A MIDNIGHT ADVEN TURE.

Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 3540, 10 December 1881, Page 3 (Supplement)

A MIDNIGHT ADVEN TURE.

CiIArTER I,

I was acting in tnc capacity ot stock clcr -. for a large manufacturing concern in the upper part of New York City, and at the time of which I speak was as deeply immersed in the mysteries of stock books as any ordinary clerk might desire to be. The year had just closed, and my employers were anxious to have their books balanced, as they had prospered in the past twelve months, their business assuming proportions that assured them of large dividends.

With one exception, I could count every one of my fellow clerks a friend. Nat Blackstone was a Southerner, and held his position more through influence than ability, and for a long time I thought his dislike for me arose through jealousy at my advancement. But circumstances occurred that soou let me into the secret of Nat's hatred.

The employes' annual reunion was just about to come oft", and as I was over head and ears in love with little Katie Hewlett, I thought I just would run upstairs and ask if she would accompany me' Katie looked after one of the departments, and was the most bewitching little beauty I had ever seen. A broad white forehead, a pair of deep blue eyes, Grecian nose, rose-bud mouth, a dimpled chin, and the total crowned by a wreath of golden ringlets. 'Will you come with me to the soiree, Katie ?'

' When Joes it take place 2' ' In a week from now.' ' I can't promise just yet,' said Katie, smiling. ' Come, now, Katie, do say you will go with me, and end my misery.' ' "Well, Ned, I don't like to make a promise that I might not fulfil. Do you know that Mr Blackstonc has favoured me with a similar request, and really I did not half like his looks when I refused I think he hates you.* 1 What makes you think that, Katie ?' 'He said as much, and that is why I hesitate, fearing trouble.' 'Dearest Katie, banish such thoughts from that little head. Mr Blackstone's likes or dislikes I care_ very little about, and I am sorry he should in any way affect your decision.'

' Oh, Ned, it is all for your sake that I hesitate about goinp. Miss Brown says that her brother (who is a detective) has seen him in very dangerous company of late, and prophesies his going to the dogs completely,* ' You are nervous, Katie, and ' 1 No, no, Ned ! Had you seen the look in his eyes when he mentioned your same '

1 Come, come, Katie, I think I ani old enough to take care of myself; and if you do not give me a decided promise, I must go along to Miss Brown, though she is thirty-six, and wears green specs !' That settled the matter, and when the ■wished-for evening arrived Katie and I drove to the assembly-rooms as happy as could be.

Very little time was lost in getting to ■what was considered the business of the evening, so that wo were soon waltzing to the 'beautiful strains of the ' Blue Danube.'

At the finish of the dance I was leading Katie to a seat, when Nat Blackstone presented himself, and, without taking the slightest notice of me, requested 'Miss Hewlett's hand for the next dance.'

' I am sorry to say that lam engaged for that dance.'

' I presume,' Miss Hewlett, you will be engaged for all the other dances ?' This was said with a scowling look at me, and as I saw that the conversation was likely to become disagreeable, I remarked that I thought Miss Hewlett bad the privilege of making her own engagements, and was jnst moving off with Katie, when he laid a trembling hand on my arm. ' Stop, Ned Stuart. You have tried to thwart me in a good many ways, but I will spoilyonr little game.' 'What do you mean, sir! I will have none of your insolence.' 1 Mark my words, Stuart, I will give you something to remember me by.' ' Ned, Ned,' said Katie, 'do come away.' And when I looked at the little pale face beside me I took her advice, and we talked along to the other end of the hall. I had never been mnch troubled with nerves, and would have forgotten nil about Nat Blackstone's threat but that Katie's spirits seemed to be low «dl the evening after; and although I assured her that he had left for good, I missed her usual lighthearted laugh, and accompanied her home with my feelings somewhat riled towards my would-be rival for partly spoiling what usually was a very enjoyable evening, and littUe thinking now literally his threat would be carried into execution.

Chapter 11,

Ting went the secretary s bell, and the office-boy re-appeared in a minute. •Mr Harper want's you, Ned.' I was in nis room directly. 'Haveyou any objection to work late for a few nights V ' Certainly not—in fact I was just thinking of making the proposition myself, knowing how anxious you are to have my books finished.'

'Very good, This is Saturday; suppose you commence on Monday night. Take the use of my room, as you can nave a lire here, and seeing that the steam is turned off at night, you will no doubt find it acceptable.' I thanked him and returned to my desk.

