New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-08-22

London life. Laughs and shouts
greeted us on all sides from the pub
lie houses, and the bar-rooms of the
neighborhood.
& determined to push the adj
venture to its end, the more so as
my companion now turned to me
and said, in his cracked, faltering
tones:
Here is my home gentlemenp He
slipped through the half-open door
OF a dilapidated building and started
up arickety staircase with the agility
| had before remarked. I had diff
Guilty infolloWing him in the nauseat-
ing obscurity. The smart tap of his
crutches sounded on the steps and
served as my guide.
ssAtthe third story the old beggar
stopped; ! heard him feeling about in
the dark, then came the sound of a
key turning in a lock.
One moment, my good gentle
man, said the trent bling voice; I will
light a candle
Some seconds passed; then the
dismal glimmer of a tallow candle Lit
up a room which struck me as toler-
ably spacious.
The beggar had slipped behind me,
and now | heard the sharp click of
the key in the lock.
Il had expected to find sordid,
miserable hole, fitted out with a
broken stool, and a bundle of straw
in the corner for a bed; instead of
which the room was furnished with
certain degree of luxury, and the
floor was covered with a rich carpet.
"sWhat does this mean?' I asked in
stupor. You have deceived me!'
81 turned toward the door. The
old man had vanished; man in the
vigor Of life, a white wig in his hand,
his face covered with penciled 'Wrink-
les, looked up at me and laughed.
You look surprised, he said, in
a hooking tone sThere are mira
cles still in our days, you see. My
good legs have come back to me, and
my crutches-look thereT
s'He pointed toward the corner
near the door.
We'll, what do you want Of me?'
asked resolutely enough.
81 want you to lend me your
watch, impudently asked the man.
Mine happens to be at the jewelers.
just now, and yours looks like a toler-
ably good one. I'll warrant itkeeps
good time"
After all it was but one man, and
a struggle man to man demands but
an ordinary courage.
aBut my pseudo gray beard drew
a revolver from his pocket.
" No. said he, holding the muzzle
to my face, the watch and the purse
first
Il drew back. Indignation
and anger at letting myself
into such an absurd trap all
most suffocated me; but what could
do against this man armed?
All at once an idea occurred to
me.
Gimp of Satan! I'll catch you
yetp' called out a gruff voice from
behind the beggar.
"Instinctively he turned around.
I seized the opportunity to rush up
on him and snatch the revolver from
his hands.
"sMy turn now" said I, holding
the revolver under his nose. Open
that door this instant or / will blow
out your brains!i',
THE robber looked at me with a
| stupid air. He was a resolute fellow
without a doubt; but the revolver
and the mysterious voice together
we're too much for him. Growing
savagely, like a bulldog, he opened
| the door and slammed it violently
after me.
Feeling my way along, I found
the staircase, and with some diff
Guilty gained the street. | directed
my steps at once toward the Strand.
[ arrived a half-hour late at my the
alter, where reigned the greatest in
quietude at my non-appearance.
II kept the revolver as a tribute
of war "And you see,'' concluded
| Toole, chow my little talent of ven
triloquism that night helped me out
| of an ugly scrape. London Mail.
Missions Nearer Home.