The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-09-09
WHOLE No. 1900.

sWOre Lnere was mine here," half
audibly muttered the man who had
called himself Horton, his mind plung-
ed into an evident fog, by these un-
expected shocks.
so there is-one of the richest
mines on earth, as you will see present.
ly, when you have chance to Judge
for yourself"
The pseudo-Horton brig htened up
slightly. mention of the mine dispell-
ing portion of his mental obscure
ment.
''Then you will sell the mine, after
allp'' he cried eagerly.
1--WE will do better than that. We
will give it to you, with all its treas
ures," was Perry's response.
The condition of the other made him
entirely misunderstood the import of
these words:
mo; don't do that. You keepit and
let me furnish the money to run it with
alike, each having a third of the
profits. Let me wi pc out the past in
that way. We were all great friends
once-great friends. Why can't we be
so again?"
t.
but stepping little away from the
others he picked up portion of a
dead aspen and flung it into the chasm.
With the sound of its striking there
again came up from the depths that
rustling. kissing noise Immediately
after which the strange pungent odor
was also once more perceptible.
do you hear thatP"
''Yes, noticed it before, when the
stone was thrown in; and the smell,
also. What is itP''
''The sound or the smell?n
"Both.r
Your treasure-the rich treasure
you will find in your mine.'
You are not going to throw me
down in that hole are youp"
Certainly not. 1t would kill you
instantly. We would not do that for
the world"
: A sigh of relief escaped from the
wretched man.
THANK you" he said. "Thank you
for not wishing to injure me. Some
how feared you did. I suppose it is
because l am so tired. Let us be
partners then. just as | spoke of. You
will find I am no longer the tickle ass
] was-then. You shall have all the
money you want, as long as you live;
only don't crowd me too close to
that awful hole that those queer sounds
and smells come out off,
Gault made sign to Perry, and the
two then clutched Horton" In an
instant he was stripped to the waist.
and his arms were pinioned behind
him. Then his boots and stockings
were pulled off, and long lariat fasten-
ed to his waist.
The two men worked so rapidly that
their prisoner was secured before he
recovered from his surprise sufficiently
to fight.
''What does this mean?" he demand
ed. now fully in possession of his facul-
ties again.
Nothing. except that we are GO
ing to let you inspect your mine." ex-
planned Gault, who now assumed the
sole authority of spokemanship.
''And you had that cursed greaser
bring me so you could murder mei''
I'VE are only going to lower you in
to your mine. Why do you persist in
calling it murderer
why do you half strip me and bind
meP''
THAT is our idea of the right way to
do things. You carried out your idea
of right methods years ago."
''Why don't you have the manhood
to say you are going to kill me?"
did you have the manhood to tell
her you were going to destroy her?"
That was long while ago when
was only boy. This is different" /"
''Yes, that was then. and this is now;
there is difference"
The doomed man vainly tried to free
his arms.
Don't waste your strength. You
will need it to mine your treasure
within
'.What fool I was to follow that
greaser into this trap.
Very true; but it was no new ex-
perience for you. Many times in your
life you have been a fool. More often
still you have been a knave."
''Why didn't you run me down, and
finish me before. if you knew SO much
about mePn
because we found you and found
out about you both at the same time.
Your wealth and your many changes
of name kept you out of our reach.
Our poverty also hampered US. Re-
Gently we were told that you claimed
the name of Horton. and that you were
on the way to Mexico in pursuit of a
mine. With the assistance of friends
we got you up here to this fitting spot
for the expiation of your crimes.
The man of many aliases knew there
was no use to plead for mercy, so he
became stolidly silent.
Receiving no response, Gault threw
another stone down into the crevasse.
do you hear that noise? That is
music you are to die to. That hiss ard
rustic will be the last sounds in youl
dying ears"
"In Gods name, what is itpn
Scorpions. In the depths of that
crevasse there are myriads of scor.
pions. Millions of them. For short
time they will torture your body al
you tortured her soul, so long ago
But they will end your life far too soor
for the proper course of justice. W.
will tie something over your eyes anc
ears, so they don't kill you at once b.
singing you there"
Not word escaped the lips of tn,
victim of vengeance. when they lower
ed him into the crevasse; but when HI
reached the bottom and the slackenet
lariat was flung after him, first groans
then cries, then yells of awful anguish
| burst forth from him. Not only tn
creyasse, but the whole mountain -chail
seemed to ring with his terrific shrieks
which increased continuously in vol
ume and in despair.
But not for long.
One, two. three minutes. and thel
there was silence. There was no livin:
thing in the crevasse but the scorpions
Leu Vaasderpool.
A QUESTION oF NERVE.