Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-07-30
Gales aud sketehes.
MlB'S KEEPSAKE.
Continue, from yesterday. }

at that instant. and, to nv horror, saw a
man with evil black ewes and grizzled hair
staring intently at Nab and me with
wicked look about him which | could not
forget. As caught his eve he skunk
away in the darkness and presently the
railway porter came to escort US to the
waiting room.
at is against the rules of the road to
allow the waiting-room to be occupied at
night he began, .'but if you will be con-
tent without light, and with both doors
locked on the outside, have no objection
TO your waiting here for your train"
This was appalling, to be locked up tor
five hours in a shabby little Italian waiting
room in total darkness. BY feeling the
man we prevailed upon him to allow US
TO bolt the outer door on the inside, so
that we should feel little less like prls-
oners.
The guard walks up and down the
platform till daylight, so you can feel
quite safe" said the porter, consolingly,
as he wished us goodnight and shut the
door of the dark little den upon us.
fortunately bethought me of some wax
matches in the valise. and lighting one for
the moment we took in the situation-a
mean little room, with door on two sides.
hard benches round the walls, and a long
table. Surely not an inviting apartment
for repose. We made ourselves as COM
Portable as the circumstances would per-
nit, and tried to forget our position IN
sleep. But | became preternaturally
wakeful. Here we were, two unprotected
women, dropped down at this little way
side station for all the long night hours.
SUSPICIOUS characters were lurking about,
and we might be robbed and murdered
without our friends ever knowing OF our
fate. In the midst of my cheerful reflec-
tons it consoled me little to see the
guard pass by slowly at intervals, with
his lanterns cleaning on the red bands OF
his cap.
Suddenly. my ears sharpened by the
silence. | heard a stealthy step approach
the inner door of our prison. and the quiet
grating of a key in the lock was distinctly
audible. My heart seemed to stop beat
ing with fright, and then. to my unspeak-
able horror, the door softly opened and
the evil-looking man, with the grizzled
hair, whom had seen through the win
dow of the coffee-room, crept in with a
dim lantern in his hand.
"Listenr" he said in hoarse whisper,
fixing me with his wicked eyes. eff you
are quiet | will do you no harm, but if
you scream or make the least disturbance
know how to silence you. | 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 ~
suppose | grew very white and trem-
bled, for Mabel said in a surprisingly
firm voice:
Don't faint, Eflie, 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 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.
Ellie" said Nab, in whisper to me
she need not have whispered. for the
robber could not understand our language
II am not going to give up my ring
without struggle. This man evidently
thinks the other door locked on the out,
side and safe against our opening it,
otherwise he wonld not let us stand Sc
close to it. have my hand on the bolt
now; there have slipped it! | 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 and try to detain me, for | am
quite resolved Be ready to fly when
| give the signal
Before 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 madlv down the de
serted platform. Guard! guard.' we
shieked with all the agony of despair, bu;
from some ineXplicable cause he coulC
not or would not hear us, though we saw
his form quite plainly in the distance
Steps were heard in pursuit of us. anC
the angry curses of the burglar reached
our terrOr-stricken ears when an inspra.
ton seized Mabel. She put her little
silver whistle to her lips and blew till it;
peculiar note rang out like a clarion or
the still air.
The sound of hasty footsteps approach
ing from another direction became audi
BILE; but whether they were for good OF
for i'll we could not tell Nab had los
her courage and was leaning on me, hal
taintng. when voice calling in Englisl
-" Halo What is the matter? What ar,
you rascals doingP" seemed to put new
life into her
Two men ran towards US, one of whom
to our amazement and delight. we recog
nized as Sidney Weir, our travelling com
pani0n.
We chung to him and lowered over hin
with tears, historical laughter and inco
herent thanks, and did not notice that dur
ing our explanations both robber anC
guard disappeared Mr. Weir said tina
he had telt uneasy at leaving us alone il
the little station. and finding another be
lated traveller, they had whiled away tn,
night smoking and walking up ard dowr
upon the road near at hand He had no
told us of his change of plans. thinking i
might annoy us. When he saw the rouol
lot of men who collected about the coffee
room, he was very glad he had waited
for he thought we might be subjected t,
annoyance, if nothing worse. The SCUM,
of Mabel's whistle had reached his ears a
a signal of distress. aud he would neve
feel sufficiently thank full that he had givel
her the little toy.
'What fail to understand is this ras
cally guard deserving his post so shame
fully" said our rescuer, ringing a hug
bell which hung near.
i