Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-07-25


ing walls, so he at once began an ex-
animation. He bolted the one door
inside, and there was nothing in the
walls to excite his suspicion. The car
peted floor seemed to be all right,
and he was beginning to feel easier
when he bethought him to look under
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 dis
tinctly heard voices and caught the
words:
stHe's tired and will soon be asleep.n
There was no gas in the room, and
within ten minutes the bit Of candle
would be extinguished in the socket.
He was now certain of his danger.
He had been trapped into a den of
murderers and thieves, and his only
hope of safety lay in immediate ac-
ton.
! With his pocketknife he Immediate
| ly cut the sheets and counterpart
into wide strips, twisted and knotted
the length, and made one end fast to
a 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
THEREOF but got no reply.
He pulled off his boots, fastened
them about his neck, seized the ex
temporized rope and swung into the
storm and darkness. 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 sus-
tanned his strength, and then he re-
called the method he had seen fire.
men practice in his own land, and by
the strength of his toes and fingers
I0 ouCC0OuSO III gaining UhO AOOI,
which he found to be slated and COM
paratively fat.
If he could remain here until day
light he might be able to summon
honest people to his aid and be safe.
Then he recalled that there must be a
skylight, and by carefully feeling he
found it, and then his fingers came in
contact with loose bolt which he
grasped with feeling of joy.
Soon the dog was barking, lights
were flashing, and the house was in
commotion. After awhile the sky
lights were pushed up and aided by
the light beneath the doctor saw a
shaggy head and brought down the
bolt with a blow that sent the man
rolling down the steps.
He fastened the skylight again, and
ignoring the oaths and threats and
coaxing for him to come down he
held the fort till daylight, when he at
tracted the notice of neighbors, and
through them body of police who
were out on relief.
AoouI GU VI oe'IOOy, UHO DOCOOI OO-
scended and told his story. He and
all the people in the house were
placed under arrest, as was the cab
driver, whose number he remembered.
The end Of it was that DR.. Weldon
was released and became the London
lion Of the hour. A search of the
house discovered the trap door and
three skeletons buried in the cellar.
English justice is speedy. These
wretches soon paid the penalty of
their crimes, but even to this day DR..
Weldon shudders when he recalls that |
night Of terror.