San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-12

showers. Tho darkness hung like u PAL
over everything.
The wretch in his bed tossed in sleep.
less misery. He hardly dared look ut the
blackness uf the night for fear some new
vision might alright him with ghostly
warnings. What had he better dog An
other night in this haunted room would
drive him insane. Had he not better fly
leave all and escape out OF sight in the
hiding darkness9 Better abandon the
greater prize, take everything in reach
and fly from scenes so terrible
He rose softly, dressed completely, took
few essentials from his table did them
up in bundle, and then like cat he
crept out Of the room, never 10 return.
The house was pitch dark and rs silent as
tomb. He had no need Of a light, and,
feeling his way along with his hands
on the wall, he stole down stairs
and through the hall till he
reached the library door With
cautious fingers he turned tie handle
in silence and pushed the door open.
II seemed To catch on the threshold,
but it was only for an instant, and then
he boldly entered the room.
Placing his bundle upon the table, he
took out small bunch of keys, aud with
his hands Outstretched before him he felr
for the safe. IL was easily found, and
then he put in the key, unlocked the door
and swung it open. With familiar fingers
he pulled out what he knew were mere
bills and documents, and then he found
the small tin box in which
A binding glare, an awful fash of over
towering light blazed before him His
eyes seemed put out by its bewildering in
tensity, and a little scream of terror es-
capped from his lips. A hand seized him
by the collar and dragged him over back
ward upon the floor. The blazing, burning
light filed all the room with glare
more terrible than the lightning He
recovered his sight, and saw Nemesis
standing above him, revolver in hand, and
with q torch of magnesium wire blazing
in horrid flames above his head.
Stir hand or foot, and-yOu under
stand. There are six chambers, and I'm
good shot"
LET Inc up, you fool, or I'll kill you"
"Oh, you surprise me, Mr.. Belford.
thought it was common robber."
mo, it is not; so lower your pistol"
mo, sir. You may rise, but make the
slightest resistance and I'll blow your
brains into muddy fragments. Sit in that
chair, and when I've secured you properly
I'll hear any explanation you may make.
Your Conduct is very singular, Mr.. Bel
ford, to say the least. That's il. Sit down
in the arm chair Now I'm going to tie
you into it, and on the slightest sign of
resistance | shall fire"
The poor, cowed creature sank into
the chair, and the son of science
placed his strange lamp upon the
table. With the revolver still in hand,
he procured match and lit a candle on
the table. Then he eNtinguished his
torch, aud the Overpowering light gave
place to more agreeable gloom. Then
he took from his pocket tiny electric
bell and little battery made of small
ink bottle. Then he drew forth a small
roll of wire, and securing one end to the
battery, with the revolver still in hand he
walked round the chair three times. and
bound the thief into il with the slender
wire.
stop this fooling, boy! Lower your
revolver, aud let me explain matters"
No, sir. When | have you fast so
that you can do no harm, talk with you
hot before. Hold back your head.
That's il. Rest it against the chair while
draw this wire over your throat
For Cots sake, stop! Do you intenc
to Garrotc me%'
No. Only ! mean to make yor Sc
cure
This won't hold me long. I'll break
your wires in flash, you little fool"
mo, you will not. The moment the
wire is parted that bell will ring, and
shall herin firing and keep it up till you
are disabled or dead.
The man sw0re savagely, but the cold
thread IF insulated wire over his throat
thrilled his every nerve. 1t seemed some
magic bond, mysterious, wonderful and
dreadful. This cool man Of science was
ali angel of awful and incOmprehensible
power. His lamp of such mystic bril-.
lance and that battery quite unneryed his
coward heart. What awful torture, what
burning flash OF lightning might not rend
him to blackened fragments if the wires
were broken! To such depths of puerile
ignorance and terror did the wretch sink
in his guilty fancy. He dared not move
muscle lest the wire break. The very
thought of it filled him with unGpcakable
agony. The son of science placed himself
before his prisoner. With the revolver a
easy rest he said
MI lOSiOlNl, am EOIHS W Cdll Help.
Do not move while open the door"
In mortal terror the wretch turned his
head round 10 see what was going on.
The two men glared at each other in
silence, and then there was sound of
opening doors. One closed with an echo
ing slam that resounded strangely through
the old house, and then there were light
footsteps in the hall.
''Oh, Elmer! What has happened"'
Nothing very serious-merely COM
mon burglar. | called you because
wished help"
Eyes, l heard the bell Is there no
danger!'
mo. Stand back Do not come into
the room. Call the men and let them
wake the gardener and his son. You
yourself call your father, and bin him
dress and come down at once. And,
Alma, keep cool and do not be alarmed. |
need you, Alma, and you must help me-"
Then the house was very still, and the
watcher paced up and down before his
prisoner in silence. Then came hasty
opening of doors, and excited steps and
fiaring lamps in the hall
otis the young doctor, Oh! Bymghtyl
Here's troublesr'
"Quiet, men! Keep quiet. Come in.
He cannot hurt you. Have you roper"
The calm voice of the speaker treasured
them, and all three volunteered to go for
one.
mo. Oneis enough. And one of you
had better go to Mr.. Denny's room and
help him down stairs. You, John, may
stop with me-"
Gods! Sir, he will spring ut mer'
"Never you fear. He's fastened into
the chair. Besides''-
GAY, sir, you've the little pet! That's
the kind o. argument"
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