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With every sense on the alert I arose to secrete my key if possible, when the door burst open, and Frank Morris, my future brother-in-law, rushed in, followed by a huge dog that was Ellen’s special pet and attendant.

“Confound you!” said Frank, spluttering about and shaking himself as vigorously as the dog. “I’ll be blowed if I ever go on such a fool’s errand as this.”

“Why you are pretty well ‘blowed'” I said, with a poor attempt to be funny, but immensely relieved.

“I never was so glad to see anybody in my life!” and I meant it.

“There it is,” he said; “make much of it” as he cleverly flipped a little white missive over to me. “Such billing and cooing I never want to see again. Regular spoons, by jove! Can’t go to sleep till she knows you have not been melted, or washed away, or something. And Cato must come along to see that her precious brother doesn’t get lost. Ugh! Lie down over there, old fellow!” Then to me he said; “Here help me out of this wet thing.”

But I was engrossed just then, so ridding him of the offending garment, the broad-shouldered young athlete strode about the room in mock impatience.

“Heavens! what a night!” he exclaimed. “What time does your train pass? Ten? Just three minutes. I guess I’ll stay; but we will have that young damsel floating down here if she doesn’t hear pretty soon.”

“Hello, Cato, what’s the matter?” as the dog gave a low growl, “what’s that in the corner, Bowen?”

The dog continued to growl and look suspiciously as the young fellow rattled on. “That,” I said, “is a dead man.”

“Humph!” he laughed. “Jolly good company for such a night. I say, Bowen, you’ve got a nice toy there,” and he took up the pistol that lay on the table. In the meanwhile I had scrawled on piece of paper, which I had quietly placed near the pistol: “The man in the box is a burglar. Be ready for an attack.”

“Oh that’s the game!” he said aloud, and instantly strode across the room, as Cato sprang up and barked furiously at the box. Simultaneously the top of the box flew up, and uttering a shrill whistle, the man sprang to a sitting posture, while through the wide-flung door the other two ruffians appeared with pistols cocked, At once there began a deadly struggle. The dog had leaped upon the box and knocked the “dead” man’s pistol out of his hand, as Frank shouted, “Toho Cato!” unwilling that the dog should tear him to pieces, but wishing to keep him at bay.

“Your keys!” yelled the other men; “or by heavens, you’ll drop!”

Instantly closing in, man to man, the fierce struggle went on amid shouts, oaths and pistol shots.

“Call off your cursed dog!” screamed the “dead” man continually.

The encounter, which had occupied scarcely a minute, was at its deadliest, both Frank and I endeavoring to disarm rather than kill, when the whistle of the train sounded, and in another moment the conductor and his men were among us, “Seize that scoundrel!” shouted Frank breathlessly, indicating the man in the box. “Here Cato!” and the obedient animal unwillingly retired, but continued his savage growl.

At this juncture my man fell to the floor, badly wounded in the leg, and uttering groans and imprecations. It was quick work to secure the men, and Jake, who opportunely reappeared, was sent to summon the village police. Some of the passengers, impatient at the delay, had got wind of the adventure, and now crowded into the station in no little excitement. The box was found to have a false side-piece next to the wall, which was easily pushed down by the man inside, for greater comfort in his cramped position; and there were besides a number of air holes. It was the moving of the side-panel that caused the muffled noise I had heard.

I was questioned in all possible ways, and the curiosity of the passengers was fully gratified amid the clamor of the prisoners, who continually swore at each other. “What did you wait so infernal long for?” said one of them, glaring at the “dead” man.

“What was your infernal hurry?” retorted the other, sarcastically.

It was plain from the quarrel that ensued that the sight of my pistols and my evident uneasiness, together with effect of the fearful storm, which confused all signals, had unsettled the fellow’s plan, and had robbed him of his presence of mind. While puzzling as to the safest course, the sudden entrance of Frank and the dog had precipitated the catastrophe.

The men were conducted to the County Jail, and I was the hero of the hour, although I could not claim much credit for personal valor in the matter.

Was it Fate or Providence that befriended me? But for my presentiment, or what ever it might be, I should have urged Frank’s immediate return to my anxious betrothed. But for her loving anxiety he never would have come down on such a night. But for the dog one of us must have been killed. And first of all, but for the instinctive sense of danger the telegraph wires would never have spoken a warning to my excited fancy; and this manifest feeling of apprehension, though I strove hard to conceal it, held the man in the box at bay.

The practical result of the episode was a more commodious station-house, and more men on duty. My salary was raised; but eventually I gave up the situation because my wife could never feel satisfied to have me perform night work after the fearful experience I have related.

As to Frank, he is not backward with explosive English whenever the subject is mentioned, and no amount of persuasion could ever reconcile Cato to the station-room.