Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-17
"Mr. Hoffman, is not here, .ir, /" said

"Mr Hoffman, is not here, sir," said
Stewart.
"HeavensI it's true," cried the doctor.
Stewart turned pale. "He's nv case.
sir, :" he groaned, S'andif he's lost, I'm a
ruined man."
Come on, Dryland," he said to me, and,
following him, I re-entered the house.
A huge alarm bell now began to ring. the
flames which had got well hold of the build
ing began to light mp the sky. 1 saw that
as we rushed into the house again.
"This way" muttered Stewart. We flew
up the staircase; at the top ofit we met the
proprietor. 'Are they all out?'' he
screamed.
"All but Mr.. Hoffman,, SIR"
"Great heavensl" he cried, but he made
no attempt 10 move. The firing of his prem
ises had evidently unnerved him; he COW
cred his face with his hands. On ran Stew
art; he stopped at closed door at the end
ofs long passage, IA was painted in small
white figures on it; there was a circular
piece of brass in the middle of the door, but
the door was locked. Stewart felt in his
pockets for the key.
~ must go back for it, he said. "Uome. 1"
81 will stay here, said.
Stewart did not reply; he ran hurriedly
off by the way he came.
| 10.
No, it was too strong. I raised the small
round piece of brass; circular peephole,
| glazed, came to my view. I could see into
the room; the chamber candle was lighted.
a man with his back to me lay upon the bed,
novel was on the coverlet, he had fallen
asleep reading; the candle placed on chair
| Illuminated his curly chestnut hair. But
could not see his face. His was the end
room of the corridor. A window with a
light SASH was at this end, on either side
closed doors; at the other end the staircase.
hammered furiously on the door,.
''FireI' 1 cried, "FireP' I kicked, I
battered at it, rushed from the
other side Of the passage at it;
it was too strong for me. looked in once
more; the man was awake, he turned to me-
it was the face as verify believed of Sigis-
mund Hannsy. 'Firei Firel" shouted,
face turned pale. the right eye began to
blink. ''The Winker," alias Sigismund
Hannay, was before me; there was no doubt.
rushed to the head OF the staircase; it was
in fames-in flames. Everything had
turned pink. This was why Stewart did
not return; there was no other exit.
Stay, the window at the end Of the pass
age! I rushed to it, broke pane; the
sash was steel, solid steel; the apparently
light window was grating of the strongest
kind.
Have you nothing to try and break the
door with, Mr.. Hoffmann?" cried 1; he was
already dressed.
"Himmelr'' he cried, "I have nothing to
try with" He spoke with slight German
accent.
We should be burnt alive together. and
my prey, the prey I was cheated of,
only to die slowly by fire. I heard
q cheer; something struck the win.
dow. A moment after, a form was on
the sill, then a second-two fremen-one
piled an az, the other a crowbar, they
worked rapidly and scientifically. Crashl
The steel window frame fell inward, the two
men sprang in.
"In here" cried; "he's in here"
"What, one of the madmen?"
"Yes, the last one"
SIS he very bad? Is there much danger in
him?" repeated the mantle brave man,
who was ready at moments notice to risk
his life amid fire and fame and falling walls
for paltry stipend.
sect the door open and I'll secure him."
said L.
A few strokes on the door-jamb with his
sharp ak, and the long crowbar of the Sec
ond man is inserted; the door Yields, it
opens. Hoffman rushed into my arms, the
men stood back, in an instant I had the
handouts on him.
"What does this violence mean?" he
Missed, winking furiously with his right eye
in nervous trepidation.
''They are afraid Of you, that's ali, sir. I
told them there was no need"
"Be smartl Be smartl' cried the fireman
nearest me. I helped Hoffman to the win
dow. The crowd below, on seeing us, cheered |
loudly. "Go first, said the frman I knew |
the escapes, 1 stepped lightly into the can
vas slide; in an instant I was in the |
street, hundred eager hands were stretched |
to grasp mine. In another instant Hoff- |
mann, handcuffed, slid down the canvas
trough, and was beside me. The crowd |
stood back.
Zone Of the lunatics; see his handeufs- |
he's dangerous-stand backP' I hustled |
the bewildered Hoffman, through the |
crowd. A hanson stood at a near corner. |
We got in; Hoffman, more dead than alive,
sank into the corner OF the cab. 1 whispered
to the cabman where to drive, and took my |
place by the shuddering Hoffman,.
Where are we going?" said he.
ITO another asylum, said I.
''Take these things off" said he.
'I can't just yet, /" said 1.
"Can'tl What do you mean?"
placed one hand on his shoulder, the
other on his fettered wrists, and 1 whispered
in his ear, "Sigismund Hannay, I arrest you
for felony-take it coolly, sir.
"Himmelr' he muttered-not a word
more.
We got to Scotland Yard. 1 took him
into the Office of the inspector ON duty; it
was Inspector Roberts. charged him. He
it all. As he did so his right
eve never lett off its winking; Sigismund
Hannay and ''the Winker" were one.
Stewart never forgaVe me. We never
found out how Hannay had squared the
proprietor of the asylum-it was all hushed
up. The proprietor was burnt to death in
the blazing staircase of Selby House Poor
fellow, he lost his head in his ruin, for the
property was uninsured.
Sigismund Hannay pleaded guilty; he got
IA years-most of the bonds were got back.
I had good bit out of it, one way and the
other.
Yes, these are the identical handouts;
Insnector Roberts Oava ma them m n kaan