The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-03

ElGi;;g~
SHE THREW HERSELF DOWN ON
THE SOFA.
fully withdrew, and with great pres
ence Of mind and sagacity sent out q
call to the nearest police station.
Miss Peekskill had not gone far on
her way to the suburban station when
she was met by two men. who looked at
her somewhat narrowly as she passed,
carrying the bag In one hand and the
reticule in the other. After exchanging
few words in a low tone. they turned
in their tracks and followed her. It
was already growing dark.
The road turned to the left, passed
some unfinished and empty buildings
and took another turn to the right.
When abreast Of the buildings Miss
Peekskill felt herself suddenly seized
from behind, her arms pinioned and q
bunch Of some wooley and ill-smclling
material stuffed into her mouth.
A piece of cloth was wrapped
round her head, and she was dragged
speechless and s!ghtless. but valiantly
resisting, into the basement Of one of
the buildings and there thrown upon
the ground and hurriedly made fast to q
loose beam. The reticule she had
dropped at the first attack; but the
leather pearl-case, to which she had
chung desperately to the last, was now
wrenched away from her. A rough
voice bade her make no attempt to es-
cape. under penalty of annlhlation In
form too unpleasant to bear repitition,
and then there was a sound of re-
treating steps, followed by silence.
She lay there a good while. bruised
and half stunned by the ill-treatment
and fright she had sustained and q prey
to the most gloomy reflections
Breathing 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 en-.
durance became impossible and she
slowly, and with pain and difficulty
contrived to extricete one arm from the
cord which crainpsd II behind her back
She next removed the hoodwink and
gag, and would have been altogether
free in a few minutes more, when, tc
her unutterable terror there was noise
| OF approaching steps and voices, and
| the gleam Of lantern ray cleaning
| through the dark. The murderers were
come! She dragged herself to a sitting
! position, her hair hanging In witchlike
disorder, her eyes staring horribly. ant
let out shrek that might have spill
the tympanum Of o. bronze bust.
Now, the bearers Of the lanterns were
not nurderers nor even footpads, but
a couple Of policemen following the
trail Of the pearl thief. They haG
stumbled upon the black reticule in the
road. and by good luck had thought tc
explore the building. But the last thinf
they expected to find there was Miss
Lesbia Peekskill, especially in s<
strange a plight.
why. this is the very party that has
| done the job" observed one to the
| other.
And looks like she's been done her.
SELF" the other returned. Say" he con.
tinued. your names Peekskill, ain,
it?"
When the maiden recovered hel
senses sufficiently to recognize that hel
interlocutor wore the familiar uniform
| Of the force. she burst into tears and ac
knowledged her identity. Thereupor
the first speaker informed her that III
had a warrant to arrest her for rob-
berry, and cautioned her that anything
she might say would be taken dowr
and used against her at the trial.
At this Miss Peekskill fully recovered
her self-possessiOn, with wonderful
supply of outraged dignity thrown in
She scrambled to her feet and shool
| her first in the faces Of her accusers
Launching forth at them volume o
shrill denials and upbraiding which
| fQir1Sy IA ohoI nd nvor,,,h II ,,,o1 tnv
The gist Of her oration was as follows:
| She utterly repudiated, scorned ant
hurled back the charge. So far from
being a thief. she was herself the vic
tim Of brutal robbery and violence, ant
the innocent object Of scandalous sus
picion. She had never stolen so mucl
as a lump of sugar since she was born
She had invented hygiene instrument
Of more value than all the pearls II
or out Of the ocean: and the thieves
were now doubtless on their way t
Washington to defraud her Of her pat
ent. Did Mrs. Morford make thi
charge? Let them be set face to face
and she would soon show them wher
was the right Of the matter! Mean
while she called upon the officers, a
their peril, to instantly pursue and cap
ture the depredators, and restore he
her property. Fifteen millions were a
stake: and II 1t were lost, she woult
take care that all concerned would re
gret 1t.
"Well, ma 'am," said the first officer
as soon as he could pull himself to
gether. what you state may be al
right; but the thing is just here-then
pearls IL gone. They amt been see,
since you left They was there jus
| before you left, What's more. the but
Ter he seen you carryin' them off. I
you took'em by mistake for your hy-gil
instrument, why wasn't that left be