Morris tribune., 1902-04-05

head Of my bed, and just as John
opened the door he whispered:
IF you betray me in any way, I
will kill you both"
'I left my watch lying in the bu-
reau, and as the train is an hour be-
hind time I concluded to run back
and get it, John said by way Of ex-
PLANTATION. eff there is anything in
the world that a man hates when
travelling, it is to be without a time
piece"
did you find it ?" I asked huski-
ly, hoping that he would request my
assistance in the search.
eyes, here it is all right. Don't
get out Of bed, dear; you will catch
a chill. How are you getting along|
returned John.
'sThe stupid felloww I thought.
sWhy will he not give me chance?"
but my lips faltered, every we'll"
Then as our eyes met said with
my fingers:
''For heavens sake, do not leave
me, John. There is a robber behind
the curtain Of my bed. But he will
kill us both if we try to escape"
Without seeming to notice what I
had said, John turned and replen-
ished the fire, saying as he did so:
"You must keep a good fire all
night, Marion. It will keep you
from feeling lonely in my absence.
Abram must bring another bucket
of coal before he goes to bed"
With the poker in his hand he
crossed the room and touched the
call bell. Then, taking his stand
before the fire, he said with his fin
gers:
crest easy, dear. I'll not leave
you alone for a moment"
Directly after Abram made his
appearance, and John sent him for
the coal, calling after him to bring
the heavy shovel, that the fire might
be securely covered.
When the big, stout fellow re-
turned, John said aloud:
'<Marion, please jump up and find
that package you wished me to leave
with Cousin Marie. I may have
time to run across the river when I
am in Chicago"
I did not wait for any other COM
mand, but sprang past John into the
wardrobe just.a he said:
FFSeize the shovel, Abram, and
help me brain that scoundrel who is
hiding away behind the bed cur
tains."
Abram obeyed, and then John
spoke again, this time to the man
who was waiting among the shadows
to despol our home.
''Step out and show your guilty
face if you wish to leave the room
alive" he commanded in a tone of
authority.
The next minute the wretch stood
before John, begging piteously for
his worthless life.
When the mask was torn off,
John stepped back in amazement,
for in the features of the outlaw he
recognized the assistant cashier,
Henry Brown.
He pleaded for mercy, and I, wo-
manlike, added my tears to his petit
ton, but John said the law must
take its course and gave him into
the hands Of policeman for safe
keeping.
The fellow had been on the alert,
and so had kept trace Of the disap-
pearance of the money, and natural
ly enough had followed it up. It
afterward came out that Johns dis
patch to proceed to Chicago at once
was a clever forgery, of which |
Brown knew more than he was will
ing to tell.
It was long time before I recov-
cred from the shock I received that
night, and to this day John has ne7-
er asked me to stay alone during his
absence.
On account of some blunder on
the part of the states attorney |
Brown was not brought to trial, but |
he was wise enough to leave the city,
and so far as l know he has never
made his appearance in the neigh
borhood since.
Never a day passes that I do not
think of our little silent German
friends and of the blessing that
came to US through the kindness
shown to them.