The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-21

lock was distinctly audible. My heart seemed
to stop beating with fright, and then to my I'M
speakable horror the door softly opened and the
ev1l-looking man, with the grizZled hair, whom
| had seen through the window of the coffee
room, crept in with dim lantern in his hand.
Listen he said in a hoarse" whisper, liking
me with his wicked eyes. IF you are quiet L
will do you no harm, but if you scream or make
the least disturbance know how to silence you
1 want the ring your friends pretty finger
wears, and whatever money and other valuables
you have about you. Make no resistance as
you value your life!'
L suppose grew very white and tremDled,
for Mable said, in a surprisingly firm voice.
Don't faint, Effie but give the man the
valise to search; our lives are worth more than
the trumpery it contains"
The robber set his lantern on the table and
began undoing the straps of our valise, placing
it ON the floor before the door at which he had
entered. Where was the guard autslde that ms,
light did not shine again through cur window!
He might have rescued us; but he did not come.
"Eihe, said Nab, in a whisper to me-she
| need not have whispered, for the robber could
not understand our language-'I am not going
to give up my ring without struggle. rms
man evidently thinks the other door locked on
the outside and safe against our opening it,
otherwise he would not let us stand so close to
it. | have my hand ON the bolt now; there
have slipped it, l am going to dash the robbers
lantern from the table with this bundle of
| shawls; in the darkness we can rush out upon
the platform and call the guard. Don't lose
your head or try to detain me- for | am quite
| resolved. Be ready to fly when L give the
signal"
Before 1 could recover from my establishment
at this bold plan, there was crash of glass upon
the floor darkness, q volley of italian oaths and
my sister and were tearing madly down the
deserted platform.
Guard guardm we shrieked with all the en-
ergy of despair, but from some inexplicable
cause no could not or would not hear us, though
we saw his form quite plainly in the distance.
Steps were heard in pursuit of and the angry
curses of the burglar reached our terror stricken
ears, when an inspiration seized Mable. She
put her little silver whistle to her lips and blew
till its peculiar note rang out like clarion on
the still air.
The sound of hasty footsteps approaching
from another direction became audible; but
whether they were for good or i'll we could not
tell Nab had lost her courage and was leaning
on me, half fainting when a voice calling in
English, ''Hallo! What is the matter! What
are you rascals doing" seemed to put new life
into her.
Two men ran towards US, one of whom, to our
amazement and delight, we recognized as Sid
ney We1r, our travelling companion.
We chung to him and lowered over him with
tears hYsterica laughter and incoherent thanks,
and did not notice that during our explanations
both robber and guard disappeared. Mr. Weir
said that he had felt uneasy at leaving US alone
in the little station, and, finding another beated
traveller, they had whiled away the night
smoking and walking up and down upon the
road near at hand. He had not told us of his
change of plans, thinking it might annoy us.
When he saw the rough lot of men who col
lected about the coffee-room, he was very glad
he had waited for he thought he might be
subjected to annoyance if nothing worse The
sound of Mabels whistle had reached his ears
as a signal of distress, and he would never feel
sufficiently thankful that he had given her the
little toy.
What I fail to understand is this rascally
guard deserving his post SO shamefully," said
our rescuer, ringing a huge bell which hung
near
Presently an astonished group of walters and
porters gathered round us with lights and
began asking a thousand questions One of the
new corners stumbled over something lying in a
dark corner
What is this" he cried ''Moser, the guard,
in drunken sleepl He will lose his place for
this and he deserves it, too!'
1t was afterwards discovered that Anton
Moser, the real guard, had been drugged by two
rufians one of whom had stolen his lantern
and cap. while the other had made his daring at
tempt on Mabel and me.
We had lost all interest in the fete at San Vito,
and like frightened, disobedient children, our
only wish was to return home, if the little hotel
that we had lett could be called home. Sidney
Weir accompanied us, and, when Uncle Wallace
returned, he found sutton for Mabers hand
awaiting his approval. The approval was not
withheld, as Mab's face betrayed that her heart
had found its idol.