Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-12-19
convenient stone, and seated myself to
await tia ,oaaaaxo Of thu nke,.,,n

For moment my brain could not un'
ravel this mystery of the mountain
these strange promises of life in the
midst of an eternal night; then solu
ton of the puzzle came to nae, and care
fully penetrated q little further into
the obscurity beyond. As did so al
sounds ceased.
| This certainly was strange. For full
five minutes waited in absolute silence
so complete that the beating of my owr
heart was like the dull tone of trip
hammer.
Then turned to retrace my steps
toward the entrance, when at the very
spot where had been first standing,
was second time halted by the echo
of voices, sharp and clear, but far away
Now I comprehended all. This wal
whispering cave, connecting by sons
strange passage either large or small
with q greater cave on the opposite side
of the mountains summit, and Mt this
especial point the acoustic properties
we're such as to bring to my ears all
sounds in the other opening.
listened intently. For a little thu
words that I night had III them nc
especial interest; but suddenly new
voice hoated out of the darkness, new
ideas were advanced, aud I became mas
ter of the situation.
I found myself the unseen spy upon
the councils OF the mountain brigands
This was their lair and beyond this i'm.
penetrable blackness they were now
gathering and freely planning the work
and plumber OF the days to como.
listened long and intently. So long
that the shadows of the cave crept thick
er AMI thicker about me, and the chill
of the coming night touched me with
its frosty finger. Then, and not until
then, stole quietly out into the ravine
below, and with all the speed that ]
could use hastened down the mountain.
had wandered long way from
Washtee, and all the village lights but
one were out when at length, tired and
hungry. found myself again at home.
That single light was in the bank OF
my friend, and was soon with him dis
cussing bachelors supper before a
coy fire.
After supper We had talk, and the
result of the same was that on the day
following my friend engaged three of
the best and beavest huntsmen in the
village to stay at his back at night for a
time, well-armed, aud that I also j,in
this guard With my double-baerel aud
a heavy navy revolver. Thus my friend
had five trustY watchmen, including
himself.
For two nights We concealed ourselves
in snug retreats close to the building,
and dozed or slept until day dawn with
out disturbances; but on the third night
something happened.
We were 50 stationed that we could
cover the door and each of the four
lower windows of the little bank build
ing without being ourselves eeen, and at
an hour past midni eht. just as all ma.
ture had composed itself to that rest
and silence which comes only in the late
autumn nights, and the moon, half down
the western sky, was dinly seen through
the shifting fogs, the rapid but dead
ened beat of horses hoofs rapidly ap-
preaching caught our ears, and five min
ntes later procession of silent figures
six in number-halted close before the
bank.
A few low words were spoken, then
all dlsmounted; one gathered the bride
reins of the half dozen horses, and led
them toward the darkness of clump of
trees, and the others advanced toward
the door.
At first there was loud knock, then
a louder one, and then the subdued rat
thing of keys told Of an effort to open,
which was shortly successful, for the
heavy door swung on it's hinges, and all
the robbers disappeared within it's por-
! tails.
Now was our time. Like cats, two of
the mountaineers crept toward the soil
tary guard with the horses; and even be-
fore he knew of the presence of man a
heavy blow had laid him PROSTATE, and
he was bound hand and foot, while the
animals were silently but securely teth-
cred to neighboring trees. Then we
turned toward the bank.
"One at each window!" whispered my
friend. 81 will take the door,
Already dull glow within told that
the burglars were at their work, and as
We drew sufficiently near, we saw that
they we're buslly engaged in combined
attempt to force the safe, evidently hav-
ing no fear of any attack from without.
This safe, however, puzzled them.
Probably in none of their former raids had
they met with anything more stubborn
than locked chests or drawers, and the
cold iron walls of this safeguard of the
wealth they sought were new to them.
Hurriedly aud with muttered oaths,
they tried all their keys aud even their
knives upon its door, when with ges-
ture of Impotence, their leader said:
Course the thing, we must blow it
up! Where's the powder ?" and turned
toward the door, az if to go to his horse
for it, when clear voice rang in his
ears:
"Up with your hands, every one of
you, or you die p
and the faces of even these despera.
does blanched, as they turned to gaze
about them.
Black muzzles frowning at them from
every window and the door-death hang
ing on fingers touch-and without q
word they raised their hands and sur
rendered.
It was not bloody work, nor did it
need much bravery; but the next month
when the meu we're tried and condemned
at the court held in the reighboring
town, one, the leader, called me to his
side.
"See hyar, stranger, want ter az
ye one question. Ye must a.knowed O.
our run on the bank. How did We find
it out? Who give US away?"
His face was dark when he interro.
gated me, for treachery was the only
possible explanation to his dull brain,
and that meant death if he ever could
find the traitor; but the hatred on his
face turned to amazement and wonder as
I replied:
mo one gave you away. You told
your secrets in whispering cave, and
the cave told me-"
The "Ohi0 Man - in the Orient.
(oor st. Louis Globe Democrat]i
As we started up street from the hotel