Middletown transcript., 1881-03-25
been chained on a barren island thou
sands of miles from civilization.

after you have examined the woundet
man and dressed his wounds. We viii
place this gag in your mouth when yOl
step from the carriage. This we do 81
that you cannot be possibly tempted t.
break your oath and lose your life. W.
will not harm hair on your head, bu
only ask your skill for a person whC
will not be stranger to you. Here We
are at the place."
The powerful man alighted and tool
| the doctors arm and led him into {
small office, which had the appearance
Of being occupied by an insurance
agent. A sleepy-looking nlan was il
attendance, and the party passed
through small door in the rear into &
partially lighted room. The door was
closed behind the company, when the
leader took small key from his pocket,
placed it against the wall, and a doo1
slid noiselessly before the doctor, re.
vealing passage way. Doctor White
was told to pass on, and as he hesitated
pistol at his face reminded him that
he might just as well meet death in
other apartments beyond as where he
was.
The hall he entered was dark, with
the exception of a ray of light that
seemed to flash through a partially
opened door in the distance, but as one
Of his captors was ahead Of him and
another behind him, he pushed on and
soon found himself in well-furnished
apartment. He was asked to lay off his
overcoat and furs, and the gag was re-
moved from his mouth.
Then he was led into sumptuous
bedroom, where he met the lady at the
door, who had been the one to draw
him into the trap.
doctor, rest assured that no danger
will come to you. The shooting of a dear
friend was not exactly an accident, but
as you are here and sworn to secrecy,
you have probably OWNED that the VIC
tim is none other than him mentioned
in today's paper. You know him well,
and whatever you see be not surprised.
Come, will lead you to his bedside.''
In an aleove lay the wounded man,
and as Doctor White stepped up he
started back and exclaimed:
"Great heavens my old friend, Mr..
Parker-am l deceived ?"
'No, doctor, you are not deceived, u
feebly spoke the patient, sit is l ; first
see if can live and then explanations
Doctor White, who had recovered
from all fear, forgot his conscientious
scruples, and now began his work at
once. A thousand surmises passed
through his mind. He could scarce re-
alize that he was awake. The adven-
lures of the past hour had crowded his
brain full of thought, and at times with
great anxiety.
Yet the fact that Mr.. Parker, one of
The leading men of the great city-a
merchant, a great philan-
man whose opinions on all
subjects were of the greatest value to
everybody-a man who was courted by
al the leading people of this city, was
and perhaps dying, in a
thieves den, was the climax to the
nights surprises.
But he quickly went at his duties of
examining the wounded man. By prob
ing he found that the wound was seri-
Gus, probably without doubt fatal one. |
The bullet was near the heart, and |
every attempt to dislodge it caused the
victim to faint. He was fast growing
weaker, and DIR. White told his fears,
as the patient demanded to know the
worst. He asked the doctor to be seat
I'd close to him, and requested at the
same time that all others leave the
.oom.
Then speaking very low he said
Doctor White, you are surprised at
'eeing me here, in thieves den, which
his place really is, and nothing more.
For ten years l have been at the head
If the most desperate and successful
)and Of robbers this country ever con-
aimed. While moving in the best cir
lies of society, the head of many bust
less institutions, the pioneer of num-
)erless charitable enterprises by day,
ny nights have often been employed in
obberies, grand in their inception,
arge in their amount, and audaciOus
md bold in their performance. A score
# men have answered to my bidding,
nd the power that have possessed
las been great. The greatest robberies
hat have startled the city, if not the
Whole country, have been planned by
myself or my trusted Geutenants, and
he police have. been bafled in all att
empts to stop the career of my band.
4ast night, however, I undertook too
much, or rather the hand of fate was
gainst me. Having all grown rich,
7e had resolved to perform the work of
obbing Mr.. Warning, and then we were
o disband and break up the gang.
''But the fatal bullet did its work, ]
nd now am on the brink of eternity.
III, doctor, what a life 1 have led {
Iy wife and cilildred, God pity them I
,ou are here. You were my old fam !
y physician and friend in better
ircles. You can do great harm to all 6
he loved ones by exposing this wretch 3
d ending Of my life. l have lived un- !
er false colors, it is true, but oh-that 9
ain-it is fearful. Promise me that f
MS visit shall remain locked up in your 2
reast for ever. My plans for inform
lg my wife and children of my death
re all taken. One promise only from
a