Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-02-13
CHAPTER II.
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Inc MINUS plnnlnT me down ulu not
for an instant relax their grasp: yet
they might SAFELY have done So. Stu
ated rs | was | felt that my only
chance of life was to lie still and con
vince, If could, the persons i'll that
room of the truth of my assertion.
Nothing could be gained, but every
thing would be lost by resistance. |
was strong, but even if all the senses
had been mine, | doubted II | could
compete successfully with the man who
held me down. could feel the nervous
power of his hands and arms. Certainly
now that | was blind and helpless. the
struggle would be a short one. Besides
he had companions, how many knew
not, ready to help him. The first move
mcnt | made would be the end of cv-
erything so far as | was concerned.
l made 10 further attempt to rise,
but lay rs still and unreSisting as the
PROSTATE form across which | had
fallen. Every moment seemed an hour,
Think of my situation. A blind man
in q strange room in a strange house
held down on the body of man whose
last groan he had just heard held
down and at the mercy oi those who it
was CCl liill Ilill itSb lsthtI IslIb III u
black and cowardlv crime, Unable To
look into the faces of the murderers
around him and learn whether their
looks meant life or death TO HIM EN-
pecting every moment to feel the sharp
stab of knife or the fiery sting of
bullet. Seeing nothing and feeling
nothing save the hands upon his throat
and the dead body beneath him! Even
hearing nothing save that stiflcd moan
ing in the distance. Can the widest
flights of fiction show parallel TO my
case?
Since that night have quite disbe-
lieved in the possibility of peoples hair
turning suddenly gray. If such n thing
can be must have left that room with
the locks of an old man.
can only say that even now as, after
the lapse of years, write this; even rs
see everything around me safe, still
and at peace; even though | know the
ones l love are close at hand, my pen
trembles, my blood feels chilled and n
faintncss steals over me rs the recollcc-
ton of the most terrible moments in
my life comes to ne with yiy.dnes5 |
can not describe.
1t was well for me that | could keep
still and cry again and again: Il am
blnd-look and see My qu.eScence.
the tone of my voice, may have turned
the balance on which my lie hung
may have carried conviction to my
hearers. Presently the strong light OF
q lamp was perceptible to my o5scurfd
vision; a lamp placed SO close to NE
that / could feel its hot glow upon my
face; and1 was aware that some one
was STOPPING or Enceling down and
peering into my eyes. His breath
struck against my check; Il short quick
excited breath-how could it be other
wise after the deed IN which he had
just taken parto
At last he rose, 4 moment attefward
the restra ming hand, moved from me,
and then, for the first time, began 10
hope that my life might bc'spared.
And vet none Of those around me had
spoken. Now | heard voices: but whis-
pering so so .tly that even my starpened
ears could not Catch the purport Of 4
single word, although could gather
that three persons were engaged in that
hushed consultation.
All the while, like % dreary and fit
'chiNt iItf1I tIlast
stilied moaning II woman's stiiled
possessed all save life in exchange for
a minutes sight, that might have keen
able to comprehend what had passed
and what was passing around me.
Still the whispers continued. They
came thick and fast. running into and
interrupting each other, as from men
in hot but guarded discussion. II need
ed little intelligence TO guess the sub
ject of that debate Presently they
died away altogether, and, for time.
the only sound that / heard was that
terrible, mutfied moan-that continued
with dreary monOtony.
A foot touched me.
You may stand up" ] heard some
one say.
When burst so rccklessly into the
room fancied the exclamation with
which l was greeted came from foreign
lips, but the man w.,o now addressed
me spoke in pure English. BY this
time | was beginning 10 recover self
possession, and was able TO make
mental note of these facts.
Thankful at being allowed to quit
my ghastly couch. rose. As / could
think of nothing letter TO do. stood
motionless.
"Walk this straight on-four |
PAGES" said the voice. / 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 a chair
Nov, sir, said the speaker who
had before addressed me, '.tell Us, in |
as few words as possible, wha Jon are |
how and why ron came here. Be
quick, we have no time to spare.
well knew they had no time to
spare. They had much to do-much
to hide. Oh. fer the gift Of sight for
one moment. / would purchase It.
even If the price were years OF dark
ness,
Shortly and sinsi.i. - | could. told
them what had brought nc into such
straits. The only hing 1 concealed |