The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1881-05-13 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

NIGHT WATCHES.  IT WM about One o'clock, and Mr. Klopstock's bed was in the shadow, while his sister and Ruth were seated by a little table on which burned the reading lamp. The noise which took the elder lady's attention was a faint rustling, and for a few moments the blood of the watchers seemed to run cold. niter dread panted off directly, for their reason told them that it was not likely that a second attempt would be made to rob the place, especially as there was now a policeman sift ng up with Mrs. Hall in the basement, and the law was in charge of the place for the time being. But still the rustling continued, and they sat listening for come minutes before Ruth made an effort over herself, and slightly raised the lamp-shade so that its light fell across the great gloomy room. She shivered with fear for the moment, for there, standing beside the bed, in his long loose dressing-gown, was the figure of the old man, looking, with his bandaged bead and white face, ghastly in the extreme. He was gazing across the room in a peculiarly fixed way, and as the two women watched him, he walked slowly to the large wardrobe, and stood there list..e. iug, the watchers being too much overcome to speek. Then, raising his hands, he suddenly dragded it open, and looked inside, muttering to himself the while. before closing the doors carefully, and returning slowly to his bed, " Are you in pain, dear ? " said his sister, who had !summoned up courage enough to cress to his bedside; but there was no answer, for the old man was fast asleep, and breathing regularly. Mica Rlopetook returned to her seat with a shiver, and shading the lamp once more, the two watchers reeunted their conversation. " Whoever it was must have hidden himself there," whispered Ruth, as she glanced fearfully towards the great wardrobe, and her companion nodded assent, making an effort directly after to talk upon some indifferent matter. But the recollection of what must have taken place in the room they now occupied, effectually damped all conversation, and they sat at last in perfect silence, listening to the occasional muttering. of the old man in his sleep. Soon after he grew agitated, and it became evident to the watchers that he was going over tbe struggles of the night before in his dreams, and at times his voice sounded loud and excited. Then it would sink, and the listeners hoped that ha would now sleep peacefully, when he suddenly sat on in bed, exclaiming: " Mark, Mark ! would you murder me ? " Ruth could not contain herself as she heard these words, and a piteous cry escaped her lips—a cry that Was frozen in hoiror as she stopped short, being violently clutched by Miss Klopetock. For the old man had reached from his bed and pulled open the little drawer in the table that generally bore his night-lamp, and before the two women could fully realise whet was about to take place, there was a sharp click, a flash as of lightning darted across the room, followed by the report of a pistol and the crash of wood. This was repeated, for the old man had fired twice at the door of the wardrobe before sinking back exhausted upon the bed, wh de the double-barrelled pistol be had taken Irons the drawer fell from his hand upon the floor. . . . .  Directly after there were the hurried sounds of steps, the door opened, and, truncheon in hand, the constable who had been watching below entered, and on learning the cause of the alarm, undertook to sit in the room for the rest of the night. Hie pretence, however, proved to be needless, for, exhausted by his efforts, old Klopstock lay perfectly passive, and, hardly moved again before the morning St another eventful day.