The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-04-13

GdSlauetS fortunately Inc lazy accorded
me generous portion of her thick cloak,
or | should have perished
The ride was not over lengthy. | caught
Il glimpse OF a dark, gloomy building
looming up before me, before which the
drosky stopped. The lady threw aside
the robes. | assisted her to alight; and,
hurTying forward. the door was opened
by a lackey in livery. who ushered US in
to a room elegantly furnished, and heated
by glowing coal-1irc.
With her own hands the lady brewed a
portwine negus, notwithstanding my re-
monstrances which She insisted upon nv
drinking.
My eyes looked unutterabe things as
raised the glass to my lips she smiled in
return, and down went portion of the
beverage. But it had such a singular ia
vor, that to save me 1 could not finish the
contents of the glass
Almost instantly felt nausea at my
stomach so much so that | attempted to
leave the room. struggled to utter an
apology, but the words rolled forth thick
and indistinct. An unconquerable drow-
siness over-powered me. | leaned my
head back visions and fantasies torment
ed me. The lady's figure faded from my
misty eyes the room appeared to revolve
before me. and the next instant relapsed
into insensibility
Tie sun was streaming through the
win'iow when Enclosed my eyes. Strange,
wild, and nameless horrors distracted me.
Where was /? My limbs felt cramped
and confined. Drowsiness oppressed me
still again | sumbered, awoke, with lips
parched and brain on fire. The misery
and pain | endured at that time will never
fade from my recollection.
A cold tremor ran through my heart as
| thought Of the warning Alexis had Civ
en- me, the mysterious gang and the
strange murders they had committed
Could it be possible | was in their power?
/ attempted to wipe the moisture from my
brow, but manacles prevented me. Then
it was, gentlemen. began to realize, and
vividly, too, that | had been duped, lured
to my ruin.
Almost before | was aware OF it two
men, masked and well-arned stood be-
side my bed. | was still mentally contus-
ed, but ieigned sleep, breathing heavily,
rs if i'll deep stupor, for the purpose Of
throwing them off their guard and CLEAN
ing some idea AS to the nature Of their
plans and designs.
''ls he sleeping yet? y muttered one,
"Elkarine must have given him a fearful
dose. The young cub will be missed, the
police will be melted to fresh efforts. and
the city is getting too hot to hold us now"
"He will come to by sunset. and when
once he signs, understand. | will take
care that he is not found upon the prem
| ises"
Together they left the room. and the
| imminent danger | was iu etlectually rous-
| ed my dormant energies
Escape was now my first and all-absorb-
ing consideration. The room was desti-
tute Of furniture, save the rude bed oc-
I cupied, one chair and table A single
window admitted light, but in was heavi-
ly barred by iron. tried to wrench the
manacles from my wrists, but the scoun-
drels had secured me beyond the possibl-
ity Of escape In despair | listened to the
strokes of a neighboring clock as hour
after hour glided swiftly by.
The gloom of night enveloped the room
and the CLEAN OF a candle apprised me
that the masked stranger was about to
visit me q second time. In silence he APP
preached the bed
You are awake at last, | perceive -
81 am what is the meaning of all
this?"
You viii ascertain full soon enough |
fancy But to begin with. sign this ?"
and he placed writing materials on the
table.
pointed to my irons which he imme-
diately removed; taking the precaution.
| however, to cover me with the muZzle of
a pistol
| glanced at the paper 1 was to sign. 1t
was a check on my banker for every dol
lar possessed in the world But | was
powerlesS to refuse, and obeved the man
date
The fellow took the check, glanced at
it keenly:
as this the usual way in which You
draw upon your banker?"
ut is"
And is this the precise form i'll which
you sign your name?"
answered in the affirmative, when the
stranger deliberately removed his mask,
revealing to my astonished gaze the we'll
known features of Alexis Daghestan.
There is no occasion for further con-
cealment between us You have been
cleverly duped, as many better man has
been before you | shall draw this check
tomorrow. If | fail, you will make the
acquaintance of this;' and he tapped his
pistol significantly.
'And if you succeed inquired any-
iously.
Then, dead men tell no tales, was
the harsh and startling response, as he
turned to replace the irons on my wrists.
But, quick rs flash of lightning a dark
figure bounded from an obscure corner
of the room. Daghestan fell helplessly
across the bed from blow dealt him by
my unexpected ally, who secured the ras-
cal. even to gagging, before fully real
lied what was going on. But, judge Of
my astonishment, when | recognized my
friend the mendicant who had accosted me
at Dromleski's. His bent form, tlutterng
rags, and trembling voice were a portion
Of his disguise. In fact. he was detect
i've, and Il very clever one; too. Know
ing that | was an American and strang-
er, he determined to watch me, thinking
might tempt the cupidity Of the mysteri-
Gus gang. When he heard of my exploit
at the gaming table he redoubled his at
tenton. He listened to the conversation
which passed between the supposed lieu
tenant and myself, attended the fete, and
finally clung, unpreceived. to the rear of
the drosky which conveyed the fair one
and myself to the den of the gang
All this he related to me in rapid whis-
per, and, as owe my life to his remarka-
BILE nerve ard valor, | will propose his
health. The brandy stands with YOU,
Stationbill. You begin to perceive now
why dislike port-wine negus eh?
| (The detectives health was duly honor
ed, the captain glanced at the clock. and
continued:)
My friend of the police-force had effect
ed his entrance into the headquarters Of
the rascals by means of basement win
dow-had CROPPED his way through dark
cellars and rooms-watched the move
ments of the inmates until he had sue
ceeded in ascertaining the location of the
room where had been confined Watch
ing his opportunity, the brave fellow had
turned the tables, but we were not yet
free Two well-armed desperadoes stood
between us and liberty