The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-01-23
VIII open the safe for YOU.

| had formed wild nope that |
might inyeigle him into the safe, and
by suddenly closing the door make
prisoner of him.
But this hope he soon dissipated.
turned TO the safe adjusted the lock
to the combination and flung the door
wide open. Then lighted the gas-jet
attached to the rubber tube which was
used for lighting the interior of the
vault, and took it to its place inside the
massive door. Then l stepped back a
few PAGES and said:
You will find the paper, together
with my will, in sealed envelope con-
tanned in the pigeon-hole marked w. ~
He advanced to the door and care
fully inspected the vault so as to satisfy
himself that it afforded no means of es-
cape.
Then he returned to his former po-
stion under the chandelier, which was
in full blaze.
His tendish face was rendered more
hideous by the sneer upon it as he said:
''4 our plan to make prisoner of me
is cunning enough, but it requires more
grain and less chaff to catch as old a
bird as am. Go in the safe and bring
out the paper. Don't be afraid; l will
not imprison You in it. If l kill you,
l will do it speedily. l will not doom
you to lingering death by suffocation
or starvation in such dungeon
Seeing that it was useless to parley /
stepped into the safe and selected
sealed envelope, which l took to him,
and which he eagerly received from my
hand.
As he turned to the chandelier and
broke the seal, returned to the safe,
took down the gas-tube, and prepared
to re-close the door, when, like flash
possible means of escape suggested
itself to my mind.
| silently blew out the gas, and
placing the burner to my lips, / blew
with all the power of my lungs into the
tube, stepping outside the vault as l
did SO, and continuing the effort while
awaiting the denouenlen.
During the time the maniac was en-
deavoring to discover the character
of the paper | had put into his hands,
the gas had continued to be consumed.
Presently the stratum of breath
which | had blown into the pipe reached
the chandelier-burner. and instantly
the flame flashed up with snap and
expired.
The madman uttered frightful
scream of anger, accompanied by an
oath that fairly froze my blood; then |
heard him spring towards the spot
where | stood.
The next instant heard a heavy fall,
almost at my feet, followed by sue
cession of groans and low, gurgling
sound, as of water escaping from
bottle.
Very soon all was silent as death, ex-
cept the sound of my wildly beating
heart.
For a moment l stood still in shrink
ing horror, then I moved noiselessly in
the darkness, made my way to the door,
flung it wide open, and bounded down
the two flights of stairs.
On reaching the pavement, ] found
policeman on his beat, to whom 1 re-
lated my story; and together he with
his lighted lamp leading the way, we
sought my room.
On entering it. a shocking sight met
our gaze. My strange client was lying
on his face upon the floor in pool of
blood.
In making leap to seize me. in the
darkness. he had stumbled over rug,
and, in falling, the knife which he held
in his hand, had pierced his jugular
artery.
During the rest of that night sleep
did not visit my eyelids. | thought
much of the beautiful girl whose testi-
mony, in saving her father from prison,
had so nearly cost me my life, and had
actually cost his.
The next morning / went to the
house where the mother and daughter
had lived, to acquaint them with the
terrible tragedy of the night, but found
the house closed. They had disap-
peared and | have never since heard
aught of them.
Whether my lunatic client had really
committed the crime of which he spoke,
or was merely laboring under an in
sane delusion, will always remain
mystery.