Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-08-05
bs wa, frightsnsd enough, CAPTAIN

those OF an older generation, bis iathers
contemporary and friends.
1t was only very dim light that the
lantern gave, barely sufficient TO show
the extent of the large kitchen, with It's
open doors leading into passage, SOUL
lerY, aud larder, its enormous cup
boards, it's two windows az which the
shrubs outside kept tapping as the wind
shook them, and its thick black beams
overhead, with hooks from which bacon
and strings OF onions used TO Do sus-
pended.
"The law is very slow" said Captain
Wilmott, as he took up the rope ana
began to tie knot on the end OF IL.
George did not understand the words.
But so intolerable was the tension OF
his feelings that be felt be must say
something, no matter what. SO he
stammered out:
''Can l help you, Captain Willmott?
What is IL you are Coiag to do?'
Captain Willmott frightened the knot
with his tseth. When be had done that
TO his satisfaction, he said:
Il could have borne it no longer.
Waiting-waiting- walting-itw was aw-
full work. l believe"-he suddenly
raised mis- head and glared into the lads
white face-"if it had lasted another
day, should have gone Mad"
George seemed Supplied. He could
only gaze ia horror at that tall, thln'
Rrizzled soldier ia the scarlet coat
Some dreadful idea was beginning to
penetrate the confusion OF his mind.
"Yes, stark, staring mad proceeded
Captain Willmott, who, but for that
one look, might have been speaking 10
himself. "But it is over now. l take
the law into my own hands. lie
paused to make running moose on the
rope, and then glanced at the hook In
the beam overhead, as ii be was meas
uriug the distance from the floor. This
| night nv son will be avenged.
Avenged" gasped George. How
avenged? You don't think-you can't
! Think killed him. "a murderer-you
can't mean that. What are you going
10 do?'
81 am going to hang you" answered
| Captain Wilm6tt, with calmness OF
manner which was the more horrible
because of the fury blazing from his
| eyes.
The sudden terror in the lads face
was piteous so see. He cIutched In
s,inctively at his throat as If the rope
was already Strangliug him. The awful
truth which had been slowly forcing
its way into his mind, burst upon him
at last with a shock which for the time
deprived him OF sensation. lie was
alone in an empty house with mad
bent UPON taking his life.
Georges 6rst conscious thought was
to run away. He looked round desper-
ately, Captain Wilmott apparently
taking no notice OF him-calm!y engaged
in adjusting the moose, but the door
into the passage was closed, and the
other two would not help him. IL
seemed hopeless TO attempt 10 escape.
Then he must fight for his life. With
start he recollected tho pistol, and,
quick as thought, drew 1T from MS
pocket.
But il was a clumsy, old-fashioned
weapon, aud ne had little control over
his fingers, they trembled so. Before
be could cock it, a sword flashed through
the air, ond the pistol dropped at his
feet. he looked In dazed way at his
hand, and saw q great cash across the
back, and blood squirting from 1t already.
A torrent Of furious words which he
could not understand fell upon his ears;
the swar6 flashed anc whlLzad around
him: ne saw, as in dream, tall, red
figure dancing madly before him. Then
he heard a sound OF breaking glass.
The pistol had been hurled Through the
window.
Captain Wimott stretched out his
arm aud placed the rope over the hook.
stand there, you dog" he shouted,
pointing at the moose, hanging in mid
air. al could slice your head off like a
carrot, but death by the sword is not
for such as you. You shall die by the
rope. You shall die as murderers die.
! Quick, do you hear? stand there!'
But George, suddenly stopping 20
avoid the sword, made wild rush for
ward, and butted at the mailman with
his head. SO unexpected and so vio-
lent was the charge that the latter
would have been Knocked off his feet
had not he been gripped round the
waist at the same moment. Owing 10
| this unfortunate occurrence he soon re
| gained his balance. He dropped his
sword, and twisting his long bony fin
| gers roung Georges neck, strove 10
throttle him. Ia spite of his age, he
seemed to possess suDerhuman strength.
| He shouted as he fought, aud his mouth
was white with foam, which fell upon
the stone slab, mingling with the blood
| from Georges wounded hand.
With only one hand, the left, OF any
! real use, the lads case was desperate
from the first. He could not free him
self from the deadly grip upon his
| throat, and as they pushed and tore
and struggled across the gloomy kitchen
| now Ia one corner and DOW 10 another,
| his efforts TO throw his antagonist grew
weaker; be could not breathe; at last he
was flung in a heap upon the floor. Be-
fore he could attempt TO rise-OefOre he
| could even thiuk-the mad had
lesped upon him and was binding his
| hands with the rope.
Ii was done I'm a moment, with horri-
bic savage raUidity. Then George could
do nothing except struggle with his feet.
| The madman did net mind that. De cut
| the rope with his sword, aud when he
mad returned the weapon TO its scaO-
bard, he stood up and laughed, q wild
iendish laugh, which seemed 10 carry
terror into the kiniest corners OF the
house. All his previous calmness was
gone.
II said you should die by this rope,
YOU dog" he shouted. u said you
| should die as murderers die. And you
shall. will keep my word. Ny poor
dead boy will see you hanging here
| like a dog, and will laugh. So shall ne
be revenged. Will this moose fit your
| neck, do you think?" and he gave it q
push which set il swinging from the
| beam.
The poor lad lying tied upon the
stone floor was too stunned to under.
stand all this, but nv agonies were In