The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1917-03-15
Midnight Near Tragedy
in High Point


1t was mianight on Main street
The non striking city clock indicated
? the ghoulish hour of half-past IL
that point in the dark hours whe1
graveyards yawn and the amateur
yeggman p rized the grating off the
rear window and helps himself to &
union suit and q pocket full of cuff
links. The pail of gloomy silence
was unbroken, save by the gentle
splash of the water in the kindness
to animal fountains and the sit thing
of the winds in the swaying tops of
the sturdy oaks whose bare, Shostly
branches. combed by the freezing
gales of March, blowing down from
the north, seemed to rebel against
this disturbance of their midnight
repose. At half mast the postoffice
flag, the emblem sof freedom, 1ut-
tered and snapped, telling the oft
repeated story Of another veteran
gone to flames Eternal Camping
Ground. Silence reiened. Everybody
! and everything slumbered, except
where near by, in the Office Of a
young attorney, a mouse, nibbling
at an apple core 10 the waste bask-
ct, shows that there can be at least
small bit of nocturnal activity. In
the belfries of nearby churches
rest the pigeons of the city, vagrant
birds, knowing no mans ownership
and asking no mans help in solving
the problems of the high cost of
living. Now, at the quiet midnigh
hour, with heads sunk deep in neck
feathers, in sheltered hooks, they
doze. Silence reigns. But see u!
A human figure, man closely
mufded, is making his way along
that dark. mysterious alley leading
from West Washington to West
Broad street, just back of the Rose
and Broadway theatres and The
Review office. Cautiously he tipped
along, keeping within the deeper
shadows. The sound of a piece of
glass, breaking under his feet,
startles him, and he casts furtive
glances in all directions. Now he
comes to the North Main street en-
trance. Wild eyed and trembling
and visibly agitated, he surveys the
long reach of the city's main thor
ouGhfare and the neiehboring
squares. An officer has just sent in
the one o'clock call to headquarters,
and as he turns, glimpses that mys-
ferrous prOwler In a moment he
is in the grasp of the law.
Well, says the latter, what are
you out here for at this time? Out
with it, and speak quick"
In husky voice and trembling
with emotion, the prisoner uRbos-
Oms: i am pursued. Since early
morning three men have been on
my track, and even now they may
appear at any moment!'
The D. T.'s,' no doubt, and q
case for the padded CELL" remarked
the officer.
No, no." protested the pursued,
with a look Of fear. II am a lead
ing citizen and temperate, but listen
to my story: This morning / went to
the P. O.. to get dollars worth of
ones. and while there. three men
entered the lobby, and holding me
up, made demands. made dash
for the outside, pursued at seine dis
lance by the trio, who bounded me !!
to my office. Taking the elevator
shaft, / evaded them, shot out into |
the street and into Browns Cafe,
and in q sheltered corner. with a
plate of sinkers and a cup of strong
White House coffee, / sought to
brace my nerves and throw the
hated sleuths off my scent. | had |
devoured the last douehnut, except
the hole, and was about to close in
on that, when my blood was frozen |
by the. sight Of three faces pressed /
against the window pane, and !
peerine in. Driven by desperation,
| made another dash down the
street. aud the Williams still pursued
me! An idea flashed across my
troubled mind I would seek the 7
seclusion Of store on the street,
where people seldom intrude, as the |
proprietor never advertises. Here.
while | talked war with my host.
the torInentors, led from the trail.
would give up and retire. But, alas
With sotne uncanny power, the men
of mystery were again upon NV
heels. and with courage born of
0PcDorafion I hrnEs thro,,dl, AL:'