Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-10-08
BY ALAN MUIR

Hardware flung off the Gstectipes.
which caused these two strong men to fall
back like weakly boys. A narrow twisted
flight Of stairs led to the rooms above, and
these stairs were shut off from the room by
a wooden door. The fugitive Opened this
door, sprung through, and shut it upon him
self with crash; and they heard a bolt
drawn. which signified that he had fastened
himself in And then, for the first time, the
detectives seemed to recover their presence
of mind. 1t takes time to tell all this, but
should say that ten seconds before the old
grumbling antiquity was cropping over his
newspaper unsuspected. Had he not mis-
understood the officer all would have been
safe now.
The detectives, l say, recovered their
presence of mind. The chief ran outside,
and shouted to the watchers that they must
look after the windows, and then both set
themselves to break open the staircase door.
The big man hurled himself at it, and the
old wood gave way with crash, and through
the splintered panels the way upstairs lay
open; only a man, while working his way
upward, could have been shot like a rat The
detective hesitated moment, as the bravest
man might, and Immediately a powerful
odor filled the lower room. Meanwhile the
detective, looking up, saw Hardware stand
ing at the top of the stairs holding in one
hand lighted candle and revolver, and in
the other huge drinking glass.
'Come down here" the detective shouted
IF you were fifty men you can't escape
Drop the pistol, and don't put rope round
your neck for the sake of another quarter
hour by yourself in that room"
Cool language, all things considered.
Hardware answered with a roar of laugh
ter
Come down~ he cried. ''No, thank you;
am master here. Come up, you. The way
is narrow. and you are broad enough. Still,
if take care, l may miss you; l may not
make your wife a widow; come along and
try"
''Now, my good man," the officer said,
with a reasoning air, but watching Hardware
narrowly, and making ready to dart back if
he should fire, ''you are O clever fellow, and
you kao,c the games up. You have played
well, but you knoW the games up. Don't be
madman"
"a madman! madmanv' roared Hard
ware, catching at the word with another ter
rible laugh. "Come upstairs, mister; up
into the madman's ROOM Don't be afraid
of catching the complaint promise you
will be safe enough before your foot is on the
top step. Up to the madman's room, and
let's have dance"
The officer hesitated.
Here's your good health!n shouted Hard
ware. May you never die until you taste
blue plum. Your health, my man! your
health! your very good healthl"
The detective was meditatirg how he
could break his way through, or whether he
could coax his man down, when Hardware,
having drained his tumbler, hurried it saw
agely at the officer. Quick as the detective
was, be saved himself only by a hair
breadth; and the glass was flnng with ST.
fury that it scarcely made II crash as 1t
shivercd upon the floor.
"Your health for forty years." roare
Hardware, with his dabolical laugh, land
after thar, Your lifetime! Walk upstairs and
have chat with the old manr'
In the moment while the officer drew back
Hardware must have carried out his awful
scheme, for when the detective looked up the
stairs again all was raging flame. Hardware
had deluged the place with kerosene, or some
infammable liquid of the sort, and had set
the whole on fire. At the top he stood as
before, looking now like some gigantic fiend
"Ccme up to the madmans room' he
yelled again. "Hot fame cold lead!' all
ready! Up to the madman's room"
"Water water!" the detective shouted to
his companions; ''water here, or the whole
house will be afire!"
Another roar Of laughter came from above
Won't YOU come up! won't you join me
in glasss I am going to have another.
A glass with the madman! glass in the fire
with the niadmanm
Then they heard another loud crash, the
meaning Of which was evident the next in
slant. Hardware must have thrown great
glass vessel down the stairs filled with kero-
sene, for Immediately after the crash a
stream of liquid fame ran into the room
Another crash followed, and another, and
now the room began to swim in fire.
Until this moment no one had thought of
wounded Vanity; and there she lay on the
ground. But now the flame, running across
the floor, had just set fire to her dress, when
the detective caught her up IN his arms and
dragged her out of the house. Indeed, the
whole party had only time to rush out before
the fire filled tho room.
And no sooner were they in the little gar
den than Hardware flung open the window
and glared cut upon the group with face
from which every expression except triumph,
defiance and hatred had vanished. He held
his revolver in his hand.
"Five chambers!" he shouted out, land
only one wanted within door, Which shall
l have frstg'
He glared round wildly and saw Gracious
Me, and his face Lit up with diabolical
recognition
"Ah, my friend! my little friend Peeping
Tom! Why not begin with Peeping Tom.
Let the ugliest in the company be helped
frst.n
He pointed his revolver at wretched Ora
cious Me, who was too frightened to run
away, and fell on his knees pleading for life
with fearful energy. Meanwhile the smoke
began to rush out of the window in clouds,
and half hid the awful face of Hardware.
But he roared afresh with laughter, and did
not fire at first, seeming to enjoy the terror
- of the wretch below How many lives that
little pause saved no man can say.
''Let the uglies be helped first !" cried Hard
ware again. "Oho, Peeping Tom! Open
your mouth and shut your eyes, and see
what somebody sends your
Little Gracious paralyzed with agony and
fear, poured out his entreaties for mercy,
and Hardware answered with that awful
laugh, which seemed defiance of Ged and