The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-09-17

"Why don't you come with me, you
little rascal ?" asked Henrique and
when Birnie avoided him, he vowed
again to toughen him some day."
"I'm going with Kit I'm fond of
Kit," the child answered.
$50 along by all means. Kits train
ing to superintend founding asylum.
Good practice his is But I'll be even
with you before you're a hundred years
old, my lad"
Rique had a natural though thought
less fondness for tormenting any crea-
ture that came into his power. He
stoned frogs to "see 'em squirm :" he
cut off wasps' bodies, to see how long
they would live after it; and he did
actually enjoy breaking in small
boys. In addition to this, he disliked
Bernie, because the child had wounded
his own self-love, and because he sus.
pected that the Appletons were of bet
ter blood and breeding, than the race
of which he came.
L do not mean that Rique Ramon ex-
planned all this to himself, but it was
the truth, and must tell it to you in
order to account for what followed.
There was at Beechwood rough fell
low-one Jack Casey-whose native
village had become too hot to hold him,
and who by reason of misdeeds had
been sent, as last resort, to DIR. Vose
He was an evil-faced fellow, with
high cheek bones, heavy brows, and
the coarsest black nair. 1t was Jack
whom Rique drew into his room one
February evening, and shutting the
door, addressed,
"Look here, Jack, to-night's our
time"
"For what p
Don't be goose Time for sea-
soning that young moon-calf, Apple
ton. The doctors gone in town, and
Kit Banning with him. They aren't
coming back till the ten o'clock train
tomorrow, so we're all right. It's Just
the best kind of night for our pur-
pose, too. The thermometer is way
down to nowhere, and tell you we can
have one good haze"
Its the old plan you spoke of,
Rique ?"
"Of course it is. I've got the rope
ready. L brought it out of the barn
Just now, before Tom locked up. All
you need to do is to get up and come
along when 1 scratch on the outside of
your door-so. Eleven o'clock, sharp.
We must wait till Haston is asleep, and
the old lady and all the fellows"
Beechwood had been built for fam
lily mansion. Afterwards it was re-
modelled for the school. There were
no large dormitories, but many small
rooms, and each one of the twenty pu-
pills had his chamber to himself.
Away at the farthest end of the main
bedado&s bed1g oeeong ohe o o The hse5hss ball kSs yC
the other Bernie's. This will show
why Rique had waited for Kits absence
before carrying out his project.
Bernie was asleep, with his yellow
curls tossed about, and the moon shin
ing through the window upon his pill
low, A poor little kitten which he had
adopted was coiled up at his feet.
Suddenly a shake of the shoulder awak-
ened him, and the child saw TWO figures
standing al the side of the bed.
"Keep still. Don't scream if you
know what's good for YOURSELF" said
low voice. At the same time Bernie
felt handkerchief bound tightly round
his mouth. Here, now, slip on your
drawers and come along. It'll be the
worse for you if you try to make a
fuss"
Poor, little, shivering, frightened
child More dead than alive, wonder
ing what it all meant, wondering if he
was ever to see his mothers face again,
he felt himself led by these muffled
figures out into the dim hall and up to
the open window.
Jake and Rique had disguised them
selves by means of hat-brims turned
down and coat-collars turned up. Ber-
ME had no distant idea, save that the
house had been attacked by robbers,
and all the rest killed.
But what were they doing to him ?
He saw rope, and felt strong hands
binding it about his trembling body
and under the arms. Then he felt
himself lifted to the window-ledge.
"Now be quiet, or you'll get your
brains knocked out" said the taller of
the two, and the next instant the little,
delicate, lame, mother-loved boy was
tossed out of the window, and held
dangling in the terrible cold of that
February night between the heavens
and the earth.
The tormenters lowered the child and |
raised him, lowered and raised again,
in this horrible see-saw of torture.
"Ding-dong, ,ding-dong," sang Rique,
under his breath. Hope he's enjoy |
ing this. Shouldn't wonder if his |
white fingers got toughened a bit.
Look here, Bernie Appleton" extend |
ing his head out into the night, show
10 you fancy it down there =? Having a
swing all for nothing, that's what you
Ire, my fine lad"
Jack put out his head and looked
lown, too. No answer came up from
he child hanging below. 1t was a
bitter night. The very stars had an
cy glitter. The moon was about set
ing, and shone large and round across
he frozen lake.
81 say, Rique, it's fearfully cold.
You amt afraid the young one ii -
"Afraid2 Bother what's anybody
lfraid of"
Nothing; only what if we should
PAUL him up bit, and then let him
lown again ?"
Gan right. Heave away, tnen.
There Why, pull, I say. Pull, why
lon't you, Jack?'
81 am pulling-pulling as hard as
an"
$50 am I, and the rope don't give a
Whit. What's the matter down there, 1
vonder2 See here, Jack, there's
rouble "-peering anxiously out and
lown. "Here's go That miserable
ope is caught away down there, above
he first story, on the lightning rod"
"You don't mean it /! What are