Connecticut western news., 1885-06-24
eompllshed this when there was a tap

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 Robert" Alice said.
 "Yes, love. Speak low, there Is a man under my window"
 "I am going to Paris There is no man under my window, and I can get out there. have six long roller tow els here knotted together, and I have cut my white skirt into wide strips to join them. The rope made so reaches nearly to the ground. I shall fasten 1t to the door-knob and let myself down. It will not take long to reach home, saddle Selim and reach Paris in time. Don't fear for me-"
 Nine o'clock As the bell of the church clock ceased to strike, a rumble, 8 flash, told me that 6 thunder storm was coming rapidly. Oh, the long. long minutes of the next hour. Ten o'clock. The rain falling in torrents, the thunder pealing, lightning fash ing Alice was 80 afraid of lightning. Eleven o'clockl The storm over, though still the night was inky black.
 The midnight down train was com ing swiftly, surely, to certain destruct- ionl Where was my wife? Had the ruf1ans intercepted her at the cottagep Was she lying dead somewhere upon the wild roadp Her heroism was of no avail, but was her life savedp In the agony of that question the approach ing rumble of the train was far more than the bitterness of Alice lost in the horror of the doomed lives it carried. Why had I let her start upon her mad errand?
 The heavy train rumbled past the telegraph office. It was an express train, and did not stop at Deering sta tion; but as I listened, every sense sharpened ny mental torture, 1t seemed to me that the speed slackened. List ening intently, knew that it stopped at the embankment, as nearly as could judge. Not with the sickening crash I expected, not preceding walls and groans from the injured passengers, but carefully. A moment more and I heard shouts, the crack of firearms, sounds of some conflict.
 What could it all mean? The min. utes were hours. till heard key turn in the door of my prison, and moment later two tender arms were round my neck, and Alice was whispering in my ear:
 "They will come in a few minutes, love, to set you free!"
 "But have you been to ParisP'
 "Yes, dear."
 "In all that stormT'
 'Selim seemed to understand. He carried me swiftly and surely. I was well wrapped in my waterproof cloak and hood. When I reached Paris the train had not come from D."
 "But it Is here"
 "Only the locomotive and one car. In that car was a sheriff, deputy sher- if and twenty men, armed to the teeth, to capture the gang at the embark ment. came, too, and they lowered me from the platform when the speed slackened, so that conld run here and tell you all was safe.'
 While we spoke my wife's fingers had first united the handkerc chief around my neck, and then, in the dark, found some of the knots of the cords binding me. But was still tied fast and strong, when there was a rush of many feet upon the staircase, and, in another moment, light and joyful voices.
 "We've captured the whole ninep' was the good news. "Three, including John Martin, are desperately wounded, but the surprise was perfect. Now, old fellow, for youp'
 A dozen claspknives at once severed my bonds, and dozen hands were ex- tended in greeting. As for the praises showered upon my plucky little wife 1t would require volume to tell hal1 of them.