The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-03-06
4 fbraats mon her life, while alone

" in threats upon her life, while alone
With me and in my power. She now,
without abiding to the plan which We
had ostensibly come together to, discuss,
commenced an animated conversation
about the masked ban-glsncing fur
lively at me the while as Ifanoisd to note
the effects of the wine. To be certain l
was right in my surmise, I thought 1T
best to feign heavy drowsiness, and go
cretly watched her motions. did so,
and gradually appeared to fall asleep
As she perceived this, the mask Of nature
was also removed, and / saw her dark
eyes CLEAN with q deadly light, and her
proud lip curl in scornful triumph: At
length she ceased speaking, and Tor a
minute or two sat and watched me in 81
lence. Then, as if to make sure, she APP
preached and shook me, saying
"You pay me but q poor compliment,
Sir Richard, to fall asleep in my pres
ence!" And then, on finding I gave no
sign of consciousness, she added, in quite
a different tone-"Poor fool! it shall be
my care you do not wake 'again!, You
have played your part to suit me, and
now will play mine to suit myself"
She turned away as if to leave the
room, probably to summon her accom-
plices to finish her wicked work; and at
that moment laid hold of her arm. As
she looked around in alarm, she found
me wide awake, and my eye fixed upon
hers, with severe penetrating express
sion. $3.50. H... ...t u@s'
"Msdam," said I, in q low, stern, meas
ured tone, "if you would save your guilty
life, do not attempt to escape, or call for
help! I am not the poor fool you sup
pose! You have played your part.and /
mine! Do not 'flatter yourself I have
been ensnared! I know you, and boldly
came here to detect you in your guilt!
Not single drop of your poisoned wine
has touched my lips! Your whole estab-
lishment is under the surveillance OF the
police! and unless return to my friends
by daylight, your mansion will be enter
ed by the dread officers of the law, and
every living soul in it will be taken into
custody Now mark well what / say
You must instantly yourself conduct me
clear of your premises! and If you dare to
falter in the least, or attempt to raise an
alarm, that moment, so sure as there is a
God in heaven, you die! Now give ME
your hand and lead the way"
White with terrified amazement, and
trembling like an aspen, the guilty,
wretched woman stood covering before
my stern, penetrating glance. FOrnearly
a minute she seemed too much overpOw-
cred to move from the spot. took her
hand, grasped it like vice, and silently
pointed to the door. At length she went
forward with tottering steps. In silence
she led me through the dark corridor,
down the stairs, through the passage,
and opened the last door that admitted
me to life and light. Morn was just
breaking; and as l felt the cool air of
heaven upon my fevered brow, and
thought of my narrow escape from death,
there came such whirl of strange emo
tons that reeled forward like man in
tOXicated!
The mansion had just quilted stood
On the banks of the Seine, about two
miles below tho old city; and believe,
if had drank the wine offered me, my
rifed body would soon have been cast in
to the rushing waters. believe, more
over, the mansion, grand as itappeared,
was only den OF robbers and murder
the woman was simply beau
tiful decoy for stragglers and foreigners
and that many poor, unsuspecting
soul had taken its flight from there to
the eternal world l did not communi-
cate with the police, for the reason that,
in the first place, Icould bring no charge
of crime against any one, and, in the sec
ond place, did not wish to become in
volved with the French courts of law;
but, thankful beyond expression; for my
own escape, l firmly resolved never to
risk my life again in another mysterious
adventure in Paris!
1.-THE END l