Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-04-15

 fear, and she may have died already, for she would have no one else but you, and it is now an hour since left her." "And who are you?" asked, for though knew Mrs. Warner well-she 1 is the patient to whom I have already attended, did not know her messen- ger.
 "I am a servant in the house where she was taken H."
 ''Then she is not at home?" No sir, she is in Second avenue" "I am very sorry" began, Out l
 have not the time" But he interrupted
 eagerly. -
 "There Is carriage at the door; we
 thought you might not have your
 phaeton ready"
 had noticed the carriage. "Very weI." said I. 1T will go, but ! first let me write line" 70 sir," the man broke in pleadingly,
 ''do not wait for anything. She is
 really very bad and heard her calling for you as ran out of the house!' "She had her voice, then" ventureds
 somewhat distrustful of the whole thing
 and yet not knowing how to refuse the man, especially as it was absolutely necessary to see Mrs. Warner that night and get her consent to my de- parture before could think of making further plans.
 So leaving word for Richter to be sure and wait for me If he came home before did, signifled to Mrs. Warn 'er's messenger that was ready to go
 with him and immediately took seat
 in the carriage which had been pro vided for me. The man at once jumped up on the box beside the driver, and be- fore I could close the carriage door we were off, riding rapidly down Seventh avenue.
 As we went the thought came: "What if Mrs. Warner will not let me off But I dismissed the fear at once, for this patient of mine is an extremely un- selfish woman, and if she were not too i'll to grasp the situation, would certain ly sympathize with the strait I was in
 and consent to accept Richter's services
 In place of my own, especially as she knows and trusts him
 When the carriage stopped it was al-
 ready dark, and could distinguish lit tie of the house I entered, save that it was large and old and did not look like an establishment where a man servant
 would be likely to be kept.
 "Is Mrs. Warner here?" I asked of the man, who was slowly getting down from the box.
 "Tes- sir," he answered, quickly; and I was about to ring the bell before me, when the door opened and young German girl, courtesying slightly, wei
 comed me in, saying:
 Mrs. Warner is upstairs, sir; in the front room. if you please" Not doubting her, but greatly aston ished at the barren aspect of the place
 was in. l stumbled up the faintly lighted stairs before me and entered the great front room. It was empty, but through an open door nt the other end I heard voice saying: "He has come, madam" and anxious to see my patient whose presence in this desolate house found it harder and harder to
 understand, I stepped into the room where she presumably lay. Alasi for my temerity in doing so; for no sooner had I crossed the threshold
 than the door by which l had entered closed with click unlike any I had ever heard before, and when turned
 to see what 1t meant, another click came from the opposite side of the room, and perceived with a benumbed sense of wonder that the one person whose somewhat shadowy figure had encountered on entering had vanished from the place and that was shut up along in room without visible means
 of cgress.
 This was startling, and, hard to be- lieve at first, but after had tried the
 door by which had entered and found
 it securely locked and then, bound l ing to the other side of the room, tried >hc opposite one with the same result, could not but acknowledge I was
 caught, caught! What did it mean? | Caught, and was in haste, mad haste. Filling the room with my cries,
 shouted for help and quick release,
 but my efforts were naturally fruitlcss | and after eXhausting myself in vain stood still and surveyed, with what
 equanimity was left me, the appearance
 of the dreary place in which had thus
 suddenly become entrapped. CHAPTER II It was 0 small, square room, and
 shall not soon forget with what a fore
 boding shuddcr observed that it's four
 blank walls were literally unbroken by
 q single window, for this told me that 1 | was 1n no communication With the street and that it would be impossible for me to summon help from tho out
 side world. The single gas jet burning
 tn fixture hanging from the ceiling
 was the only relief given to the eye in
 the blank expanse of white wall that
 surrounded me, while as to furniture
 the room could boast of nothing more
 than an old-fashioned black walnut table and two chairs. the latter
 cushioned, but stiff in the back and
 generally dilapidated in appearance.
 The only sign of comfort about me was
 a tray that stood on the table, contain
 ing n couple of bottles of wine and two glasses. The bottles were full and the
 glasses clean, and to add to this appear
 ance of hospitality box of cigars
 rested invitingly near, which could
 not fail to perceive even at the first | O1anoa was nf tho yarv host brand