Morris tribune., 1892-04-06


quainted with all the inns in the neighbor-
hood of the place named, and could take
him to a nice quiet one.
Leaving his baggage to be attended to
on the morrow, DR.. Weldon got into the
cab and was driven away.
He knew that London was an immense
city, but it seemed to him that he had been
in that wretched cab for hours and hours,
when it suddenly brought up before a
building family indicated in the darkness
by dim lamp in front.
The driver rang the bell, and a dark
visaged man, who was introduced as the
landlord, responded The doctor had had
his supper on the way from Liverpool so
after paying for the cab he asked to be
shown to a room.
In response to tho landlords summons
an evil eyed woman, in black gown and
her hair in papers, appeared with lighted
candle and led the guest up stairs, and as
he was ascending he caught the words
coming up from the hall:
eyes; he's an American and they're all
as rich as the Jews"
Leaving the candle on table in a room
that appeared to be comfortably furnished
the woman said
y a
have breakfast with us in the morning,
and when do you wish to be called?"
II will breakfast here, and call me about
9. Good night" said the doctor; and the
woman echoed Good night" and went
out as silently as the shadows that swal-
lowed her up.
Doctor Weldon was neither nervous nor
a coward, but there was that in his sur
roundings that stirred his suspicion and
added twenty degrees to the chilliness of
the room.
He was about to pull off his boots, but
he changed his mind and began to look
more carefully into the situation. Besides
letters Of credit, he had on his person gold
watch, a diamond ring and e150 in ready
money. Here he was in q gloomy house,
in a city he knew nothing about and his
whereabouts unknown to his friends. The
landlord and the woman ha2 look that
disturbed him, so instead of pulling off
his boots and going to bed, he began to
think, and the more he thought the worse
the situation looked.
He was unarmed, and although reason
ably strong and active, he knew that if he
were attacked it would be with sufficient
force to overcome speedily any resistance
he might make He opened the window
and looked out, and as he did so he heard
the growing of a dog underneath. 1t was
horribly dark, and as there was not lamp
in sight he reasoned that he was outside
the city limits.
He had read Of trapdoors and sliding
walls, so he at once began an examination.
He bolted the one door inside, and there
was nothing in the walls to excite his sus-
picion. The carpeted floor seemed to be
all right, and he was beginning to feel
easier when he bethought him to look un-
der the bed There was no carpet there,
but what seemed like and looked to be
trap that opened from below. He laid
his ear against it and he distinctly heard
voices and caught the words:
''ies tired and will soon be asleep"
There was no gas in the room, and with
in ten minutes the bit of a candle would
be extinguished in the socket.
He was now certain of his danger. He
had been trapped into den Of murderers
and thieves, and his only hope of safety
lay in immediate action.
With his pocketknife he quickly cut the
sheets and counterpane into wide strips,
twisted and knotted the lengths and made
one end fast to stout lambrequin above
the window.
His room was next the corner, and by
means of the Pickering candle he saw that
he could swing himself to the waterspout
and climb to the roof above, for the huge
dog visible below convinced him that it
would be death to drop to the ground.
He had just made these observations
when the light went out, and he heard the
trap being lifted under the bed. He
coughed and called out, "Who's there?"
but got no reply
He pulled off his boots, fastened them
about his neck, seized the extemporized
rope and swung into the storm and dark
ness By pressing his feet against the
wall he increased the oscillating motion
till at length the pipe came within his
reach, when he seized it and let the rope go.
1t sustained his strength, and then he re-
called the method he had seen firemen
practice in his own land, and by the
strength of his toes and fingers he sue
ceeded in gaining the roof, which he found
to be slated and comparatively fat.
If he could remain here till daylight he
might be able to summon honest people 60
his aid and be safe Then he recalled that
there must be skylight and by careful
feeling he found it, and then bis fingers
came in contact with q loose bolt which he
graspcd with feeling Of joy
Soon the dog was barking lights were
flashing, and the house was in commotion.
After awhile the sllylight was pushed up,
and aided by the light beneath the doctor
saw a shaggy head and he brought down
the bolt with blow that sent the man
railing down the steps.
He fastened the skylight again, and ig
noring the oGths and threats and coaxing
for him to come down he held the fort till
daylight, when he attracted the notice of
neighbors, and through them of body of
police who were out on relief.
Assured of safety, the doctor descended