Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1891-03-27

went on for the next dreary hour. Julia
at length ceased weeping and lay in
thought, only an occasional sigh betray-
ing her wakefulness. Again the clock
struck, ting, ting, ting;" but 1t had not
reached the final stroke when Julia,
springing lightly from the bed, flung
herself upon an immense chest at the
further end Of the room.
"Oh, Maryl" she cried, "quickl quickl
He is herel can not hold the lid-he
will get out! Quickl quick!'
There was indeed some living thing
inside the chest; for, in spite of Julia's
weight, the lid was lifted, and then, as
the instinct Of self-preservation over
came my terror, sprang to her assist
ance. Whom or what had we caught?
Imagine yourself holding down the lid
of showman's box, with boa-con-
strictor writhing beneath; or keeping q
cage top in its place by your weight
alone, with hyena struggling to tear
his way out and devour you. But we
were not long in suspense. Horrid
execrations, half German, half English,
chilled our very hearts, and we knew
that there, in the midnight, only the lid
of an old chest was between ourselves
and Hans Schmidt At times it started
up, and once or twice his fingers were
caught in the opening Then, finding
our combined weight too much for his
strength, it would become evident that
he was endeavoring to force out an end
Of the chest. But he could not work to
advantage. Cramped within such lin
It's, his giant power muscle was not
wholly available; he could neither kick
nor strike with full force, and hence his
chief hope rested upon his ability to lift
us up lid and all Even then, in the alb
solute terror that might have been sup
posed to possess her, queer feeling Of
exultation sprang up in Julia's heart.
81 was right Mary" she cried; 'they
won't think me fool now, will they?
I shant be ashamed to see Harry 1rv-
ingp'
Poor Julia! Under the circum-
stances, the idea was really ludicrous;
but nature will everywhere assert her.
self, and ] ulia hated coward. Thumpl
thump! thump! Lid, and side, and end
alternately felt the cramped but pow
erful blows. Then came the hft-the
steady, straining, desperate lift; and
Julia cheered me when the cover shook,
and rose, and trembled.
HE can't get out, Mary, we are safe;
only keep your full weight on the lid;
and don't be nervous either; it's almost
morning"
She knew 1t was not one o'clock. But
one o'clock came. How wished it was
five And two o'clock came, and three;
and we hoped that our prisoner had
finally yielded to fate which must
now appear inevitable. A small aper.
ture at one end of the chest, where
there was fracture in the wood, sup.
piled him with air; and hence we could
not hope that he would become weak
through suffocation. He was evidently
resting from the very necessity Of the
case, for his exertions had been pro.
digious. There was a faint streak Of
morning in the sky; and there, upon the
chest, we sat and watched for the
CLEAN to broaden.
Suddenly there was a tremendous
struggle beneath us, as II the ruffiar
had concentrated all his energies in Q
final effort. AT my end of the chest
there was a crash, and Immediately the
Germans feet protruded through the
aperture that they had forced in the
board. So horrible now appeared oul
position that | uttered scream, such
as do not think ever at any Other
time have had the power to initiate.
did not know that l was about t.
scream, so terrible was the fright O.
which this was the involuntary out
burst.
To get off the lid, in order to defea
the movement through the chest-end
would have instantly been our destruc
ton; therefore, still bearing our weigh
on the cover, we caught at the project
ing feet. In doing this, however, w,
partially lost our balance, and suddel
bracing up of the muscular shape below
so far forced open the lid, that the head
arms and shoulders of Hans Schmid
were thrust forth, and, with fearfu
clutch, seized Julia by the throat. Hor
rified by the spectacle, threw mysel
forward, bearing down with all m,
might upon his head, as lay PARTIAL,
upon the chest.
Just then a heavy crash was heard a
the door below, the foot-tramps spring
ing toward us as If some person wer
tearing up the staircase with the full
conviction that this was an hour O
need. The dim daybreak hardly re
vealcd its identity, as he rushed int
our room, but had faint perception
; that young Harry Irving had come t
us in our peril. Some time during tn
morning found myself in bed, wit
Julia and several of the neighborin,
women standing about me. JUL
clasped me in her arms and cried, sh
was so rejoiced that the fright had nc
killed me.
1--WE are safe, Mary" she said
"Harry Irving was near the house al
, night. He returned after seeming t
go home. 1t was not right, he said t
himself, for us to remain alone her
/ all night, especially as our father wa
known to have money in the house. S
he kept out of sight, but RENAME
| near. The least scream he would hav
| heard as he at last heard yours; but
am glad you did not scream before, fo
now we have had al experience, an
I know what we can do. 1t was tediou.
I but don't wish to be thought afrai
) of my own shadow, and I'm glad W
had to hold the chest down o goo
, while"
, Hans Schmidt had evidently decide
, upon the chest as safer hiding plac
[ than that in which Julia first discovere
S him. Upon the very morning on whic
Henry Irving stunned and secured tn
/ | ruffian in our room, the officers {