The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-10-01

say this by way OF disparagement, for
they are just what they have to be in
the natural order OF things. To illus
trate by parallel case. The owl is
mot the gravest OF birds simply be-
cause he belongs to the genus StriS,
but for the reason that he has q bad
habit of turning night into day.
But when night Waterman has
anything which he considers worth
telling, you may take it for granted
thatitis something out OF the common
run.
Mr.. Dipper was one OF the most ef-
ficient night Waterman we ever knew,
for you could no more catch him
asleep than you could the proverbial
weasel. Every hair on his head
seemed charged with electricity, and
constantly on the alert; and it was
very evident that stroking his hair
would produce the same sound as
clubbing a cats fur IN the wrong direc-
ton.
The building under his nightly
charge was large silk warehouse on
the outskirts OF New York, and within
a stones throw OF q large field, on
which at the period embraced in my
story, travelling menagerie had
pitched it's tent. AS such exhibitions
often brought bad characters into the
neighborhood, Martin was even more
vigilant than usual, and fearing that
he might fall asleep, he took along a
small bulldog to act as deputy.
The night which Martin had such
terrible cause to remember was a very
:gusty one in the latter part OF the au-
Itumn, an the old tree in front of the
ware house was showering down it's
crimson foliage as if the red snow
that is sometimes seen in the polar
regions were falling in huge flakes.
He was strict teetOtaller, and as
every nightwatchman requires some
stimulant, he was IN the habit of TAX
ing pint OF coffee with him and
warming it up during the night.
Between II and 1 o'clock, he went
up stairs for that purpose, as the only
fireplace in the building was in asmall
front room on the second floor. After
splitting up some old boxes, he made
lighted up the little room so resplend-
:superfluity. The warmth was so
he kept putting on fuel long after he
had drank his allowance of hot coffee
1t was his custom to inspect the doors
and windows on the ground floor OF
the building at regular intervals; so
Of . o1o lo to-
for that purpose, leaving the dog in a
comfortable doze by the fire. He had
completed his round Of inspection and
was on his way upstairs again, when
he heard a tremendous crash OF glass,
followed by a howl from the dog, a
scutfllng sound, and all was still again.
Martin cooked his Colts revolver and
rushed into the room, only to find the
window sash shattered to fragments
and the dog gone.
How was that state OF things to be
accounted for? The dog couldn't have
jumped through the window, because
the scuffling sound succeeded the crash;
and furthermore, all the glass broken
from the window was strewn on the
floor, proving conclusively, that the
window must have been broken from
the outside. .
Martin was puzzled for once; and
the more he revolYed the matter in
his mind, the more it seemed that
some supernatural agency had been at
work. A glance from the window sat-
listed him that no human being could
reach it, except by means of ladder;
for, although the tree we have men
toned stood directly in front OF it,
the intervening distance was too great
for any one to use the tree as means
OF access to the house.
Martin then resolved to examine
the ground Immediately under the
window for traces left by the feet of g.
ladder, Or by those OF robbers. He
was aware OF the risk attached to such
a course, but that could not deter him
from seeking clue to the disappear
ance OF his favorite dog. He was on
the point Of going out, when it oc-
Cured to him that his duty to his en-
ployer, which was always q para
mount consideration in his mind, for
bade that he should take so rash a.
step, and that he had already been
guilty OF gross negligence in leaving
the broken window for an instant.
SO he hurried back to the room from
which the dog had disappeared, and
prepared to watch there until morn
ing. The fate of the dog had warned
him of the danger of having a light in
the room, and thus making himself a
conspicuous target to any one or any,
thing outside, SO he extinguished the
lire, covered up his lantern in one cor
ner or the apartment, and sat in the
dark with his finger on the trigger Of
his pistol, awaiting further develop
ments. At this juncture there was q
'lull in the gale, which had raved with
manlacal fury for several honrs; aud
Martins acute ear heard an ind1s-
tlnct sound below that was evidently
caused by some one creeping on his
hands and knees, for. Martin had Oft
,en heard hunters crawling in that
manner to surprise their game.
A momentary silence ensued, and
then ne heard the tree violently agi-
lated, as If some giant were ascending
1T, for there was no wind blowing at
the time: A moment afterwards What
appeared to be the leg Of a burgla