Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-07-18

& mTb. " l4QEIutEt anu soon Uau bnb 5dLls+
faction Of seeing her recover conscious
/ ness
! By fortunate coincidence DR.. Breslon
happened to be in the neighborhood, and
/ he was soon in attendance He pro
! nounced Waldemer past all medical aid,
i but said that the LADY was only suffering
from severe nervous shock, natural
under the circumstances.
\ Despite her rrotestatiOns Mrs. Wal
demer was taken into custody and re
moved TO the house OF detention, where
she remained during the night, all offers
Of bail being resOIately refused
! Owing TO a most extraordinary and
/ fortunate circumstance we are enabled
to clear the unhappy lady from all sus-
/ pcion, and also TO give our readers the
! details Of very singular duel that took
( place in this city but a few days ago,
and which undoubtedly caused the sui
| eide Just mentioned
Last night Mt half-past 10 o'clock
messenger left a package in the ante
room with Instructions that it be sent
up to the managing editor. Upon the
removal Of the outer wrapper was found
sealed envelope with the following
note:
June 10, 1889
ITO the Managing Editor
lyon will find inclosed an important
item of news, which you are at liberty
TO use only on condition that this en-.
yelope be not received before 10 o'clock
this night trust to your well known
honor to see that this stipulation is faith
fully carried out
RUDOLPH WALDEMER
Long before the receipt Of the mys-
terious package Waldemer's suicide had
been discovered. and so the seal was i'm.
mcdiately broken Inside was the fol
lowing remarkable confession;
These, my last words, are written on
the threshold Of the unknown. Though
in the prime Of life, the mere thought of
living has become a dread more terrify
ing than that Of death
tits still fresh in the mind of the pub
lie how | overheard in my club the name
of my wife banded about by lecherous
scoundrel, who has already gone the
road shall travel tonight
al challenged him The challenge was
accepted All the details were left to
mutual friend-a man learned in cleo
| trical science who enthu iastically pro
posed the adoption of electricity ~
weapon . assented with indifference,
not needing theagentso that had my re-
venge My antagonistagreed, prompted
by professional curiosity For several
days the mysterious preparations went
on. and M last there came Il note stating
! that | WIS to call at certain house on
the outskirts = rha city mt midnight.
"On arrvirgat the place indicated the
scientist met me at the door and led the
way to lit g auteroom on the second
floor There found my antagonist, and
it was only the knowledge that but
| few minutes could etapse before we
would be engaged immortal combat that
restrained me from throttling him where
| he stood
I'VE were taken into an adjoining
room, and what | cav there filed my
soul with grim joy-the lust for muir
der Returning again to the outer room,
we were requested to submit without
demur to any preparations necessary ]
complied with alacrity, but be evidently
/ hesitated before answering, and noticed
with pleasure that his voice trembled
I and his face paled with cowardly dread
"The old electrician produced two
long, close fitting robes that developed
as from neck to heels, and with skillful
fingers he speedily buttoned them around
us, making the shroudhke garments
more secure by passing stout cord
about the outside in innumerable turns
/ Fettered in this way we lay upon the
floor unable to move hand or foot Sat
isfed at last that the fastenings were
secure, he dragged us with infinite care
into the chamber of death
at was a small, square room, devoid of
furniture and but dimly lighted by a
common oil lamp suspended from the
ceiling The floor had been waxei and
polished until 1t was rs smooth as glass
In two corners OF the room. diagonally
opposite each other, were a couple of pc.
culiur looking metal disks placed hor
zoutally ON thenoar. and having round
fiat knob IN the cautsr. Leading from
each were two lines Of insulated wire
about six or seven ylvls long. ending in
shallow cups containing dampaned felt
Placing us side by side midway be.
. tween thecoruers, thecups were fastened
to our bodies one being placed on the
neck at the base of the brain and the
, other at the extremity of the spinal col
umn Thus attached TO our respective
disks we were told chat he who first
A., reached his opponents corner could, by
merely placing his head on the elevated
spot. send the anniM'aunE current on its
deadly way
The old scientist, after few hurried
directions, given in q voice agita;ed with
strong emotion retired 10 corner
whore .. sra him standing IN an at,
ttude o. zap, attention. his head bent
forward his ewes protrudiug and glow
ering with iix,ty of expression almost
maniacal jn MS Intensity
The room was filed with solemn
quiet. uuurokeu save by the low muir
mur of heavy respiration or the regular
tick OF clock, whose monotonous