The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-16
THE MINNEAPOLIS JOURNAL.

Of the mensorvants Of the house, sor the
Wallets of the guests, We're making use
OF this toWer-room for drinking bout OF |
their own. very likely not even knowing
that the adjoining room was occupied. How
the door came to be pushed open could
not tell. did not think that had left
it so. Still, had prowled round the old
stone chamber once during that day, and
it was just possible had omitted to close
the door after me. Anyhow, open 1t was.
Possibly one of the intruders, knowing the
house, had pushed it open to glance in and
see that the room was empty. Had my
| fire been alight that would have betrayed
occupation. AS it was everything was
pitch dark for burnt no night lamp, and
every ember on the hearth was cold and
dead.
Slipping from my bed wrapped myself
up in dressinggown, and over that
put long, heavy drivingcoat reaching
to my heels. I did not intend showing
myself, but there was a protection in
feeling well wrapped up. Suddenly, as
completed my preparations In the
Stygan darkness, I remembered the
ghostly traditions of the room. 1t was
haunted! Could it be that the sounds
heard proceeded from denizens of another
world? I was conscious of a little chill
/ shiver running thru my veins as this
thought presented itself. But would
not leap back into my warm bed, or
mystery to the best of my ability, and
| crept cautiously to the curtain, slipped
noiselessly behind it, and then, with the
utmost caution approached the angle of
the wall which would give me the view
into the towerroom beyond
1 peered around the angle, keeping in
dense shadow myself. saw five men
4 seated at the table, but they were not
servants Of the house; that I saw at a
glance. And I saw something more, too
something which sent my heart into my
mouth, but which filed me rather with
anger than with fear. These men were
highway robbers. l knew it by the fash
ion in which they were armed, for AL
carried weapons, and two pairs of horse
pistols lay upon the table. More than
this, saw black masks lying there also,
and the dark, brutal faces Of the men
plainly showed the character Of their lives
and occupation.
Moreover, they were talking and plot
ting together. could hear a great part
Of what they said. They were planning
a highway robbery; heard them talk
about pearls presumably some jewelers.
agent was to be their victim) and money
which the sale of other pearls had bought
l heard them describe a certain spot
where the high road ran by the side Of
: a wood I knew the place quite we'll. 7
had passed it often. But could not hear
: what day or time they purposed making
III,
frozen with anger and disgust; I was
r rapidly revolving a plan Of arousing the
house and having the wretches caught
d-harded. when with great suddenness
they all arose. put on their SKIS blew
out their lights. hustled their drinking
horns and bottle or two into the bags
they carried, and by the light of a small
.. dark lantern which one Of them carried
T disappeared thru the small door in the
: Wall--of which they evidently possessed
= the key-and left me standing there in
the darkness, rubbing my eyes and ask
ing myself whether did not dream.
>, 1 heard the steps descending the spiral
staircase, and then all was silence got
light at last-never surely had flint and
- steel been so tiresome beforehand went
= into the room and gazed about me. Not
- a trace of occupation remained I could
Il recall the mems faces. their horrid looks
- and words; but they might have been sc
. many ghosts for all the mark they hac
- LETT went to my cousins rooms and
~ reused them up and told them what hat
a seem begging them to send men after thu
. mlscreants and have them apprehended
But they shrieked with laughter, and TOLD
. me had been dreaming; and when re-
- turned to bed at last, and woke again IL
% the morning, I was inclined myself t,
y think it had surely been a dream
= The next night 7 was wakeful and rest
less. piled my fire high, and thought
e should never sleep. But at last withou
IS warning, I must have dropped off. AM
y then strange thing happened. say
n Harold; saw him plain. He was ridin
IS along in the darkness; he was singing an
l. shouting for gladness of heart as he rode
g But 1t was very darll-tho I saw hir
ID plain; and he was nearing a dismal wood
IS and In the recesses of that wood Their
rs lurked five masked forms Of armed men
ly and saw beneath the masks the ev
ID faces Of the men had seen in that othe
lie waking vision the previous night. The
Of I found myself wide awake. I was out {
le bed and dressing fast before had shake
r. myself free from my dreams. voio
s; had called me-called, my name aloud ]
III was ringing still in my ears.
% "Beatrice-my love! I GOMEZ come!
it once awake, I never paused nor hest
W tated. I was dressed before well kne,
s. It. The case with my little pistols la
Of upon the table. loaded both and slippe
- them into the pocket Of my driving-coa
ep opened my window; I climbed upon tn
r sill; swung myself down. to the groun
e, by the ivy trailers and the thick iv
n stems. I called nobody. Nobody woul
< heed my words. But Harold had called M
lg I had seen him. Peril menaced him.
it knew where they were lying in wait #
of him-ny love. could save him, and
or alone. r.
a had always been swift runner. TT
as keen freshness of the air ran like ne
x Wine in my veins. BY a short cut aero.
ar it wound thru those dark, sinister wood
Id I should be there in time-I knew I shout
en- Harold was coming to me, and T we
no going to meet and to save him
it 1t did not even seem strange to me ;
III. that moment. All the wonder and strang
" ness came afterwards in thinking of
as AS my feet reached the stile, and lgh
ed ly sprang over it, heard the beat of IL
horses feet. I heard the voice love
he singing gay song such as troubado1
ad might have sung returning to his Low
ur The moon struggled from wrack
is, clouds and fell full upon US both
or. Harold! I am here 1t Is I!''
he Beatrice! Beloved! How has the ney
reached you?"
, I We were in each others arms At tn
in mon: ent I felt tho he had never be-
,ry away. After a few minutes was able
ed speak again-to tell him the peril viii
cd menaced him.
nd Harold, there are men in yonder wo
to five Of them. They have come to r
ar you Of your pearls
"Pearls What do they know; what
7 they know? Darling, come back to y
sad a rich man. My pearls I have sold for
We great sum; but the best I have here
re, my love-my bride! T was coming wi
me them to you, my darling. How did y
t. know"
, I '.You must come another way, Haro
To- They are lying in wait for you there
err will tell you all another time Now y
ct must come with me. 7 will take YOU