The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1883-11-09


do call grandpa, Olive; hes
asleep on the sofa in the sitting
room. Ill have Toms basket ready
by the time grandpa has his hat
and coat on. | hate TO call him, for
he WAS complaining of rheumalism
all day, aud the ground is very wet
although the storm is over
.Let him sleep;n | said; ''lll run
over with the basket. 1t is but n
step"
"But it is so dark are you not
afaid;'
"Not a bit; Pll Slip on my water.
proof aud rubbers, and draw tue
hood If my clio L over my head.r
"Well, ii you will; though | am
afraid that Tom will scold at my
letting you go."
III put bowh the basket and run,
aud he will never know who left it,"
AGO into the rear basement door;
he leaves that open tor grandpa"
I'll Know
grasped the handle OF the bas.
ket aud hurried across the space
between The building and the house
and stole softly in at the basement
door, IN pursuance OF my plan 10
drop the basket aud run.
In my rubber shoes my steps
were noiSeleSs, aud had scarcely
passed the threshold when | stood
rooted to the floor ia terrible
amaZement.
Somebody was talking.
/ crept forward aud listened.
There was "a man in the vault, aud
q light sb0ue under the door.
While listened somebody said:
"rhere Is cOufUunded draft
here; did you shut tho door
Smith y
ayes, but the wind might have
blown 1t open."
| had Just time to dart under tue
staircase aud crouch down, when
the door OF the vault opened aud a
man came out.
He crossed the entry, drew two
heavy noisy bolts, fastened the
door by which | had euleIed, and
returned without closing the vault
door.
| could look in by the dim light
aud see two men working at the
safe locks by the stream OF light
thrown from a dark lantern.
There was tile outline of u man
bound aud gagged upon the -four,
aud | could only conjecture that it
was Tom, Tor l could not SEQ dis,
tlnctly.
There | was nicely Gagged, for il
would be impossible for me to draw
those heavy bolts without attract.
Ing attention. And the bank was
beiIIg robbed, that was evident.
How could / prevent it | could
not reach Tom. Suddenly | Iemem.
bered the telegraph office on the
second floor. Ii 1 could summon
help FROM c., it was only five
miles, aud there was n long Job for
the burglars before they could open
the safe.
| could creep around the stair
case. If one of these busy men
turned his head WAS lost. | soft.
~ crept Oh all fours, slowly, watch
fully, and girined the stairs. Up |
darted, blessing my India rubber
shoes, TILL ! gained the door of tue
telegraph office. All was dark
there aud | dared not strike u
match.
listened, aud then leaving the
door open, CROPPED my way to the
well.known desk aud gave tue sig.
nal for c.. l could hear my
heart throb as | waited for the
answer. 1t camel! Still working
in tile dark, | sent this message:
burglars in the Baysville bank
vault! Watchman gagged and
b0nud. Can you send helpF
Again the agony OF suspense IN
listening, but at last the sound
reached me:
"NHill send help immediately
crept to the head OF the stair
CASE afraid the clear ring of the in.
strument had been heard in the
vault, but no one came up stairs.
Tie windows OF the telegraph office
faced the stree, so returned,
boIted myself in safely aud sat
down to watch.
The. town clock gave one reso.
naut stroke, breaking the deep 81.
lenep, aud no signs OF lite were Wis.
ible in the long stretch Of roa,l
leading 10 c.. was numb with
cohl,. wishing heartily that | had
not left Tom's basket under the
staircase, thinking regretfully OF
my own cosy bed, When beard
altar off the sound OF horses' feet.
No sister Anne, in Bluebeardi is
tower, was ever more waichful thau
| was then. Would the burglars
take the alarmi
The building made corner ol
two streets, and saw eight uount-
ed men dash up the road, separate
and while four disln 1unted iu front
four went to the rear.
The burglars were unpreparcd fol
this fla TX movement, for while tn,
police in front were laundering al
tue main entraucc the robbel'
rushed to the rear basement dool
right iuto the arms of tho police
st toned there.
leould hear the hubbnb, pisto
shots fred, the scumc OF feet, cries