San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-08-31

was the meaning Of Adsla Mimpriss being
on such terms with the injured man, wht
looked as if he had been working in som,
minel
Their eyes met once, but she turned her.
away directly, and held a glass of brandy Il
the injured mans lips.
That's better" he said. 81 can talk now
thought was going to be smothered once
Well, lads, the games up"
"Whyp said one of the others sharply
Because it is. You won't catch me there
again if know it; and here's private inquiry
at work from over the way"
"Hold your tonguel" said the first man OF
the party. "There, he can't help himself
now You watch him, Bell; and if he moves,
give warning"
The rough woman seated herself beside Mr.
Barclay and watched him fercely. The two
men crossed over to their companion; while
Adela, still looking cold and angry, with
brow wrinkled up, drew back to stand
against the table and listen.
The men spoke in a low tone, but Mr.. Bar
clay caught a word now and then, from
which he gathered that. while the man who
had in some way been hurt was for giving
up, the other two angrily declared that a
sIOTU Jllue WOuIu HulSH III HOW, ana ludU IDey
would go on with it at all hazards.
"And what will you do with him9" said the
injured man grimly.
Mr.. Barclay could not help looking sharply
at Adela, who just then met his eye, but it
was with look more of curiosity than any
thing else; and as she realized that he was
gazing at her reproachfully, she turned away
and watched the three men.
Every well" said the one who was hurt, 81
wash my hands of what may follow"
al. right"
Mr. Barclay turned cold as he wondered
what was to happen next. He saw plainly
enough now that the house had been let to a
gang of men engaged upon some nefarious
practice, but what it was he could not guess.
Coming seemed to be the most likely thing;
but from what he had heard and read, these
men did not look like coiners.
Then a curious feeling of rage filled him,
and the blood rushed to his brain as he lay
reproaching himself for his folly. He had
been attracted by this woman, who was evil
IDENTIFY thoroughly in league with the man
who spoke to her in way which sent jeal-
GUS shudder through him, while the sisters
of whom be had once or twice caught
glimpse, seemed to be absent, unless The
thought which occurred to him seemed to be
so wild that be drove it away, and lay wait
ing for what was to come next.
BE of, girlsl" said the first man suddenly;
and without word, the two women present
left the room, Adela not so much as casting
glance in the direction of the prisoner.
The three men whispered together for a
few minutes, and then Mr.. Barclay made an
effort to get up but it was useless, for the
first two seized him between them, all bound
as he was, and dragged him out of the room,
along the passage and down the stone steps
70 the basement, where they thrust him into
the wine cellar and half dragged him across
there into the inner cellar, the houses on that
side being exactly the same in construction
as ours
Fetch light" said one of them, and this
was done, when the speaker bent down and
dragged the handkerchief from the prisoners
mouth.
you scoundrel" cried Mr. Barclay.
Keep a civil tongue in your head, my fine
fellow he said
You shall suffer for this" retorted Mr..
Barclay.
"P'r'aps so. But now listen. If you like
to shout, you can do so, only l tell you the
truth, no one can hear you when you're shut
in here, and if you do keep on making a
noise one Of US may be tempted to come and
silence you"
What DO you want-mOneyW
You to hold your tongue and be quiet
You behave yourself and no harm shall come
to you; but l warn you that if you attempt
any games look out, for you've desperate
men to deal with Now, then, will you tax,
it coollyH'
'Tell me first what this MEANS" said Mr..
Barclay.
81 shall tell you nothing. I only say this
will you take it coolly and do what we
want"
Il can't help myself" said Mr. Barclay
That's spoken like a sensible lad, )" says the
second man. Nov, look here, you've got to
stop for some days perhaps, and you shall |
have enough to eat and blankets to keep you
warm"
But, stop here, in this empty cellarr'
That's it, till we let you 90. If you be-
have yourself you shant be hurt. If you
don't behave yourself you may get an ugly |
crack on the head to silence you. Now, then,
will You be quiet?"
Il tell you again that cannot help my
self"
Shall l undo his hands," said one to the |
other.
Yes, you can loosen them"
This was done, and directly after Mr.. Bar |
clay sat thinking in the darHness alone with |
as unpleasant thoughts as a man could have |
for company.