Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-09-05

!
and shoot me with it !"
Come" said the robber, "aren't
you going to bed?"
Ah, he was beginning, was he?
"Not yet, returned I. care you?"
''Oh, l never go to bed early" said
he, casting another glance at my valise.
''You don't, don't you?" l reflected,
IN what might be called a sarcastic
tone of thought, l continued aloud,
"Aren't you sleepy?"
"Not II bit" Then, between two
tremendous yawns, he added, "I'm a
victim of insomnia !"
''Victim of insomnia, indeed" in
ternally commented. "But you want
to make me the victim of robbery,
though. We'll see who goes to bed
| first ~
There was n pause; then he said,
"Why don't you unpack your-ah-
toilet articles?" with an extremely
meaning emphasis.
"You might unpack that shawl
strap" l retorted
This plainly disturbed him, and not
answering, he pulled the shawl-strap
nearer to his side. From that mo-
ment [ never lost sight of it, for his
conduct explained everything, especi.
ally MS l was convinced that the some-
thing sticking out of one end of the
strap was the handle of sword cane.
Well, not to be tedious, there we
sat, that robber and l, with the uuoc-
cupied bed ibetween us, the whole of
that blessed night-a light which, iudg.
ing its length from my feelings, would
have been excessively long at the
North Pole when daylight is most ont
of fashion. Sometimes the young man
yawned, sometimes | yawned, some
times we both yawned together, all
the while protesting that we weren't
bit sleepy, bat too exasperated Mt each
other to hold any further conyersa-
tion.
Once or twice l almost dropped of,
but convulsively recovered my senses
when ! remembered where | was and
in whose company. Oh, it was the
longest, dullest, dreariest, stupidest,
lonesomest, most wearisome, monot-
onous and heart breaking night ever
went through in my life!
When the sounds below proclaimed
an awakened house, the robber took
his shawl strap and left the room,
closing the door behind him with n
slam thnt expressed his sentiments bet.
ter than if he had abused me steadily
for an hour. l looked yearningly ut
the bed, but it was too late-I must
start for the construction camp before
the villain could form new plan for
mischief.
In the Office I found him talk.
ing to the clerk in an excited manuer,
but he broke off as soon as he saw me,
and both he and the clerk lookeI me
over with great ferocity. He had evil
IDENTIFY been making complaint
against his room mate, as l intended
to do against mine, aud the superior.
ity of his clothes had drawn the su-
periicially y-observing clerk to his side.
lmeant to have something to say my
self, however.
"Send for constable" said I, au-
thoritatively, walking up to the desk.
Hes been sent for, young fellow"
drawled the clerk.
"Ah, that's right-thnt's right, re-
Joined |, surprised. "When he comes
| want him to make an arrest-do you
understands"
The clerk burst ont laughing.
"Why," roared he, "the con5table's
going to make an arrest--going to ar
rest you you brassy scoundrel, you r
and he seized me by the collar, while
the thief graspel my arms.
"Who-what do you think amp"
sputtered l, full of wrath.
'Don't know who you are-noth-
ing that's good though, I'll be bound"
said the clerk. 81 never saw moro
rascally-looking creature in all my
born days. Trying to rob man,
were you?"
"Rob Il mani 1t was this fellow
who was trying to rob mel" ex-
c!aimel. "Iook here !"
Forgetting all caution in my rage
broke loose, tore open the old valise
and threw the monoy-packagos upon
the floor. "Look! Here's ten thou
sand dollars Pm taking to Shovel
Brother from the First National Bank
of Sarepta. If you don't let me go
III have you locked up!"
My roommate tore open his shawl.
strap as [ had the valise, and threw
paper-covered roll upon my packages.
"rhere's ten thousand dollars I'm
taking to Shovel Brothers from
ReichsmRrks, Guilders & Co., of Bos-
ton. Lock up both of us for couple
of wandering idiots !"
lie began to laugh; so did l, so did
the clerk. so did the constable, who
now came in, and we kept it up until
we were completely exhausted. Ex
plantations ensued.
$50 you didn't have sword-cane in
your shawl-strap !" began.
"And you didn't have pistol in
your valise I'm sure I thought you
did," said Reichsmarks, Guilders &
Co.
EGTf ,,o,, hadn't 1yot toboJ ma ,a