The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-26
Printed By Special arrangement Copyrighted, 1896
THE SPEAKING TUBE.
By j. II. TRowBRIDGE.
PART II.

heard yet l put my ear close down to the
place from which the voices issued, and heard
distinctly:
HE looked out for that
was making more astounding discoveries
than had anticipated. Already / had satisfied
myself as to the origin of the voices. Feeling
with my hand as | listened. / had found a
round, smooth orifice about six inches In diam
| eter 1t was in the end Of a gas-pipe slightly
protrudng into the excavation: the other end
knew was on the outskirts of the city, where |
passed in sight of il every day. Lahorers had
been for some time laying it, and it com
pletely covered, except at the point it started
from, where 1t was yet TO be joined to the city
pipes, and at the end which had been carried
into the suburbs that is, the end where was
l remembered seeing the usual lantern hung
over the dangerous spot, when | came to the
Oldboys' house in the evening; but it had been
extinguished, probably by the burglars before
commencing operations: and had forgotten all
about the light and the hole 1t guarded, when
rushed out in pursuit of them. stumbled at a
heap of loose gravel, and plunged headlong into
the trench
While was lying there senseess. they had
we'll suited for their purpose. being sufficiently
capacious cave, temporarily rooted over with
| loose planks. situated in unfinished street
All this gradually became clear TO me, as | re-
gained my presence of mind and studied the sit
uation. also remembered that it was Horato
who had first called my attention to the covered
pitt we walked past it one morning, probably
before it had been thought OF as a den for his
confederates. The gasppe served as an enor-
nous speaking tube and was overhearing their
cOnyers alton a mile and half
l soon heard enough to make up my mind that
they were not professional burglars, but young
scamps of Horatio's acquaintance, who were al
ways ready for any roguery that would afford
them present sport, or provide them with funds
for future froce. They had taken advantage OF
my unsuspicious innocence and OF his intimacy
with me, to plan and carry out the robbery OF
the Oldboys' premises, especially of the closet
where the silver ware was kept, of which old
Phebe had the key. How Horatio had managed
to fit the lock with the duplicate key which he
furnished to his companions, along with other
false keys and plans of the house, | never knew.
But that he was at the bottom of the business
could have no doubt whatever-he who appeared
so skittish at the sight Of a six-shooter.
/ even heard his name through the tube:
"Rasbe did splenddly" And again, "Rashe
ought to be here"
| heard other names, too, which enabled ME
to identify at least two OF the crew. Marco and
Glenn could te no other than Marcy Hubbard
and Clement Woodbury., intimate cronies of
Horatio; had often heard him speak or them,
and seen him in their company
Hearing me tell the story now, and explain
things In this matter of fact way, you can have
no notion of the state Of excitement l was in,
from the time / began to realize the situation
I had played the fool, had betrayed my trust
I had actually introduced thieves into the house
| was left TO protect had no idea how much
or how valuable property had been stolen, but l
knew very we'll that my own reputation and pros
poets in life were at stake Perhaps should
even be suspected of a more criminal connection
with the robbery Under the circumstances.
what was TO dot
Even while listening for more revelations
through the tube, l felt that ought to be hast
ening to warn the police, and send officers to the
other end of it. But long before could reach
them and they could reach it, the roRues would
undoubtedly be gone l might cause the arrest
OF some of them the next day, but could | pro-
duce satisfactory evidence against them, or
cure the recovery of their plunder2 They were
even then talking of how the silver was to be
melted and cast into ingots but where, or by
whom. couldn't make out
Now, boys" heard one of them say, take
good look and see I there's nobody in sight, and
Amidst the whirl of thoughts that distracted
me, that decided me what to do. / turned my
away, and put my mouth at the sixinch
orifce. and shouted
"Boys"
For few seconds heard only hollow roar
ing in the pipe; then startled EXPLANATIONS:
whats thatp
who Spoken
"Halloo, boysw repeated
II was still some seconds before any response
came back; and was beginning to realize the
length of time it took for sound to travel a mile
and half. Meanwhile, imagined the conster-
nation into which the culprits were thrown by
the mysterious call After brief silence. dur
ing which fancied | could hear them breathe,
came a magnifed whisper:
Godfrey! there's somebody Ia the pipe!"
was aware that my voice must have sounded
very near to them, but the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the
idea that there could oe anybody in that six.
inch tube, made me laugh, serious as the situa
ton was.
Glen Woodbury. called.
"Its somebody who knows us" said one
'It's all upl" said another. Let's putt"
''No use of running away, said somebody else.
"Let's haul him out"
"Marce Hubbard" cried.
rs their ordinary tones sounded quite distinct
to Cle when spoken near the pipe, could guess
how tremendously loud my voice must have
seemed to them, shouted in the very mouth Of
the pipe
After while came the response, evidently
shouted into the other end:
Where are your
"At Percy Park"
THAT'S lie" yelled a voice.
They hadn't considered the situation AS had,
and couldn't conceive OF their nterlocutor being
a mile and half away
You'll lind out whether IL 10 lie or not"
said IF you don't bring back that plumber"
Its somebody who knows as and all about
it," | heard a voice muttering. st must be
Rashel"
I thought would favor that misapprehen-
sion
''Of course, know all about It: for helped
you get it," I said. Bring 1t back, and we'll
make joke Of It. If you don't it will be a
States prison job The whole thing Is found
OUT
WHO has found it QUIT" some one asked, after
the usual interval
"He-Jiml He even knows about the blank
cartridges. l can't explain now. Hurry back
with that plumber, I tell you. or therell be
troubled"
/. 1T amt Rashe 1t amt his voice." heard
some one say
Eyes, it tsp said another. 1T can't be any
body else You can't tell voice, coming
through tube that way" Then a shout:
"Are you Horatio Bandp