Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-05-03

OUb luDD JIl0 uL3AB.
The cruel marksman steadied his
wrist. A quick report mingled in echo
with a despairing wall at the window !;
the dove eircled, reeled, and, limp and
disabled, disappeared amid the foliage
of great tree.
i am reVenged !"
The speaker was Despard, and his
dark face was aglOw with brutal
triumph, as he glared down on his sec
ond helpless victim of the night.
Two miles across the country he had
gone straight from the Dacre mansion,
to the small villa where Victor Dane
made his summer home.
Dane was a chemist, high in esteem
among scientists, and he had filed up
room, a kind of laboratory, where
he worked and experimental with re-
tort, acid and pOisOns. Here he had
received his messages from Adrienne,
two small windows looking north just
showing the turrets of the Dacre man
sion.
Lost in a reverie, he had not heard
steaIthy footsteps on the stairs. The
door had opened, and his rival Des-
pard, dealing him a heavy blow, had
forced him senseless to the floor.
When he awOke to consciousness, Vic
tor found himself in an arm chair, tied
to it with strong cords, hand and foot,
and Despard glowering Wickedly down
upon him.
Il said look your last on your love"
he Kissed, venomOusly. Victor Dane,
this night / carry away wife and for
tune and you. All! I have a slow,
pleasant death for you! Gagged,
bound, count the minutes as they tick
away, and close your eyes to waken no
more. I am revenged!"
In mute horror Victor saw the prep
arations made for. his murder. Near
by was a large retOrt that held deadly,
nOxiOus gas. His rival knew of its
death-dealing qualities, for he had
shut the two windows closely, turned
on the nozzle, and the air of the room
began to grow dense.
Half an hOur-an hOur!" Kissed
Despard, his face like that Of a de-
mon, "and 1 return to find you dead.
L release you, remove your bonds, and
when you are discovered people viii
say that you fell a victim-ha! ha!-to
your love for science!"
He left the room as he spoke. Vic
tor Dane, pale as death, tried to force
his bonds. They Ioosened, but, alas
the insidiOus gas robbed mind and
frame of strength. His senses reeled,
his brain seemed bursting.
Tap tap! tap!
At the window a futtering sound
greeted his dull hearing. Obi would
help not come the base assassin re-
lent "Adrienne, my Lowell" and
then
Tap tap tap! Crash but the limp,
palsied form was mOtiOnless.
Saved
With a gasp Victor Dane opened
his eyes. That horrible thrObbing and
! choking was gone. The air was still
rank and dense, but mingled with it
was a current of cool air, pure as crys-
tai, as it fought the vapOr with which
/ it mingled.
With a prodigious effort Victor loos-
ened his hands. He was free an in
slant later. He stared at a shattered
/ pane of glass. He picked up a warm,
| soft object lying beneath the window.
He staggered, it in his hand, to the
/ stairway, to the lighted study, below.
/ The dove i-wOunded, It had fall
/ tered from the shot of the cruel Des-
pard. Then, winging its fight pain
! fully homeward, it had tapped at its
!
/ glass in its frantic efforts to enter, and
/ had saved the life of its master.
Faithful dove! the message brought
at the cost of Lowell" murmured Victor,
brokenly. @Despard, would-be assas-
sin, the law shall prevent you now %
He ran hatless from the place. He
stopped at the first house. The sheriff
of the county resided there. When
! Victor Dane again came forth It was
with a companion, commissioned to
arrest Despard for attempted murder
At the Dacre mansion they found its
/ owner, cross, whimsical, impatient
Adrieune, yelled and in tears; the
trunks packed, the carriage waiting foI
Despard.
But no Despardt Dacre stared in
creduIously at the story Of the sheriff
He believed that Despard, affrighte6
at his crime, had fed, and looked as i
he was glad of it. He only .scowleC
when Victor, leaving with the sheriff
said to AdrienEe in fervent tones:
"Couragei Do not be prevailed or
to leave here under any circumstances
Despard's plans shall fail, believe
mel"
They sought Despard everywhere
At morn, wearied and unsuccessful