The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1883-12-22
convenient stone, and seated myself to

echoes, yet Gear as the tone of tar
away bell.
Again the blow of horses feet. and
then the voice OF man.
For moment my brain could not I'M
ravel this mystery of the mountain,
these strange promises of life IN the
midst OF an eternal night; then a solu-
ton OF the puzzle came to me, and care
fully l penetrated little further into
the obscurlty beyond. As did so all
sounds ceased.
This certainly was strange. For full
five minutes waited in absolute silence,
so complete that the beating of my own
heart was like the dull tone of a 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 l comprehended all. This was
a whispering cave, connecting by son e
strange p ssage either large or small,
with greater cave on the opposite side
OF the mountains summit, aud at this
especial point the acoustic properties
were such as to bring to my ears ali
sounds IN the other opening.
listened lntently. For little the
words that [ caught had IN them no
especial interest; but suddenly a new
voice 1oated out of the darkness, new
ideas were advanced, and became mas
ter of the situation.
found myself the unseen spy upon
| the councils of the uountain brigands !
This was their lair and beyond this I'M
| penetrable blackRess they were now
gathering and freely planning the work
and plumber of the days to como.
listened long and inteutly. So long
! that the shadows Of the cave crept thick
| er and 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 raviue
below, and with all the speed that |
| could use fastened down the mountain.
| had wandered a long way from
| Washtee, and all the village lights but
oue we're out when at length, tired and
| hungry, | found myself again at hom5.
That single light was in the bank OF
my friend, and | was soon with him dis
| cussiDg a bachelors supper before n
coy fire.
After supper we had a talk, and the
| result of the same was that on the day
| following my friend engaged three OF
| tue best and bcavest huutsmen IL the
| village TO stay at his bank at night for a
| time, weil-armed, and that | also Join
! this guard with my double barrel and
a heavy navy revolver. Thus my friend
had five trustY watchmep, including
| himself.
For two nights We concealed ourselves
| IN snug retreats close to the bulldog,
and dozed or slept until day dawn with
out disturbance; but on the third night
something happened.
We were SO stationed that we could
| cover the door and each of the four
| lower windows of the little bank build
| lug without being ourselves seen, and al
an hour past midnight. just as ali ma
| ture had com posed itself to that rest
and silence which comes only in the late
autumn nights, and the moon, half do vi
the western sky, was dimly seen through
the shifting fogs, the rapid but dead
eued beat of horses hoofs rapidly ap
preaching caught our ears, and five min
utes later procession of silent figures
six IN ber-halted close before the
bark
A few low words were spoken, theU
all dlsmoupted; one gathered the bride
reins of the half dozen horses, and lee
them toward the darkness OF q clump o.
'rets, and the others advanced TOWARD
the door.
At first there was loud knock, then
| a louder one, and then the subdued rat
| "A, l.
which was shortly successful, for the
heavy door swung on It's hin ges, and all
the robbers disappeared within It's por.
tails
Now was our time. Like cats, two OF
the mOuntalueeIs CTept toward the soil.
tary guard with the horses and even be
lore he knew OF the presence Of a man q
heavy blow had laid him PROSTATE, anG
be was bound hand AID foot, while the
animals were silently but securely tet h
cred To neighboriDg trees. Then We
turDed toward the bank.
lone at each window" wispered my
friend. 81 will take the door"
Already dull glow within told thai
the burglars were at their work, and al
Se drew sufficiently near. we saw that
they we're busIly engaged In a combined
attempt to force the aafe, evidently hav
ing no fear of any attack from without
ibis safe, however, puzzled them
Probably In none of their former raids haC
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.
! frYa al hnf E.1-
knives upon It's door, when with a ges.
ture of lmpatience, their leader said:
Curse the thing, we must blow il
up Where's the POWDER" and turned
toward the door, as if TO go to his horse
for it, when a clear voice rang in hi.
ears:
Up with your hands, every one Of
you, or you die !"
And the faces of even these despera
does blanched, as they turned TO gazs
about them.
Black muzzfes frowning at them from
every window and the dOor-deatb hang
! ing on a fingers touch-and without a
word they raised their hands and sur
rendered.
| 1t was not bloody work, nor did it
need much bravery; but the next month
when the meu were tried and condemned
at the court hel6 IN the peigtboring
town, one, the leader, called me to his
side
4" See byar, stranger, [ want ter ak
We one question. Ye must a knowed o
our run on The bank. How did We find
1t out? Who give MS away?"
His face WAS dark when he interro-
gated me, for treacherv was the only
possible explanation to bis dull brain,
and that meant death if he ever could
ind the traitor; but the hatred on his
face turned 10 amazement and wonder as
I replied:
mo one gave you away. You told
your secrets in whispering cave, and
the cave told me"
Won the Applejack.
From the New York star.l
Very tough weather for Excavation
Day, +" observed bright young fellow in
the uniform of the Sixty-ninth Regi-