The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-11-21

l L
which was greeted came from foreign
! lips, but the man who now addressed
me spoke in pure English. BY this
time l was beginning to recover self
possession, and was able to maze q
mental note of these facts.
Thankful at being allowed to quit
my CHASTITY couch, rose. As l could
think of nothing better to do, 1 stood
motionless.
walk this way-straight on-four
paces," said the voice. l obeyed.
The third step brought me in collision
with the wall. No doubt this was an
extra test as to the truth of my state
ment.
| A hand was placed upon my Shout
der. and was guided to chair.
Now, SIR" said the speaker who
had before addressed me, "tell us, in
as few words as possible. who you are
how and why you came here. Be
quick. we have no time to spare"
1 we'll knew they had no time to
spare. They had much to do-much
to hide. Oh, fer the gift of sight for
one moment! I would purchase it,
even if the price were years of dark
ness!
Shortly and simply as could. 1 told
them what had brought me into such
straits. The only thing I concealed
was my true name. Why should these
assassins know it? If | revealed it,
they might set watch upon me, and
at any moment their safety demand
ed it might share the fate of him who
lay within few feet OF my chair. So
l gave q fictitious name, but everything
else told them was true.
All the while was speaking l heard
that distressing sosnd at the other end
of the room. 1t drove me nearly mad.
l believe, could have made sure of
reaching through my darkness and
catching one. of those men by the
throat, with the certainty of crushing
life out o! him. should have done so,
even had such an act sealed my own
fate.
When nv explanation was over
another whispered consultation took
place. Then the spokesman demanded
the key which had SO nearly cost me
my life. l suppose they tried it and
found 1t acted as l said. 1t was not
returned to me, but heard the voice
once more.
Fortunately for you we have de-
| cided to believe your tale. Stand up"
did so, and was led to another part of
the room and again placed in chair.
As, after the manner OF the blind,
stretched out my hands, found was
in corner of the room, my face turned
to the angle of the walls.
"lf you move or look round" said
the voice. ''our belief in your blindness
will vanish"
1t was impossible to misunderstood
the grim threat conveyed by the last
words. could only sit quiet and listen
with all my ears.
Yes. they had much to do. They
moved about busily and rapidly.
heard cupbOards and drawers opened.
l detected the sound of papers being
torn and the smell of papers burning.
| heard them raise some dead weight
from the floor-heard sound rs of
rent cloth and linen-heard the jingle
of money. even the tick of watch as
it was drawn forth from somewhere
and laid on the table near me. Then I
felt breath of air and knew that the
door had been opened. l heard heavy
footsteps on the stairs-thc steps of
men bearing q weighty burden, and I
shuddered as l thought what that bur-
den must be.
Before the last task was completed!
the woman's moan had ceased.
cor some time it had been growing;
fainter and only sounding at recurring
intervals. Now heard it no longer
This cessation was great relief to my
overweight nerves, but my heart
grew sick as thought it may be there
were two victims instead of one.
Although ut least two men must have
borne that weight away, / knew l was
not left alone. l heard some one
throw himself into chair with n half
weary sigh, and guessed he had been
left to guard me. l was longing to
make my escape-longing to wake and
find had been dreaming. The sus-
pense or the nightmare was growing
unbearable. l said, without turning
my head:
How long am 1 to be kept amid
these horrors?'
heard the man move in his chair,
but he made no answer. "May l not
go?" pleaded; II have seen nothing.
Put me out into the street-anywhere
shall 60 mad if stay here longer"
| Still no answer. l said no more.
BY and by the absent men returned
to their companion. l heard the door
whispers, and heard the drawing of a
cork ard the jingle of glasses. They
were refreshing themselves after the
nights dark work.
Presently, curious odor-that Of
some drug was perceptible. A hand
was laid on my shoulder and glass
full of some liquid was placed between
my fingers.
Drink" said the voice-the only
voice l heard.
II will not" 1 cried; sit may be
poison"
heard a short harsh laugh and felt
cold metallic ring laid against my
forehead.
at is not poison; it is an opiatc and
will do you no harm. But this, and
as he spoke l felt the pressure of the
little iron circlet, this is another af-
fair. Choosen'
l drained the glass and was glad &c
feel the pistol moved from my head.
'.Now," said the spokesman, taking the
empty glass from my hand, ''if you are
wise man, when you awake to-mor.
row you will say: i have been drunk or
dreaming You have heard us but not
seen us, but remember we know YOU"
He left me, and in short time, do
what / would to struggle against it,