Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-05-01

/ could hear, with my waking ears this
time. the pulses and puffs which spelled
"Help Murder ~
For one terrible moment my heart
seemed to stand still. After that | never
failed in courage and sense during the
whole OF that terrible night.
sprang from bed and dressed with a
rapidity of which | should have thought
myself incapable, and that terrible mes
sage was repeating itself in my ears all
the time. l dropped my revolver into
my pocket and took my heavy cane, put
on waterproof coat, shut off the water
from the water cock, and the sounds
stopped opened it and the nse-sag
began again: "Help! Murde. He p!
Murder !"
| bent over and looked at the water
as it fell into the basin. | had fancied
that the stream was not steady, that it
diminished a little and then increased
again. could uot tell positively any
thing about it. | could not say the
splash it made lessened and strengthened
nor could say it did not. found by
several trials that the message came while
the cock was opened, and stopped when
it was closed. That was all | found
out then and is all know now.
| passed down stairs, noticed that the
clock in the hall pointed to 20 minutes
past IL, and stepped out. 1t was a
terrible night The wind blew a gale.
The rain was torrent. The lightning
had ceased.
A livery stable was within two blocks
a police station block behind that. 1t
was a terrible walk to the stable, but |
got there at last. The owner knew me,
but said | could not have a team on such
a night no driver would go on such an
occasion. | was desperate and asked
him to name some price, any price, for
which he would furnish me a team and
driver for the rest of the night. | had
no theory, no definite thought; only
knew that must know and would know
why Arnold Percy was not home yet. /
gave him S25 the moment it was de-
manded and put $40 into the hands of
the driver when | ordered him to drive to
the police station.
| did not tell anything at the station
more than Mr.. Percy had not returned
and that wanted to go to the bank and
find out why. could not relate a Sc
ries of dreams as a reason for sending a
police officer three miles in terrible
storm, and as for the message had heard
who would believe it . And where woud
it come from
expected to Make little or no i'm
preston on the officer in charge. | was
disappointed. asked for a policema n
to go with me the bank and | got
four, including the officer in charge of
the station.
"Mr. Percy has not come home.
There are suspicious characters in the
city. We will take every chance
| told the driver that if he got us to
the bank within a certain time | named
he should have ten dollars more. He
got there in less time than | had men
toned. The front of the bank was
closed and dark. The officer in charge
thanked me for the trouble l had taken
and the interest | had shown.
"Your friend has doubtless gone else
where to Sleep" he said "and we had
come for nothing. | didn't mind that.
The way for man to rise is always to
do his duty. The policeman who does
not hesitate to go on the merest chance
is the man who will find baffied crime
and personal promotion at the end of
his road some day. | thank you
again"
"Will you bear with me one minute y
| asked. 81 want to look at side
window"
We went together, and in an other
moment we knew that we had not come
for nothing. The window next the
empty building was wide open
Watch here" he said and was gone.
He was back in half minute with all
the men but one, that one having been
stationed at the front door of the bank.
eve must be readv and follow one
another as closely as possible. Have
your revolvers ready. Don't allow a
man to escape, but kill no man unless
it is absolutely necessary. All lready. One
moment first," and he turned to me.
"Do you suspect Mr.. Percy" he asked.
mo sir. A better man and servant
never lived"
81 think SO too" he said +" but there
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