Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-04-12

!
! my conclusions. From safe vantage
+ ground detected number OF pedestrians
! disappearing at irregular intervals in an ad
| iacent alley which led as knew to the sus
pected spot. Watching my chance anG
cautiously stealing along in the shadow o.
| the buildings, too entered the alley way
| and passing through found myself in {
| small court or square al the extreme end o.
| which l could discern the feeble rays of {
| very smoky lamp that fickered over
AN OPEN DOORWAY.
| Making myself is small Is possible and
| crouching in an angle of the wall | watched
| and waited. In the next few
sons came through the alley, crossed the
| courtyard and passed under the lamp TO the
| unknown regions beyond.
While l was cogitating how l had better
| act and wondering what kind OF reception
| would be accorded NE should l penetrate
| beyond the mysterious portal, saw coming
| across the court 4 man who evidently was
| in better condition for the gathering of 6
| convivial rather than one Of u business
| nature. He was walking along mutterlng
| to himself, and straining my hearing powers
to the utmost. / overheard the following, N
an unmiStakable brogue:
BE COB, I've most forgot the word
lemme see-lke g dying-no-lkey Don-nc
-(pausing and scratching his head)-Itey
-1key-och, now l Enow-oue big
knock an Ike Dean-that's the spal.
peen. an bad luck to EN- Thus mutter-
ing he passed inside.
After some consideration I concluded that
had by chance discovered the password,
and so determined to test my conclusions Ly
boarding the lion in his den. CHANGING
around to see that 1 was unobserved,
stepped from my place Of conceallnent, and
advancing with bold front passed under tho
lamp and SO on through narrow passage
way to
FLIGHT OF STAIRS,
by which descended to q small hallway
with decidedly musty smell and also
lighted by q smoky lamp. My further ad-
vance was barred by heavy door thickly
studded with nails, on which ! bestowed
one single knock Il was Immediately
opened, and l passed into a small ante
room, where stood 4 tall man in black mask
and domino, who, addressing NE. demanded
the password. On my replying ''Ich
dien" he appeared satisfied, and, handing
me mask and domino from a convenient
closet, pointed TO another door, through
which l passed into large sIbterranean
hall, Ut the upper end OF which was q plat
form containing tables and chairs, and
around which was grouped score or SO Of
long benches. These We're occupied by
some fifty persons, all masked and cloaked
like myself. I passed On without appear
ing to attract any notice, and seating my
self among them quietly awaited
developments. II was not long before
others came in, the chairs on the
platform were filed by the proper
persons and one who appeared TO be the
leader rose and in clear voice addressed
US: 4
Brothers, he said, 1--WE meet once more
to further the good cause. l have good
news to announce later on, also work to
allot, which l am sure will please You
You will now answer to your numbers.
The secretary will call the roll"
Thus commanded the secretary opened
a book before him and in the midst of the
utmost quiet, commencing at one pro-
ceeded 10 call the numbers in rotation
while the occupants of the hall responded
in turn as their numbers were called
COLD CHILL
commenced to climb my spinal column as
he slowly went on, and l reflected that
had not brought my number with me, and
thought of the probable consequence of my
answering to the wrong number. So far
each masked figure had responded quickly
in turn until he reached the number nine
teen, when there being no immediate re-
Spouse, determined to risk my chances
like des perate gameSter, and so boldly
answered here"
The effect was electrical, a dozen men leaped
to their feet and the two nearest grasped
me by either shoulder and third tore of
my mask while the others swarmed around
me with muttered threats and excavations.
At sign from their chief l was
dragged forward and made TO mount
the platform facing the audience
and the chief holding up his hand for silence
demanded: !
is there any one here who can vouch fo@
this man or give any information regarding
himi''
One of the dominoes advanced and wh4s-
pered something which l did not catGk,
when the speaker continued:
my BROTHERS, WE ARE BETRAYED.
This man is spy, and Of class to bse
dreaded more than any other Having dis
covered our meeting place and no doubt ac-
quainted himself with the names of many
who come here, he will glory in publishing
it to the world. A paid spy; neither his
word nor his oath is to be trusted. You
know our rules-a strict compliance with
them is our only safeguard. Ny brothers,
what is your willi"
Amid death-lilse stiffness ! heard my
death decided on without any hesitation,
and without once asking me for any ex-
PLANTATION regarding my presence. 1t was
enough that was there.
After a short consultation with their
leader two of the masks approached me,
and opening a door in the rear Of the plat
form pointed to lighted lantern, and
drawing revolver from his breast uttered
the single command: "Forwardr'
picked up the lantern and entered the
low vaulted passage the fitful light Of the
lantern causing fantastic figures to appear
and vanish in the gloom. My two guards
followed close behind and my chance for
escape was most effectually precluded by
the absense of knowledge concerning what
was ahead of me and the certainty that there
were those behind me who would fire
upon me at the least suspicious
movement. At last we reached small
door before which the passage widened out
forming a small room. One Of my guards
now advanced and unlocking and UNI barring
the fastenings, which were numerous, an
opening was disclosed, through which could
be seen the dark water of the river
THE CHILLY FEELING
which had been fondly lingering in the mar
row of my spinal column now mounted to
my head and froze my every faculty. AS
in dream was bound and gagged and my
captors unceremoniously bundled me
through the opening. l was most agreea-
bly, surprised, though somewhat stunned,
by striking something hard instead of the
chilly water l had expected would receive
me. perceived by slight oscillation that
l was in boat moored to d ring fastened to
a pin of some old wharf. One of the
masked figures stepped in, pistol in hand,
and nlotioned his companion to shove US off
This was done, and the uncanny figure in
cloak and mask, the dimly burning lantern
and he old water-soaked piles slowly re-
coded from view. As soon as we were well |
out of sight my companion, who had not |
uttered word, drew knife and with two
motions cut my bonds and loosened my gag, |
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