Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-10-31

|
ming of madness, to move to the othe
side of the room. He then asked m.
friends name, and looking down, callet
upon him several times, but, Of course
without receiving any answer. Thel
carefully shutting the window, he said
| II see the head of man at the door
way it must be your friend, Is 1t
deaf p
slightly deaf, replied,
"Now,' he said, II see it all, mus
go down and fetch him. You must not
leave the room until your dissemhodied
spirit scars toward the stars of heaven.
He must come up. will lock You in and
fetch him myself"
This looked little promising, and so,
thinking that if he once left the room |
might keep him out until assistance ar.
rived, | mustered courage to enunciate
my other propositions.
Secondly" | said, 1--WE ought to as
certain the exact height of this window
from the pavement, and as a line, If let
down, would stretch in some minute de.
gree, it is necessary to obtain long piece
of wire for that purpose, so as to be mathe.
matically correct, Have you any wire
here -
"No," he answered "but there is a
shop very near, and can get some when
60 for your friend.
Thirdly" | continued, at will be easy
for you to cast my body down, on &C
count Of its specific gravity; but if we
both go down, | should like to know
whether, by the attraction of the stars,
you could not raise it from the pavement
up to the window. Shall we descend and
seeY"
For a moment he seemed vastly pleased
with this notion, but suddenly the idea of
my possible escape seemed to come before
him, and he exclaimed;
"No that would only waste time, and
delay the bloody sacrifice, - and he glanced
tiendishly upon me, and then at the open
knife. "No; when all is over | will carry
your body down, and then see if the at
traction OF the head and the influence of
the stars will attract it in an upward di
rection, No, you shall never leave this
place in the body, But | must go myself
for your friend and the wire -Aey are
necessary Help me"
SO saying, he pointed to a long bench
which ran all along one side Of the room,
BY his direction and assistance | tugged
it toward the door.
THAT bench" he said, 'is stronger
than any lock Once, when ! lost the
key, | used it for fastening The door,
Now, as soon as | have locked you in,
you plant the bench against the door, and
then, if you do it properly. no power
on earth can open it again"
My heart lcaped within me, for ! saw
at glance that the door opened inward.
My Joy at the discovery was so great
that he certainly must have perceived it,
had not turned away to hide my face.
He then took large hammer and few
long nails, and proceeded to nail up the
windows most securely. This was not
altogether according TO my views, but
my courage returned when, carefully
placing the long knife in his breast peck
ket, ne said
THAT clock is a good deal fast, but
YOU have still about five minutes to live.
Wait here, till ! return"
He then took out the knife once more,
tried its edge, looked at me with fear
full expression of ferocity, returned it to
his pocket, and then, with a fiendish
laugh, left the room, double locking the
door.
With all the cunning of madness, it
is really wonderful how r. overlooked
the obvious fact of the door opening in
wardly. No sooner had he fastened it,
however, than he cried from the out
side:
4" You are safe--yes, safe Throw the
two bolts, and put the bench to the
door"
You can imagine that | did so with the
speed of lightning. The door was secure.
| was as be said, safe. On my knees |
offered up a few words of heartfelt thanks
givi"y 10 God, and was about to begin
further action, for thought he hsd gone,
when | heard him laughing loudly out
side, and repeating;
"No power on earth, no devil-no, only
the influence OF the stars could open that
door now. The victim of destiny cannot
escape"
That same instant heard him fitting
the key to the door He had forgotten
but though he turned the
lock, the door, of course did not open.
The whole truth seemed nov, for the
first time, to fash like lightning across
his mind. He was perfectly wild, and
raging with fury.
crod 81 The higbesI mitch Of his voice
,rhiIn II Mo- enyage heas, in its care he
lre,o' L li y;fb ali his force against
tho froil door The unper bolt flew off
, VIZ ' lie UioIancr Int ~ he had himself
sai "a the bcnch which reached the mid.
JI,u 81 't tho door was stronger than any
IN, VI M Ionr u,ey ;,,nragnahIe win
tGLH or;rltnoee If ,horgLt drove a few Of
!. i 1,.Tk t.,.. . 49,
work of the door, and thus doubly Sc
to raise an alarm, IL was Impossible Tor