Huntsville gazette., 1886-08-28
How Three Brave Men Escaped
Z sbSfkf4g I Committing One


How Three Brave Men Escaped
8Sfkff Committing One
''Back on the midnight train if can
make IT. One chance in thousand.
I'll try, though And don't you young
folks oversleep yourselves tomorrow,
or you'll lose days fishing bound to
rain Thursday. By-by!'
gs The Colonel was half way across the
lawn as he shouted the warning to the
little knot gathered on the veranda and
in the hallway. The whistle of the loco
motive rounding the bend at Potter 8
y Point woke the echoes. If Dan, the
-Colonel's reliable servant, reached the
station in time the down train woald
stop for the solitary passenger, ctLer-
wise he would come back to us
grumb-ing. But the train slowed
up as soon as it came in sight, Almost
stopped, then started again with sud-
.denness and fury as if to make up for
g &; lost time, and the little group looked
4 u 'blankly at each other.
The Colonel's wife, meantime,
glanced over the telegraphic message
that had torn the Colonel away from
szos just as we were beginning to enjoy
ourselves. Her unrufled countenance
treasured US. Nothing serious threat
ened. III tEs-gyt5btsEf t<tt
"a matter of business-to serve a
friend" said Mrs. Potter, smiling, as
she rejoined US. s'It is annoying, but
it can't be helped, SO we will just man
age to do without him."
Then all the gentlemen voted her q
paragon, and the ladies said there new
er were two people SO well matched.
We were q merry party. just ten be-
fore the Colonel was called away: The
Colonel and Mrs. Potter and four
young couples there by express invita-
ton. We had explored the mysteries
Of Luker's Cave, ssdone" the mountain
ridge, ten miles distant, on horseback,
and on the morrow would go fishing.
Two days of unalloyed pleasure fol-
lowed by evenings so enjoyable that
we were wholly oblivious to the world
:. outside of Pptter's Point. How she
managed I never could surmise; but
there never was woman with the tact
the Colonel's wife displayed. What
proof could be more convincing, what
demonstration more powerful, than the
four marriages that ensued in less than
year-marriages which made Life
r partnersE of the four couples that
danced, sung and made love under Col
onel Potter's roof in June.
'sThe evening has not been so dreary
~ after ALL" said the Colonel's wife
, archly, turning to Fred Blythe.
IA Fred, who vas pretending to turn the
p rnrcio for Mice Hal6ono lnoGa0 of hiS
"a watch and exclaimed:
is Half past one, by Joven'
~ There was loud protest, but when
five or six watches were covertly
/ glanced at, as many tongues averred
ss the thing was incredible. Time had
- never sped so swiftly. And as all
- affected horror, and expressed contri-
~ ton, the Colonel's wife scarcely needed
IL to remind us of the necessity of an
early start on the morrow. There was
scurrying to bed that attested a dis
position to make amends for the dis
sipation indulged. w4Fwt
Did you ever remark how soundly one
sleeps after day and evening of rare
= enjoy ymentp The entire household was
- enjoying the bounty of ''Nature's sweet
restorer-balmy Sleep" when hand
was laid on mine, and a voice | knew
well electrified me with the whisper:
'sThere's a. man in the house, Alick. -
Il sat bolt upright in bed. The door
of the room was closed. Between the
door and my bed Fred Blythe stood in
his night clothes. There was just
enough light to discern him.
"YOu are surep"
positive. Mayberry is sleeping with
me. He heard him. Whoever it was,
Dick says he was in our room. He is
dressing himself. Come to our room
quietly"
"Will we waken Stowbridge?"
whispered Mayberry. n
"No!'' answered promptly. Gar
thur is . heavy sleeper and would be
sure to make mess of it.
led the way in the upper hall. in the
y dark had put out hand-my left
. .s4g,---to feel for the star rail | thought
should be near, when door opposite
to me, on the right, opened. | held
my breath, and reaching back, grasped
Mayberry's arm with my right hand.
Dick grasped my hand, and pressed 1t
in return, just as low voice, in tone
shall never forget, said,r without a
- trefnof dndeed with perfect composnre:
9 Whoever you are. | warn you to
icdNo INSTABILITY O& WILL dldIu tHC
house."
It was Alice Trevino, whose voice
always thrilled me, and whose indiffer-
ence made tie miserable until we were
cast together at Potter's Point. Very
few words sufhced to explain the situ-
ation. Awhispered consultation was
had az The entrance to her apartment
She, too, had heard some one, and she
speedily convinced US that it would be
/, 40 unwiss for us to meet q burglar unless
we were prepared to hold our own.
She was resolved to arouse her COM
panions. that they might understand the
true positipnf Of lfairs. and, first of all,
she would wake our hostess.
The Colone]'s wife displsyed the i'm
pertGbable spirit one expects to find
IN the wife Of soldier who has partic-
r