Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-08-07

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 va
lise, placing it on the floor before the
door at which he had entered. Where
was the guard outside, that his light did
not shine again through our window?
He might have rescued US; but he did
not come
"Efie," said Nab, in whisper to me
she need not have whispered, for the
robber could not understand our language
81 am not going to give up my ring
without struggle The man evidently
thinks the other door locked on the out
side 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-I have slipped i'll am
going to dash the robbers lantern from
the table with this bundle of shawIs; 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 I
give the signal .
Before 1 could recover from my aston
ishment at this bold plan there was a
crash OF glass upon the floor, darkness, a
volley of italian oaths and my sister and
| were tearing madly down the deserted
platform.
''Guard, guar7 !" we shrieked with all
the energy Of despair, but from some in
explicable cause he could not or would
not hear us, though we saw his form
quite plainly in the distance.
Steps were heard in pursuit of us, and
the angry curses Of the burglar reached
our terror-striken ears, when an inspira-
tion seized Mabel 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 approach
ing from another direction became audi
BILE; 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 voice calling in English:
''Hallol What is the matter9 What are
you rascals doing1' seemed to put new
life into her.
Two men ran toward US, one of whom,
to our amazement and delight, we recog-
nized as Sidney Weir, our travelling com
panion.
We clung to him, and hovered over him
with tears, hysterical laughter and inco-
herent 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 be-
lated traveller, they had whiled away the
night smoking and walking upand 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 collected about the
coffee-room he was verv glad he had
waited, for he thought we might be sub
jected to annoyance, if nothing worse.
The sound Of Mabel's 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 1 fail to understand is this ras-
cally guard deserting his post SO shame
fully" said our rescuer, ringing huge
bell which hung near.
Presently an astonished group Of wait
ers and porters gathered around US with
lights and began asking a thousand ques-
tions. One of the new comers stumbled
over something lying in dark corner.
'fWhat is this2" he cried; 'Moser, the
guard, in drunken sleepl He willlose
his place for this, and deserves it, toolo
1t was afterward 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 made
his daring attempt upon Mabel and me-
We had lost all interest in the fete at
San Vito, and, like frightened, disobe-
dent children, our only wish was to re-
turn home, if the little hotel that we had
left could be called home Sidney Weir
accompanied US; and, when Uncle Wal
lace returned, he found suitor for Ma
bells hand awaiting his approval. The
approval was not withheld, as Mab's face
betrayed that her heart had found its
idol.