The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-23


fully withdrew, and with great pres
ence of mind and sagacity sent out call
ito the nearest police station.
Miss Peekskill had not gone far ON
her way to the suburban station wien
lshe met two men, who looked at her
somewhat narrowly as she passed, car
rying the bag in one hand and the reti-
lcule in the other After exchanging q
few words in low tone, they turned
On their tracks and followed her. 1t
was already growing dark.
The road turned to the left, passed
come unfinished and empty buildings
and took another turn to the right. When
abreast OF the buildings Miss Peekskill
felt herself suddenly seized from be-
hind, her arms pinioned and bunch
OF some woolly and ill-smelling materi-
al stuffed instantly into her mouth. A
piece of cloth was wrapped round her
head. and she was dragged speechless
and sightless, but valiantly resisting.
into the basement of one of the build
ings ard there thrown upon the ground
and hurriedly made fast to loose
beam. Tho reticule she had dropped
at the first attack; but the leather
pearl-case, to which she had clung des-
pcrately TO the last, was now wrenched
away from her. A rough voice bade her
make no attempt to escape, under PEN
atty of annihilation in form too un.
pleasant to bear repetition, and then
there was the sound of retreating steps,
followed by silence.
She lay there a good while, bruised
and half stunned bv the ill-trcatment
AID fright she had sustained ana prey
70 the most gloomy reflections. Breath
ing was also difficult, and there was the
chance that some one was on the
watch near by, prepared to make a
bloody end of her should she venture
to stir. At length, however, further
endurance becarre impossible and she
slowly, ard with pain and difficulty,
contrived TO extricate one arm from
the cord which cramped il behind her
back. She next removed the hoodwink
and gag, and would have been alto
gethcr free in few minutes more,
when, TO her unutterable terror, there
was noise of approaching steps and
voices. and the CLEAN of lantern ray
cleaning through the dark. The muir
derers were come! She dragged herself
TO a sitting position. her hair hanging
in witchlike disorder, her eyes staring
horribly, ain let outa shrek that might
have split the tympanum of bronze
bust
Now, the bearers OF the lanterns
were not murdcrers nor even footpads.
but couple of policemen following the
trail of the pearl thief. They had STUN
blcd upon the black reticulc in the road,
and by good luck had thought TO ex-
plorc the building. But the last thing
they expected TO find there was Miss
Lesbia Peekskill, especially in so
strange plight.
''Why, this is the very party that has
done the job" observed one to the
other.
'And looks like she's been lone her
self" the other returned. SAY" he con-
tinued. "your names Peekslkill, amt
IT."
When the maiden recovered herscnses
sufficiently TO recognize that her inter-
locusor wore the familiar uniform of
the force. she burst into tears and ac-
knowledged her identity. Thereupon
the first speaker informed her that Le
had n warrant TO arrest her for rob-
berry. and cautioned her that anything
shc might fay would be taken down
and used ugainE; her az Tie trial.
At this Miss PcekskiIl fully recovered
her set-possession. Nith wonderful