The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-26
lying, a little stand on which a smoky lamp
WAS burning, and a curiouslY carved cabi-

lying, a little stand on which a smoky lamp
| was burning, and q curiously carved cabi-
net which seemed let in the opposite wall.
were the only articles of furniture in the
| room. This cabinet was surmonnted by q
| grinning skull, which seemed to mock mo
with its hideous smile. Stranger still,
there was but one window, a little grated
square OF light placed high near the CELL
ing.
Sick and dazed. / crawled to the door and
found it securely locked and barred. Then
| knew l was a prisoner, caught like a rat
scoundrel who had lured me there, con-
fusedly wondering (for my brain was still
astray) what had become of my money,
where was Johnnie. and would / ever get
out of the accursed place, I again threw
myself on the couch and fell into a kind Of
stupid sleep.
Suddenly opening my eyes, the room
seemed changed. The grinning deaths
head when I first noticed il was two or
feet from the ceiling; now it was almost
touching. Could it have moved7 Was I
dreaming, or--great God!-was the ceiling
moving down? I watched Enc waited until
the frightful suspicion became an awful
crushing down upon me. Now it touched
that grinning skull, closed the hollow.
cavernous eyes, then hid the CHASTITY. flesh
less lips. How can I describe the horror of
that hour? | shrieked aloud in my agony;
only the dismal echoes returned my voice.
The faint light from the window had long
since disappeared. the air was hot and
sitting, a strange. buzzing sound in my
ears, and still that horrible machine crunch
ing lower and lower.
The lamp, sputtering and smouldering,
would soon 90 out-then all would end III
would Boon come--the suspense was agon-
ing-watching, waiting, while that deadly
ceiling crept nearer and nearer.
A sudden commotion outside-the crash
Of broken doors, the confused noise of
voices and trampling feet mingled with the
measured troad of armed men.
Then | heard a CHEEKY voice saying,
"Hurry, boys, / fear now we are too late.''
The reaction was so great that when taken
from that hideous death trap, I was unoon-
scious, almos ~lifeless.
This infamous don had long been under
the surveillance CT the police, but the pro-
prietor had always managed to escape de-
lection, although many sinister stories were
told OF persons going there and never be-
hug seen again.
My companion wae suspected as an ac-
complete, a decoy, and when he was seen
entering there with a stranger and not re-
turning at the usual hour when tho hotel
was closed for the night, they determined
to raid the place and arrived just in time to
save me from a horrible death.
The CHASTITY machine was in full opera
ton, else they would never have discovered
it, it was SO ingenlously constructed. After
doing its deadly work it would roll back to
its accustomed place, and no ono would
suspect its existence. or the deep, dark
cellar underneath, whore dead mems bones
were found, the skeletons of the poor I'M
fortunate victims who had been lured to
this vile den, robbed, mangled and muir
dered.
revived sufficiently to give the name OF
my hotel, then relapssd into unconscious
ness. The nervous shook had been so ter
Iible brain fever set in. For days / raved
in delirium, lived over again the terrors of
that awful night. But through all nv
sufferings I WAS conscious Of kind. minis.
terinQ hands, of Il gentle, womanly pres-
once, and when | regained my senses | wa
not surprised to find a fair, gentle face by
my side, q tender nurse soothing my fevered
brow with a cool hand and holding the
grateful cup to my parched lirs. She told
me she was a sister Of charity, and arrived
on the train the night ] was brought back
insensible. Seeing my desperate strait she
had remained and offered 10 nurse me. Nc
doubt in health | should have questioned
this statement, but in the weakness of CON
valescence | received it with the faith of a
little child,
But whore was my CHEEKY friend and
colnrade, JohnnieY No one had seen OF
heard OF him. Az soon as / was able / tel
egraphed to Gnzman to learn something OF
his whereabouts; the answer anne: LEFT
at the appointed time, not heard from
since" This annoyed me dreadfully. ]
was constantly worrying over it.
One day l said TO my faithful nurse:
"What in the world has become of John
nie?" With a mischievous smile she
! answered. Cant You be satisfied to take