That night it commenced to snow, and continued almost without intermission till Monday. The weather was intensely cold, and to this circumstance I believe I owe my life. ~ . Five o'clock was our closing honr, and the clerks had gone into the dressingroom to wrap up as warmly as possible previous to facing the piercing wind that was blowing outside. I sat writing away at my desk, and though I had not mentioned my intention of working late, no questions were asked, as they knew that minutes were valuable to me just then. The last man to leave the building was the engineer, as he had to go round the heaters and see that the valves were all right. ' Hallo, Ned, going to work late V ' Yes, Frank. I have a duplicate key for your door, so can let myself out when I want.'

' You will have a cold night of it. lam afraid some of the pipes may get frozen, so I just mentioned to Mr Harper that I might have to come back again about twelve.' 'Rather disagreeable for you.' ' Yes. When will you be going, Ned ?' ' Oh, about twelve, I think.' ' Well, good-night. I will lock the door, so there is no need of your coming down stairs,'

"Thanks. Good-night.' Scratch, scratch, scratch went my pen, ■while the wind howled dismally thorugh the snow-laden streets. Colder and colder the night grew, until at last I had to get np and hold my numbed fingers over the fire.

While standing thus my eyes fell on a

long-barrelled Colt's revolver, resting on the mantelshelf. This I knew to be the collector's, and on examination I found two of the chambers loaded.

Placing it on the shelf again, I turned to look at the clock, when to my surprise I found it only wanted a quarter to twelve. I was just in the act of placing my books in a small safe, when I heard something like a heavy boot drop, as near as I could judge, in a small room off the ground floor, and near the foot of the office stair, where there was one gas jet burning. It could not be the engineer who had returned, as I would have heard him distinctly open and shut the side door. Listening intently, I was not long kept in suspense, •Hurried whispering and the creaking of the room door convinced me that burglars had gained an entrance by the workshop, and thence to the small room by a window about nine feet from the ground. Quickly seizing the pistol, I hurried to the top of the stair, and, leaning over the banisters, saw two men in the act of ascending. From the position in in which they were I conld not distinctly make out their featurcii.

' Hold, and throw up your hands, or I fire !'

For one instant suspense seemed to overwhelm them, but in the next the Hash of a. pistol and the whistle of a bullet past my head apprised me of the fact that my life was held very cheaply by my two nocturnal visitors.

Though naturally averse to taking life, I knew that my employers would expect me to protect their property; and then, again, Katie

Crack went my pistol, and one of them fell back.

His_ companion fired another shot, and this time I felt a pang in my left shoulder, as if a drop of scalding water had fallen on it.

I fired the last shot seemingly with no result, as the burglar made a rush and closed with me.

'Die, you dog!' ho said, snapping the pistol against my breast, though it missed lire. What was my horror on finding my antagonist none other than Nat Blackstone! With the instinct of self-preservation I seized his pistol, and l>y an almost superhuman eflqrt wrenched it from his hand and threw it from me.

Then commenced a struggle for life. _ I was, if anything, a stronger man than him, but hatred seemed to lend him strength, and again the hurt in my shoulder was beginning to tell against me. Backwards and forwards weswayed. ; for some minutes, not a word being spoken, till at last his face seemed to grow indistinct and the lights to fade in a mist, when my foot caught on a small step opposite the cashier's desk, and with a crash over 1 went—then a blank.

' How do you feel now, Ned ?' 'Why, what's tho matter?' I asked, as my eye fell on a group consisting of the engineer, a strange gentleman, and a policeman.

' Oh, you have got a bit of a hurt. This is Dr Watson. He wants you to rest for a little, and then I will tako you homo.' I made an effort to rise on my elbow, but the pain in my shoulder quicluy made me desist, and then the circumstances that had occurred dawned on my mind, ' Where is Nat Blackstone ?' I aaked. 'He has escaped. When I returned, at twelve o'clock, 1 found a strange man lying at the foot of the stairs, and quickly surmising the truth ran up to tliu oltlce, only in time to see Nat drop from the window. The snow must have broken his fall.'

' I suppose he heard you enter, Is the other man badly hurt, Doctor ?' ' I can hardly tell yet. We have sent for an ambulance, and will have him taken to the hospital.' I was taken home, and had the bullet extracted from my shoulder, and soon got all right again. Nat's companion had a very narrow escape, the bullet lodging under the scalp. He recovered, however, and confessed their intention of robbing the safe, and was sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. All trace of Nat was lost, until years after Katie (now Mrs Stuart) read an account in a New Orleans paper of his death in a gambling saloon.