Year: 1878

HohhOnouy IL nhu stOrmod heavily all
day, and l had taken new class at the
Academy, coming home later in the day
than usual, and excited over my increase
in salary. .....,.


Everybody else had gone to bed, and
1 was lingering over the kitchen fire
with Mrs. Knight, dreading the plunge
into my cold room, where had allowed
the fire to go out.


The clock struck twelve, and Mrs
Knight, lifting her face from over the
fire, said:


" Do call grandpa, Olive, he's asleep
on the sofa in the sitting room. I'll
have Toms basket ready by the time
grandpa has his hat and coat on. Ihate
to call him, for he was complaining of
rheumatism all day, and the ground is
very wet, although the storm is over"


"Let him Sleep" 1 said; "Ill run
over with the basket. 1t is but a
STEP"


"But it is so dark; are you not
afraid ?"


"Not bit; I'll slip on my waterproof
and rubbers, and draw the hood of my
cloak over my head"


"Well, if you will, though I am
afraid Tom will scold at my letting you
CO."


"In put down the basket and run,
and hewill never know who left it."


$50 into the rear basement door; he
leaves that open for grandpa"


"I know"


1 grasped the handle of the basket,
and hurried across the space between
the building and the house, and stole
softly in at the basement door, in pur-
suance of my plan to drop the basket
and run.


In my rubber shoes my steps were
noiseless, and I had scarcely passed the
Threshold when I stood rooted to the
floor in terrible amazement.


Somebody was talking.


1 crept forward and listened. There
was a man in the vault, and light
shone under the door.


While 1 listened, some one said:


"There is confounded draft here;
did you shut the door, Smith ?"


eyes, but the wind might have blown
it OPEN"


had just time to dart under the stair
case and crouch down, when the door of
the vault opened and man came out.


He crossed the entry, drew two
heavy, noisy bolts, fastened the door by
which I had entered, and returned
without closing the vault door.


I could look in by the dim light and
see two mel working at the safe locks
by the stream of light thrown from
dark lantern.


There was the outline of q man bound
and gagged upon the floor, but I could
only conjecture that it was Tom, for I
could not see distinctly.
Thers I was nicely Gagged, for it would
be impossible for me to draw those
heavy bolts without attracting notice.
And the bank being robbed, that
was evident. How could / prevent
itP I could not get out; I could
not reach Tom. Suddenly I re-
remembered the telegraph Office on the
second floor. If 1 could summon help
from c., it was only five miles, and
there was a long job for the burglars
before they could open the safe.


could creep around the staircase |
If one of those busy men turned his
head I vas lost. I crept softly on all
fours, slowly, watchfully, and gained
the stairs. Up L darted, blessing my
India rubber shoes, till I gained the
door of the telegraph Office. All was
dark there and I dared not strike a
match.


listened, and then leaving the door
open, groped my way to the well-known
desk and gave the signal for O..
could hear my heart throb as I waited
for the answer. 1t came Still work
ing in the dark, and sent this message:


Burglars in the Baysville Bank
Vault Watchman gagged and bound !
Gan you send help?


Again the agony of suspense in list
ening, but at last the sound reached me:


"Will send help Immediately" .
, crept to the head Of the staircase.
afraid the clear ring Of the instrument
had been heard in the vault, but no one
came up stairs. The windows OF the
telegraph office faced the street, 80 I
returned, bolted myself in safely and
sat down to watch. N.t Il


The town clock gave one resonant
stroke, breaking the deep silence, and
no signs Of life were visible in the long
stretch IF road leading to G.. I was
numb with cold, wishing heartily that I
had not left Toms basket under the
staircase, thinking regretfully OF my
own cozy bed, when heard afar off the
sound of horses feet.


No sister Anne. in Bluebeard's tower,
was ever more watchful than / was then.
Would the burglars take the alarm3


The building made a corner OF two
streets, and I saw eight mounted men
dash up the road, separate, and while
four dismounted in front, four went to
the rear. Ia


The burglars were unpreparedfo for this
flank movement, for while the police in
front were laundering at the main en-
trance. the robbers rushed to the real
basement door right into the arms OF the
police stationed there.