Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-06-09

somehow? What if should open nv
mouth and cry out at any risk? Could
l make Joseph hear, away out in the
wing Of the house rs he was Alas, I
knew that | could not, even had not this
man been sitting there by the door
he had taken chair now ow-eveing me
iiercelv. as though he read nv very
thoughts. All, if had only done rs
father wished. and tclegraphed for Har-
rv Randall To come up. And then, with
this last tn ought, another thought came
To me. Why could not summon Harry
even now. if perchance he Was still at
the office? ! arose from nv chair.
mechanically grasping my work in my
hand. My guard got up. also, evi-
IDENTIFY suspicious of my slightest move
ment.
"fll have to ask yer to keep quiet.
miss" said he. with harsh, determined
| voice.
turnel upon him Indignantly. al
suppose | may change my seat if |
like said |.
And without waiting for his permits
sion. walked deliberately over to the
desk and sat down in the revolving
chair that stood before it. At the same
time threw my work down on the
desk in such Il way ~ To cover COM
plctely the battery, which instrument
my companion had probably not no.
ticed ut all. Perhaps he would not
have known what it was if he had |
sat there moment. listles,ly twisting
the chair back and forth, and trying to
make up my mind what was best to Lo
just then there was slight noise on the
hall-stalrS. and the man became uu-
easy, stood up and looked 1T the library
door, rs if he WAS about to 90 toward
it. Then he turned again to ME, and
with a threatening gesture, said:
You Just Set there, while | step in
ter the hall Il bit. And if ye stir. or
make noise, it'll II be the worse for ye
DO We mind thal"'
He then went softly into the hall.
Feeling that now was my opportu-
nifty, with trembling hand put my
finger on the knob, and as silently rs
possible sent my signal out over the
wire into the night. down to the mills
and to Harry Randall.
HARRY. are You there?"
In another instant was leaning back
in my chair and moving an inkstand on
the table to make a noise. How nv
heart WAS beating. AMI my ear was
strained To catch the sound that-if |
might in Gods goodness hope it NIGH,
presently come back to me! Almost Il
minute it seemed an age-I listened;
and my heart sank rs no answering sig
nal was heari-Then- Nick' Click :
Click! came the sounds, sweeter to nv
ears than the sweetest music; and |
knew that Hurry wa' there. Those
sounds were to some extent covered by
the drumming of my thimble. and were
to me as plain rs spoken words.
"Yes."
Instantly sent back my answer
Two excited words. run all together:
Robbers! Help
The total silence that followed assured
me, after a minute's anxious waiting,
that Harry had comprehended my mes
once come to the house. Fortune had
favored me, for had heard the man
creeping up the hall stairs. and thus
had escaped the results of any suspicious
he might have had had he heard the
clicking of the instrument.
did not look at the clock and cannot
say exactly how long l sat there in
silence. 1t seemed to me that il was
hours. Then there was the sound of
whispering in the hall. The next mo-
ment there appeared in the doorway u
second stranger. rougher and more des-
perate. if possible. i'll appearance than
fha
great surprise and Indignation. WAS our
man Joseph. They both advanced into
the room. the one looking angry and
disappointed. and the otherwith sheep
ish air rs he caught my eye.
I've fouEd the Key of the SAFE" "
growlcd the second stranger. but all
for nothing. The money wasn't in it.
and we've looked high and low and
can't find it. But Joe here sticks to il
that it's somewhere in the house; and
he thinks" looking ticrcely at me. "you
know Uhcre. It's no use. Miss -; we
haven't any more time To spare and we
won't stand no nonsense | see it in
your eye; you know where the money
is. And you've got to tell"
He had advanced while he had beSn
speaking and WAS now quite near |
arose from my chair fearing that he
meant to lay hands upon me- And at
that instant -my ears painfully alert to
any nOise-l was certain | caught the
sound OF 4 football outside the window,
and gained fresh courage.
"And why have | got to tell?" de-
manded |, purpoSely raising my voice
80 that it could be heard outside the
house. What right have you to break
into this house in this way
The man suddenly caught me by the
wrist, uttering at the same time fear
full oath.
"You make another sound above a
whisper" he cried. in voice hoarse
with rage. and Tip
He did not finish his sentence. There
came loud crash at both windows ut
once, and the next instant Harry Ran
dali, with two watchmen from the mills,
burst into the room.
The rescue was complete, So far rs
saving our lives and saving the money
| was concerned. The robbers attempted
no resistance. In an instant. before a
word could be said. or blow struck,
the man raised his hand and dashed the
lamp from the table. In the darkness
and confusion the burglars, Joseph
among them, made their escape And
although every effort was made, both
then and later. 10 secure their arrest,
they We're never taken.
However. as | said, our lives and the
money that had been coniided to my
keeping were safe; and we were ali
thankful for that
And may say again that | am very
glad that. al that time. at least. the tele-
graph had not been superseded by the
telephone fouMs Companion.