The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-08-21
CHApTER LII

When consciousness returned to me, /
was for some moments unable to realize
where l was or what had happened. \ dull
pain throbbed in my temple; | was weak
and sick from the effects of the blow. Try
ing to brush the hair from my eyes, dis
covered that my arms had been bound fast
behind my back. l attempted to rise, but
could not; cord fastened above my knees
confined my legs. was lying upon some
loose hay thrown down upon bare floor.
The place was in total darkness, and
could discover no person near me.
Gathering my faculties very slowly, l set
myself to work to recall to my mind what
had lately happened to me. That curious
phenomenon attended me which physicians
say, and which my professional experience
showed, often occurs when human being
is deprived of consciousness by a severe
blow on the head. Everything of recent
happening is entirely lost from the MEM
DRY, upon the return of sense, though ear
lier incidents are easier recalled. To get
the elew to my own difficulties, | had to
begin back with the commencement of the
previous day. One or two calls that l had
made in the forenoon / remembered at
once. The storm of the afternoon and
evening; my lonely night at my office; my
visitor; my going with him to his cottage;
my meeting with Paula-these things oc-
CURED to me one after another, and gradu-
ally led me up to the mansion. So rapidly
had the events of the night occurred, and
so amazing were they in themselves, that at
first | found myself mentally questioning
the reality of the death bed scene and of
my remarkable interview with DIR. Beau
mont before | was struck down. Could
these things be true?-were they not the
Pigments of disordered brain, affected by
H. II. Io1 7
Carefully / REALIZED everything that l had
witnessed in the mansion, from the mo-
ment that Hugh had parted with me at the
side-door until | was felled to the floor. |
recalled the minutest details, and assured
myself that these occurrences were facts
and not dreams. All had happened, just as
| have set them down in previous chap
tiers.
Powerless to help myself, 1 could only
lie there and wait. What | thought, what
l felt during the few minutes that elapsed
after | came to my senses and before hui
man creature came to me, | will not de-
scribe. That | suffered unutterable agony
of mind, far surprising the racking pains
in my head, may well be believed; but
through all my thoughts, one of most ex-
quisite anguish was predominant. 1t was
of Paula. Only just won, l had left her
with my kiss on her lps-perhaps never to
return to her. She would watch and wait
for me; she would weep and sorrow for me;
would she ever learn my fate? Must | be
butchered like dumb animal, and my
body concealed from all sight and search?
] was about to cry out at the top of my
weak voice, whena glimering light appeared
in the distance. 1t came nearer and nearer,
and presently the faint sound of voices
reached me. The light was from lantern
in the hand of DR.. Beaumont, who was
muttied in a large cloak. Clayton Ferrers
was with him, also great burly fellow with
a most Tepulsive visage. They came and
stood within few feet of me, and the light
of the lantern showed me that l was lying
on the floor of barn. l kept silent and
listened, closing my eyes to avoid the dis
covery that | had returned to conscious
ness. The lantern was held close to my
face, and there was a moments examination
of ii.
VIII he come TO, do you think?" The
voice was that of FeTers. A foot stirred
me roughly. l gave little moan.
Yes replied Beaumont. You struck
Just where | told YOU tom the back part
of the head. The same blow over the
temple would have killed him instantly.
He's not much hurt his wits will be dull
for little while, but he'll come around all
right"
Then he called out: ''HaIloo!-are you
all ready"
Yes, SIR" replied another voice. Fer
rers and Beaumont moved little way off.
and | heard them talking in low tone, but
could not distinguish their words. Then |
was lifted bodily from the floor and carried
few rods. felt the cool air of the night
on my cheek, and was placed inside car
mage. Two men got in after me, and the
door was closed.
What's the timer" asked Beaumont from
the seat opposite me.
a little after two. replied Ferrers from
the outside. You'll be back to- morrow"
Yes. Drive on, Jake Slowly, at first;
make no noise.
should have expected, after all that had
. happened, that the vigilance of Hugh
Staples would have detected their proceed
lngs. aud enabled him to mise an alarm in
some quarter that would have made serious
trouble for my ahductors | learned long
atierward that | had not been carried ont
/ from the mansion before the vicinity had
been thoroughly recon noitered and the
coast reported clear. Hugh had returned
to his cottage; exhaustion and the reaction
/ OF excitement had produced their natural
effects upon the old and feeble man He
| fell into a deep sleep. which lasted TN
morning, while poor Paula watched and
waited. ct | think that no watchfulness
on his part could have discovered what was
gong on. A close watch was kent nv For
reIs and hrs mlni0ns. Hugh could not have
lett his cottage, after the decision had been
made IS TO how | was to be disposad oF
| without being discovered and then force
would have been used, if necessary. TO
I Il H.