Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-09-24

Soon the door again opened, and an
other man entered. l hardly had hope
as 1 looked at him, for l saw the exult-
ing face Of my enemy-Dick Somers.
At glance he saw that l recognized
him. With malicious leer, he stepped
forward, and quoting his own words of
two years before. said:
"You have ruined my love and my
life. Remember that and fear me p
l saw in his face, at once showing his
revenge and desperation, that nothing
could turn him aside from his purpose.
"Somers," l said-for my life could
not have called him Mr.. Somers-"I
know that you have trapped me here for
the purpose of revenging yourself upon
me, but remember, sir, that / have
friends Remember law and justice !"
81 fear nothing" he answered. 81
defy man and God Revenge on you is
dearer to me than life and though for
me the bottomless pit were yawning, L
would have it.
| saw it was useless to appeal to this
man, and l sullenly waited for what
seemed fate. At his order the rufians
searched me. One of them, who appear
ed to be kind of treasurer for the gang,
secured my watch and pocket-book. Then
they tied me with stout ropes to a chair.
Somers did not address me again, but
sat upon the floor and gambled with the
rest. Presently he rose, and saying he
would return by daybreak, left the room.
He evidently felt was in his power,
and seemed in no hurry to complete his
revenge.
When he had gone, the card-playing
was kept up for couple of hours. Then
they all stretched themselves upon the
floor and slept. The door opened inward
and across it was the burly form of the
treasurer. In spite of the apparent hope
lessness of the trial, set about devising
some plan of escape.
The first thing to do was to free N.Y.
self. | have large wrists and small
hands. In tying me they had not taken
this into consideration. Without much
difficulty | liberated my hands; then,
of course, it was but the work of few
seconds to entirely free myself from my
bonds.
Taking the precaution to place the
ropes in such position that, should any
of the gang waken, 1 would still appear
to be bound, 1 thought upon my chances
of escape. They certainly appeared very
few and small. The fact of the men up
on the floor being asleep, seemed little
in my favor. could not move the ruff
fan who was sleeping at the door with
out waking him. As | have before stat
ed, escape by the window was impOssi-
BILE. Every plan that suggested itself
had insurmountable objections to it. !
had almost given up scheming in de-
spair, and concluded to adopt some hope
lessly desperate measure, when thought
of the contents of bottle had in my
pocket.
In searching me, the rufians had moi
disturbed it, thinking it of no impor.
tance. 1t contained chloroform. | alsC
had sponge in my pocket. In mo-
ment had resolved what to do. Draw
ing the bottle from my pocket, soaked
the Esponge thoroughly with its contents
Slowly, painfully, Q-could hear my
heart beat) with all the caution that /;
man uses when his life may depend OF
the slightest noise, | stepped to the side
VI Iuo utdToS6 IuIudu.
l placed the saturated sponge to hi
nose. | saw him quickly yield to tn,
influence of the vapor. From man t,
man | stepped. One by one they wer
made senseless, helpless.
The man at the door was the last
drew him away, first securing my watcl
and pocket-book | also found in hi
possession blackjack, which took th'
liberty of appropriating. Then, Openin,
the door, stepped out into the hall.
still moved cautiously, feeling tba
all danger was not past. l though
there might be watcher there, but, t
my relief, l saw no one. l descended
the first flight of stairs, and reached th'
second story in safety.
1 had gone about halfway down tn
second flight. My heart stood still, 70
1 heard some one enter below; then, il
the muttered oath, l recognized Somers
voice. crouched down upon the stat
next the wall, hoping he might pass me
But as he came up, his hand brushes
my face.
In moment he had me by the throat
1 knew him to be by far the most pow
erful man, and it was not a time fo
scruples. Quickly, it being so dark b
could not see the action, l raised tn
blackjack had held it since L left th
room-and brought it down heavily up
on his skull.
His hand left my throat, and, life
less mass, he rolled down the stairs.
found him at the foot, quite still.
made good my escape, not stopping t