The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-12-23
A Crank Calls at the Millionaire's
Residence.
MRS SAGE NOBLY DOWNS HIM
He Threatens to Kill Her Husband Unless
Given MOney-She Almost Checked
Him to Death.

du aGtecK. VINO, Tor example, In all this
city dreamed that Russell Sage, whom
Bcmb-Thrower Norcross tried with dyna-
mite to do out of S1,200,000, would
again be threatened in a similar way, yet
that
FATE HAS AGAIN ovERTAKEN MR.. SAGE.
He felt reasonably sure that, though some
other reputed rich man might by attacked,
he certainly would be free from danger.
And so late last Saturday evening Mr.
sage went to sleep with his mind compare
lively at ease. He is in the habit of re-
turing early, and it was about p. N. when
he lay down to sleep. Mrs. Sage was still
up and busy on the second floor, where
MIR. Sage's sleeping room is. Some of the
servants were awake down stairs. There
was chance that DR.. Mum or some olher
intimate friend might step in for moment
or two, and for that reason the house was
still lighted.
Just few minutes after 9 o'clock last
night, there was ring at the door bell.
Mary, one of the servants who has done
years of faithful service in the Sage house
hold, went to the door. Mary has become
used to all sorts of callers. She was not
surpr sed, therefore, to see standing upon
the steps
A YOUNG WOMAN OF RATHER UNCoUTH APP
PEARANCE.
Before Mary had chance to ask what
was wanted, the young woman asked.
rs this No. 500, Fifth avenuer' Mary
Immediately answered that it was not: that
1t was No. sos, and that No. 500 was across
the street. Scarcely had the servant spoken
these words, when a queer looking man
suddenly jumped before her. Where he
had been Mary does not know. She thinks
he must have been directly behind the
strange woman. Whether the two were in
collision she cannot tell, for the man
pushed the girl aside and forced his way
through the vestlbule and within the door
to the hallway. While he was doing this,
Mary, of course, was concentrating all her
observation on him, and in the meantime
the woman disappeared. The servant had
been taken by surprise. If it was trick,
1t worked well.
THE MAN WAS FIERCE IN MANNER
He was fairly dressed and the only
things really noteworthy in his appearance
were peaked fur cap and the marble pal
lor OF his face. Having dashed the woman
on the outer step aside, and having thrust
Mary from her place on the threshold, he
planted himself fully within the hall ard
cried out:
II HAVE COME TO KILL MR.. sAGE.n
slant. Then summoning all Ter courage
she apparently adopted the very tactics
That MIR. Sage tried to use against Nor
cross. She saw that if she could get help
she might prevent this crank from doing
harm and beginning with quiet voice she
said, looking the rough man sauarely in
the face: "Bless ME, you don't tell mepI
And then, having raised her voice with
each word, she exclaimed loudly: "Well
you get right out of here
THE MAN WITH THE FUR CAP DIDN'T MOVE
He glanced contemporary at the woman
and then said again: 81 have come to kill
Mr.. Sage.'
Once more Mary said something to him.
just what she doesn't remember, but she
knew their conversation must be over
heard, and it was. Mrs. Sage up stairs had
heard the door opened, and thinking it might
be Dr. Mum had gone out into tho hall on
the second floor to be ready to see the doc
tor without delay. Those who know ANY,
thing about the Sage household know we'll
the solicitude, the tenderness and affection
with which Mrs Sage cares for the slight
est comfort OF her husband, and how since
the Norcross day she has lowered about
him and helped him to recover from the
shock of that awful experience Her nurs-
ing had aided greatly in bringing him back
to health, and yet it seemed, now as she
stood in the upper hall listening to the
FURIOUS oUTPoURING OF THREATS
from fiends below, as if all good fortune
which had preserved her husband before
had been in vain. Horrible and dangerous
as the situation was, Mrs. Sage did not
shrek. If she trem bled, it was only for a
moment Doubtless Mrs. Sage did not
have time to plan her action. Be that as it
may, this venerable geutlewoman rushed
down stairs as soon as she heard the mad
man repeat those words: 81 have come to
kill Mr.. Sage" She said she saw Mary
facing the mau, and the man glaring back
She saw her chance lay in taking him off
his guard, and, walking more deliberately
as she came to the last few steps of the
staircase, she eyed the man steadily. When
she stepped from the staircase
SHE WENT STRAIGHT BEFORE THE INTRUDER
and asked: "What is it you want?" The
man answered with a show of astonish-
ment in his voice, Ibid you not get nv
letters'' What letter." "Why. l wrote
a letter saying that [ wanted 81, 500 You
should have had it by this time" "Well,
we received no letter."
Then followed more short sentences of
question and answer. Mrs. Sage doesn't
recall just what words were used in each
case but she does remember that the man
said, 'Well, l wrote letter saying that 1
wanted &, SEQ and that if L didn't get it |
would blow Mr.. Sage and his house up.
Now want the money. Pay it at once.
If you don't pay it l will blow YOU no
now" The man had scarcely said this
when Mrs. Sage, slight and fragile as she
is, rushed forward She made one QUICK
dash at the fiend and with power born of
the moment put the force of a strong man
into her attack.
IN rITc mn
and fastening her fingers into his neck.
held him for moment with such grin
that his pale face became almost black
Mary, the servant, looked on all with
amazement. She had not time to help. for
before she could think what to do, Mrs
Sage had thrust the man out the door, and
with the vigor of a weak woman nerved to
desperation, thrust him down the stairs
Then as quickly as before, she stepped
back and slammed the door shut. Mary
and she waited for moment. For an in
slant more they stood in the hall waiting
in suspense. They did not know but thai
the next second there would be crash at
the door and
THE EXPLOSION OF DYNAMITE. BoMR
But all was still; even from up stairs there
came no sound. Mr.. Sage was still asleep
The exciting episode had not disturbed him.
Scarcely a full minute passed and then
while the mistress and her servant were
still in the hallway, there came another
ring at the door bell. Mary then yielded to
terror. II must not answer that" she said
but Mrs. Sage's bravery had not yet been