Los Angeles herald., 1891-08-12

nounced Waldemer past all medical aid,
but said that the lady was only suffering
from a severe nervous shock, natural
under the circumstances.
Despite her protestations 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 resolutely refused.
Owing to a most extraordinary and
fortunate circumstance we are enabled
to clear the unhappy lady from all sus-
picion, and also to give our readers the
details of very singular duel that took
place in this city but few days ago
and which undoubtedly caused the sui
eide just mentioned.
Last night at half-past 10 o'clock a
messenger left 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 13, 1899
ITO the Managing Editor:
"You will find inclosed an important
item of news, which you are at liberty
to use only on condition that this en-
velope 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 WAIDEMER."
Long before the receipt of the mys-
terious package Waldemer's suicide had
been discovered, and so the seal was i'm
mediately broken. Inside was the fol-
lowing remarkable confession:
'sThese, 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.
''It is still fresh in the mind of the pub
lie how overheard in my club the name
of my wife banded about by a lecherous
scoundrel, who has already gone the
road shall travel tonight.
"I challenged him. The challenge was
accepted. AL the details We're left to a
mutual friend-a man learned in cleo
trical science-who enthusiastically pro-
posed the adoption of electricity as a
weapon. | assented with Indifference,
not needing theagentso that l hadmy re-
venge. My antagonist agreed, prompted
by professional curiosity. For several
days the mysterious preparations went
on, and at last there came a note stating
that was to call at a certain house on
the outskirts of the city at midnight.
"On arriving at the place indicated the
scientist met me at the door and led the
way to little anteroom on the second
floor. There found my antagonist, and
it was only the knowledge that but a
few minutes could elapse before we
would be engaged in mortal combat that
restrained me from throttling him where
he stood
1--WE were taken into an adjoining
room, and what l saw there filed my
soul with a 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 he evidently
hesitated before answering, and noticed
with pleasure that his voice trembled
and his face paled with a cowardly dread.
''The old electrician produced two
long, close fitting robes that enveloped
us from neck to heels, and with skillful
fingers he speedily buttoned them around
us, making the shroudlike garments
more secure by passing a stout cord
about the outside in innu1nerable 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.
SIT was small, square room, devoid of
furniture, and but dim1y lighted by a
common oil lamp suspended from the
ceiling. The floor had been waxed and
polished until it was as smooth as glass
In two corners of the room, diagonally
opposite each other, were couple of pc
culiar looking metal disks placed hori-
zontally on the floor, and having round,
flat knob in the center, Leading from
each were two lines of insulated wire
about six or seven yards long, ending in
shallow cups containing dampened felt.
Placing us side by side, midway be-
tween the corners, the cups 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 that he who first
reached his opponents corner could, by
merely placing. his head on the elevated
spot, send the annihilating current on its
deadly way.
1.-THE old scientist, after few hurried
directions, given in voice agitated with
strong emotion, retired to a corner,
where could see him standing in an at
titude of rapt attention, his head bent
forward, his eyes protruding and glow
ering with a fixity Of expression almost
maniacal in its intensity.
1.-THE room was filed with solemn
quiet, unbroken save by the low muir
muir of heavy respiration or the regular
tick of a clock, whose monotonous
rhythm sounded like the beat of drum
to my overstrained nerves. Thus we
lay for nearly half minute, each wait.
ing for the other to make the move.
"a short reflection had shown me that
victory would come to him who showed
the greatest cunning, as the manner in
which we were tied precluded the dis
play of brute force, and the slippery