The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-04-14
hands gripped me from behind and cast

hands gripped me from behind and cast
he to the floor.
As l fell the door of the goldrooln swung
TO, and all was darkness.
But only for a second. A silent match
blazed up. and a candle was lighted which
shone on strange company.
Kneeling on my chest and binding me
with d v1gor which i'll assorted with her
assumed character was the ''sick count
ess," whom 1 had seen carried Oh board.
Helping to hold me down was the tall
maid who had walked by her side, while
covering ne with the shining barrel of a
revolver was the girl who had induced
me to open the doors, a horrid grin on
her face In place of tears.
There you are, friend Dutton," said
the Countess" who was no other than
Red Jem himself. Il think you will do
now for the few minutes we shall require
you. What u pity it is that your people
have been so smart. You see that nice
new lock compelled us to get you to be
so obliging as to open the door for us.
Look alive with the pigments. Bill. and
get On with your makeup"
was half dazed with the suddenness
of the attack, but my senses were rapid
~ clearing, and | was beginning to ap-
preciate the value of Captain Temples
electric bell. Whatever happened to me,
| thought, the boxes would be all right
the alarm would ring directly they
were touched
was soon to be undeceived. | was
held against the wall by the powerful
hands of Red Jem, looking strangely
Fantastic in his feminine dress.
The tall 'maid" who had been ad-
dressed as Bill rapidly Invested herself
of her top clothing. Then my clothes
were taken from me, and Bill put them
on, standing revealed at last in his prop
er character of a neatly built young mar
OF about my WI height
AS soon as he was dressed in my clothes
ne took up IN actors paintbox and pro-
ceeded to make sundry alterations in his
face. Bit by bit the likeness grew, till
in front of me stood a counterpart Of
myself-a counterpart that my mother
might have mistaken for the original.
4NOU, 4hl. DuUtOu, od1u leCu OCIu,
you see u little game perhaps. My
friend Bill here will relieve you of your
duties and will see the bonds safely
ashore. Katie will take Bills place as a
much more appropriate maid and will
escort me-the sick Comtesse de Bruno
back to her cabin while the coast is clear.
Neat, isn't it,"
Yes" | said, but what are you 60
ing to do with me-"
"Ah, my dear friend, he replied, with
a horrid grin on his painted face, chat
is the sad part of it. You have got to
die. Dutton. I'm sorry, but Sc, 200, 900
is worth a mans life. Bill, where's that
knife? Nobody would be likely to hear
the pistol down here. but it's best to make
sure"
My counterfeit drew d glittering dag
ger from the clothes he had removed
and gave it to Red Jem.
There was but one chance for me, and
that was to ring the electric bell. To
shout would be to incur certain death,
and the odds were that in that out of the
way place, amid the rush of water and
the noise of the paddles. no one would
hear my cry.
But how to get free in time!
Il suppose you will give me two min
utes to make my peace?' I said.
"Oh, yes. if you think it worth while
to prolong the agony" said the thief
only be quick about it."
sit may seem odd to you,b but 1 nave
scruples about these matters" l said.
Would you object to loosing this strap
round my legs SO that l can kneel? You
see it is impossible to escape with the
door locked and three Of you here"
I'm the best natured fellow in the
world" replied the b~loodthirsty scoun-
drel, and he stopped and unbuckled the
strap. There, get to your prayers and
don't be long about it. You can use
your precious bondbo1es as a desk, if
you like"
In those last words he sealed his own
fate and that of his companions.
Outwardly calm, but in reality trem-
bling with excitement, l assumed a de-
votional attitude in the corner of the
goldroom. resting my elbows on the top
of the uppermost box. With my knees
1 gently pushed the lower one so as to
bring a strain on the wire.
Once, twice, thrice, l pressed it and
then knelt down in prayer, which it is
very certain was not all make believe.
Red Jem and his companions were
whispering by the door, and from the
scraps of conversation that reached me
l learned that my body was to be
thrown overheard.
! "Now. young man, times up" said
the principal villain at length, advancing
to where l knelt, but as he did SO l knew
that I was saved.
There was a hurried rush of many feet
outside, the door was thrown open, and
Captain Temple, pistol in hand and fol-
lowed by half a dozen men, burst in.
For a moment he was puzzled at the
likeness between me and the robber
known as Bill, but>he soon grasped the
situation. Red Jem and his gang will
not trouble the Dover mailboats for
many a day, and 1 have since heard that
his wife-the Katie who SO cleverly i'm
posed upon me in the saloon and after
ward held a pistol to my head-died in
prison.