
slowly, watchfully, and gained the stairs
Up darted, blessing my Indian rubber
shoes, till | gained the door of the tele
graph Office. All was dark there and
dared not strike match.
listened, and then leaving the dool
open, groped my way to the well known
desk and gave the signal for c..
could hear my heart throb as | waited
for the answer. 1t came! Still working
In the dark, l sent this message:
Burglars In the Baysville Bank vault
Watchman gagged and bound! Can YOU
send help ?''
Again the agony Of suspense In listening,
but at last the sound reached me:
"Will send help immediately"
| crept to the head of the staircase,
afraid the clear ring of the instrument
had been heard In the vault, but no one
came up stairs The windows of the
telegraph office faced the street, so / re.
turned, bolted myself In safely and SAT
down 10 watch.
The town CLOCK gave one resonant
stroke, breaking the deep silence. and no
signs of life were visible in the long
stretch of road leading to c.. / was
numb with cold, wishing heartily that ]
had not left Toms basket under the stair
case, thinking regrettully of my own coy
bed, when | heard afar off the sound of
horses feet.
No sister Anne, in Bluebeard's tower,
was ever more watchful than l was then.
Would the burglars take the alarm?
The building made corner of two
streets, and l saw eight mounted men
dash up the road, separate, and while four
dismcunted in front, four went to the rear.
The burglars were unprepared for this
flank movement, for while the police in
front were laundering al the main entrance,
the robbers rushed to the rear basement
door right into the arms of the police sta
toned there.
could hear the hubbub, pistol shots
fired, the scuffle OF feet, cries, oaths and
general confusion; and l slipped down
stairs and out of the now deserted main
entrance and ran home.
Everybody was in bed, and l went to
my room and had good crying spell, and
comforted my half frozen body In double
blankets, where soon fell asleep.
All this was on Frid ay night, and had
no teaching to do until Monday, so slept
late, but coming down, found all the
family prepared to make heroine of me.
81 never knew until mother told me
this morning." said Tom, that it WASH t
grandpa who sent the telegraph to c..
BY Jove, Olive, you're spunky, if you are
little.
Il gave up when four of them pounced
on me from one Of the upper rooms. They
must have got in during the day and hid
there"
l tried to make the Knights promise not
to tell my adventure, but could not.
Before night ali Baysville knew how Olive
Hudson caught the burglars was In
the cffice with grandpa, when over the
wires came this message:
"What does Olive Hudson look like?
everybody in Dryden is talking about her
great exploit"
| flashed back.
"What do you suppose such woman
would look hkef She is nearly six feet
tall, broad shouldered, and loud-voiced,
perfect Elephant"
WAS it really yourself, ELEPHANT"
''Dear Lion, 1t was,"
"Do you know, l want to see you. l
am going to New FORK to-day, but I'll
be back next spring.
If he came to Bsysv,lle he dld not see
me- l ran away in fit of shyness-
In March a wonderful thing happened.
My mothers brother, who had been seven
teen years-nearly all my lifetime-in
Cuba, came out to New York, found me
out, and took me into life of ease and
luxury, making me pet in bis splendid
house. He was u bachelor, over fifty
years of age, handsome and well informed,
and with large wealth.
He introduced me to old friends Of his,
and my circle of acquaintance widened
every day. l was entirely happy, for we
loved each other well.
One day Uncle George brought home to
dinner a stranger, who he introduced as:
The son of my old friend, Olive, Mr..
Roberts,"
/ made myself agreeable. as in duty
bound, to Mr.. Roberts, man of thirty oil
thereabouts, with face that was down
right ugly, but pleasant from the expires
sion of frank good humor and intelligence
upon it. We talked of everything, and
surprised at the congenIality of taste We
soon discovered. In an animated dis
cussion of heroines, Mr.. Roberts, turning
to Uncle George, SAID:
"You were kindly inquiring this morn
ing about roy fortune since father died,
but l did not tell you one little episode.
Before ] was fortunate enough to obtain
my present lucrative situation, l was for q
time telegraph operator in small place
called Dryden, and then heard of real
heroine, of whom the world will probably
never hear"
/ knew what was coming, but kept nay
face perfectly composed to listen. When
the story was finished, giving Uncle
George sly pinch to keep him quiet, !
said:
ssWhat kind of looking person was the
wonderful heroine Z"
81 never saw her. for although Bays
vile was the next village to Dryden,
never went there. But she was described to
me as tall, strong and masculine
sin short, my dear Lion" l said
gravely, "she was perfect Elephant" P"
Such stare as greeted me l am certain
never came upon Leo Roberts face before
or since that hour. His eyes dilated till
thought that they would pop out of his
dear ugly face, and his mouth opened in
utter amazement. Finally he remembered
his manners, and gasped:
"Pardon me, Twas it really youf"
"Uncle George l said, Twill you bt
kind enough to introduce me properly tt
Mr.. Roberts2 l believe he thinks YOU
niece must bear your name"
With flourish, Uncle George arose ant
gravely introduced:
''Alr. Leo Roberts, Miss OLIVE Hudson
Miss Hudson, Mr.. Roberts,"
''After that we could not certainly y
strangers, and Mr.. Roberts came often t
dine with Uncle George.
And one day there was wedding
where the bride was very small, buried il