Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-12-03

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coptrived to s,ammer out. Anything in
reason l shall be happy to do for you"
''ln reasonl That's Just it. Oh. yes;
what want you to do is decidedly in rsa-
SON. .ss...-rs .rs-.-.-..s<
His hand wa, fumbling In his vest again
and, "a he spoke he slowly drew from its
resting place hIs terrible poniard, aud wav-
ed 1t gently once or twice before my eyes.
shrsnk farther away from him into the
corner of my seat. and held my breath.
Listen. It's a mere trihe that / re-
quire. You know that am on my way
to meet Cyprian Wick; that with this
poniard | intend to stab him to the heart
Ia the hands of my friend the emir this lit
lie weapon saw some service; in mine il
has seen none. / have not proved il; it
doesn't feel at home in my fingers. Now.
in orlor that | may make myself thorough
y master of it. aud so obviate the slight
est risk of failure when come to rely on
il for carrying out the great purpose of
my revenge. it is eminently necessary for
me TO expeiimenialise with ito get my
hand in. mechanic would saw; and you
are / he person, my dear sir, whom have
selected as a fit and proper object for my
lie gave me q smile and a little odof
the head as he concluded. and then Ieant
back In his seat with a self-satisfied air, as
though he had been revealing to me an
easy method of making my fortune
| was incapable OF reply. | could do
nothing but stare at him in blank horror
and amazement. Still forward sped the
train. tearing madly away on its head
long course. But to me how terribly slow
il seemed to gol Was every second in re-.
atty carrying me nearer to that blessed
haven where we should stop? or was not,
indeed. rushing desperately away from it.
farther into night and chaos. amid shrieks
and cries from the flesbless lips of a thou.
sand lunatic ghosts? i had to assure N.Y.
self by glance through the window that
we were really travelling in the right 6irec-
ton; and strove to compose my mind.
which | felt was fast losing its balance, by
thinking of my little ones at home. 1t
was just the time when they would be
kneeling at their mothers knee; and there
was l cooped up alone with desperate
ma Imam. who hungered for my life.
When he caught my eye. he stopped
forward again. <Hofhai
"You are rather timiI, see." he OBJ
served. "You are naturally of nervous
temperament; but there is no cause for
alarm, assure you. One strong swift
stroke inst above the fifth rib will, unless
| am much mistaken, do the business neat
ly and thoroughly. Nothing unsigbtly;
nothing that need shock the mos. fasti.li-
Gus taste. A minute perforation: little
internal hem orrhage.-that is all. And
as for pain-a momentary spasm, not near
ly SO bad as the extraction of a double
TOOTH" nrue
He smiled again--a diabolical smile;
and then, drawing from his pocket high
ly-scented white cambria handkerchief, he
proceeded to rub the blade of the poniard
with it in such quiet, businesslike way,
breathing on the weapon occasionally to
assist in giving it q polish, that | shudder-
ed and turned faint Is | watched him
When he had done. he replaced his hand
kerchief in his pocket, and turning to me.
said. in bland voice, Are yon ready?"
Keenly as l was now watching him. a
wild wLrl of thoughts was racing through
my brain; but even in the midst of my ter
ror and distress could not help noticing
how the noise and roar Of the train made
a sort of rough music, moving to the
measure OF wild Irish air which l had
not beard for several years, and which
o.on cc,,rht r,vsolf foil o-;,c oc "a - = Ar, ~,
while my companion was rubbing his pom
lard; the same tune REPEATED over and over
again without ceasing. and forming a sort
of ludicrous undercurrent. which ran thro
all the bnsy rush of my toughts.
My companion was probably unaware
how soon the train would reach station.
Was there no possibility of temporising
with him! | had read Of lunatics who
had been beguiled from their purpose by
some simple expcdient, invented on the
spur of the moment: and In some effort Of
that kind lay my only apparent chance of
escape. Once more came the bland ques-
ton. "Arc you ready?"
Excuse me for one moment" | said,
with a CHASTITY attempt at a smile; "but
before acceding to your trifling request,
you will perhaps favor me with another OF
your admirable cigars. / have not SIN ok
ed any equal to them for long time. and
l caadidiy confess that should like. by
way of final luxury, to enjoy the flavor
Of another" 81 @
How got the words out, 1 don't know.
-"By all MEANS" he replied. with a
smile. They are rather choice. and am
glad You have the good taste to appreciate
Them" He brought out his cigar-ca case
and opened it. by the great good Pan.
hare MOI another left!'' he exclaimed :
Ny last chance Of life seemed to fade away
as he spoke. ..Stay!'' he aided. the next
moment; though my Havannahs are all
gone. l have here few cigarettes made OF
genuine Latakia-leaf. Try one. They
are not sbad'i o. Yas CCg0
He handed me one. 1t was about as
thick as my penholder. and as long as my
litile finger. ri f + ~ 4
He struck match for me, end / light
ed the cigarette. He then sank back in bis
seat, and putting mp bis hand before bis
face. pretended to be absorbed in thought;
but i could feel his terrible eye glazing at
me from between his outspread fingers.
The white house by the mill! 1t flashed
ont on me for a moment like the plea sa mt