Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-05-21

foplied Sam.
 "We didn't go fast enough said Noel
 "That's it." added Sam. i've didnt go fast enough because we couldn't You stumbled a good deal as it was, but Carson went headlong like an engine, or us if he knew Old Nick was after him "1t's too bad" said Noel, coming to . standstill, but suppose it could not be helped"
 | "Tn have to meet my train now" said sam, and ''get my papers. and I won't | have time to see you home afore it comes h.s ~
 | Let me go with you," suggested Noel, as the best way out of the difficulty which presented itself. We cannot be very far from the depot, and I will not be much in your way, Sam" he added. l Agreed" said Sam. Now let us go. The train will be in before long" | With Sam leading him by the hand, l Noel moved along at a fair rate of speed, and they were soon at the depot. The | train was nearly half an hour late, and l they waited for it in the cosy little wait | lngroom, where n cheerful fire diffused | its warmth While waiting here. Sam noticed for the first time since they met that Noel acted queer. The stormy scenes at the steel mill seemed to pass vividly before the old mans vision, and he would start up from light sluinber in a most excit- ed manner. At such times Sam found it rather difficult to calm him.
 II think you'd better keep from dozing to sleep," the boy said at last. Them brain-pictureS what you see aint good for you"
 "You are right. my boy" said Noel. II will try and keep wide awake now until | the train comes"
 | At last the tratn arrived. Sam Sharp got his little bundle of papers, and plao- | ing it under his left arm. took Noel's hand in his right and said Now, we are ready
 Then they set out for Noers home, taking she shortest possible cut through the side streets, and such grimy thor oughfares as Sam knew afforded the | nearest way to the blind mans resi- dence
 | Although sam Sharp knew no fear, | under ordinary circumstances. he felt q slight feeling something akin to dread, on seeing number of figures moving to and from large object that stood in the middle of a dimly lighted alley into which he had led his companion.
 Let's go kinder slow here; it's very dark, he whispered to Noel. Then they | came to q halt.
 Sam Sharp noticed that the large ob- ject ahead ill the middle of the alley was a carriage
 "I hear voices" whispered Noel, clutch ing the boy by the sleeve. Sam listened attentlvely, and distinct ly heard some one say in subdued tone: Step cautiously; she is moving."
 The boy pulled Noel closer aside to the shelter of the buildings on the right, and said, Stand still q minute and don't speak. I want to make a careful ex- animation ahead"
 Sam stepped forward with oat-like tread, and saw two men emerging from a narrow passage to the left One of the men moved cautiously d little ahead of the other who proceeded slowly, and carried something in his arms.
 Sam Sharp drew closer and saw that. | the second man was carrying a woman | The boy could only see the outlines of | the form and face, but could not dis tinguish the features. He was startled | and amazed at the sight. Why should | these men carry a woman into the street at this unseemly hour? Was she alive, or was she dead? Thoughts of a great l crime entered Sams mind. and he knew 1 that extreme caution was necessary on his, as well as Noel's part, if they valued 1 their lives. But with this great desire for ! caution there also arose in the boys 1 breast an eager wish to attain d glimpse of the faces of the men who were en- gagged in this suspicious work.
 Sam found this no easy matter. The dim light that altered its rays through 1 the solitary lamp which stood at the far end of the alley, only served to make the | darkness more intense, and carefully as Sam shifted his position, he found it l no easy matter to make a satisfactory focus on the faces of the two men, such IS would enable him to identify them should he see them again. l An incident occurred. however, which ! aided Sam in his burning desire for in l formation. When the man who was carving the woman was in the act of placing his burden in the carriage his hat rolled off, and Sam, who was but short distance away, noticed a deep red scar across his temple.
 m know that fellow again, anyhow" thought Sam. At the same time the boy obtained a glimpse of the woman's face. 1 He noticed that her eyes were closed, and that the features were those of 8 l beautiful girl. whose black hair was tumbled about her face and neck in wild | disorder.
 What Sam Sharp had seen made him l more eager than ever to unmask this mystery, and were he possessed of the
 necessary strength, he would confront these desparate men and make them give an account of their crime then and
 there. But although Sam was a brave
 boy. he knew the value of silence at the
 proper time. He had learned a good
 deal for one of his years, by bitter ex- perienoe, but it deserves to be said to his credit that he had a just abhorrence
 of all that was wicked and cowardly, and l a wholesome admiration for what was