The morning call., 1891-08-31

bodies, one being placed on the neck at the
base of the brain and the other at the ex-
tremity Of the spinal column. Thus attached
to our respective disks, we were told that he
Who first reached his opponents corner
could, by merely placing his head on the
elevated snot, send the anuihilating current
on its deadly way.
The old scientist, after few hurried di-
rect!ons, given in voice agltated Win
strong emotion, retired to corner, where
cou Id see him standing in an attitude OF rapt
attention, his head bent forward, his eyes
protruding and glowering with a tixity OF
expression almost maniacal in Its intensity.
"Ihe room was filed with solemn quiet,
unbroken save by the low murmur of heavy
respiration or the regular tick of clock,
whose monotonous rhythm sounded like the
beat of drum to my overstralned nerves.
Thus we lay for nearly half minute, each
waiting for the other to make the move.
i" A short reflection had shown me that
victory would come to him W ho showed the
greatest cunning, rs the manner in which we
were tied precluded the display of brute
force, and the slippery floor offered no full
crum wherewith TO propel ones sell along.
"Slyly turned my head and saw, close
by. the livid face Of my antagonist his deep
set eyes watchful and alert.
''As a feint turned slowly over. He did
the same. Then with sudden effort |
swung around so that my feet struck him a
sharp blow in the face. 1t aroused all the
devil in his nature, and he quickly retail
ated by making desperate lunge at my
head; his heels flew past within an inch,
and the force OF the movement placed him
almost between me and my corner. Hswa
quick to see the advantage, and started to
roll with increasing force in that direction.
Then enSued terrific race for the disk.
"Over the CLASSY floor, slipping and slid
ing, with head advanced iu futile endeavOr
TO gain great momentum, we writhed and
squlrmed, yainly grasping at the polished
surface.
1.-The room revolved in dizzy whirl, and
soon my eyes were blinded by aching tears,
called forth by raging terror at the heart
"a fear that lie might gain the victory and
live. With one last almost superhuman
effort l threw myself across the widening
gap between US and stopped the progress.
There we lay, painting for breath, on the
very edge of the metal plate, but | was
nearest
After what seemed an eternity of time
the strange combat recommended. | was
posted in the angle my feet pressed firmly
against one wall and my head against the
other. 1t was a living barrier of resistless
strength.
suddenly 1 felt his form against mine.
creeping cunningly closer. With a hasty
jerk l drew my body in, and, with shoulders
pressed firmly against the piastered sides,
gave one powerful kick and sent him sliding
to the center of the room. Before he had
corner.
with elbow and heel, invoking the aid
OF every nerve and muscle, | rapidly COW
cred the intervening space. and then found
my passage barred and the goal snatched
from my eager grasp on the threshold of
victory. Wild with batfl-d rage, l threw
myself upon him and with helish fury tried
to tear his throat with my teeth.
" AS We struggled the room resounded
with an Internal din Of gaSping means and
oaths strangled III their utterance. For
time lost sense of direction and was only
intent in crushing out his vperous life.
" We had neared the middle when, by
what crafty trick L know not, he broks away,
and with miraculous speed, now leaping
half erect and now wTithing like serpent,
him with fascinated eyes as he drew nearer
and nearer. My tongue Glove to the roof of
my mouth. every drop Of blood turned to ice,
aud felt the bOny hand OF death clutching
that heart which IN a second would shriyel
at the lightning's touch.
" He reached il up went his head, higher
and higher My God why does he prolong
this living death? A thud as it touched the
iron plate; horrible gurgling noise cut off
in its infancy; one long, convu!Sive shudder
of the body, and he lay dead before me,
killed by his own wire. He had mistaken
the plate.
Hours afterward he was carried from
the house, my reason almost gone and the
dread terror of the scene still before me-
How his body was disposed of do not
know. Probably it was buried under false
name. His death was not at nay hands, but
the horror of 1t rests upon ME. and 1t is more
than | can bear. r."-ENRIQUE IL. LEWIS in
Romance