The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-07-25

shall hunt for our man. with a view
arresting him, / have arranged an extradi
tion paper, which will persuade the devil
to sign, after which shall serve warrant
on Blake l obtained these papers from
the secretary of state, who believes me
harmless insane person.
was thunderstruck had always be
lieved my friend almost superhuman in
his detective powers but had never giveL
him credit for such genius.
After day spent in provisioning w,
started upon our novel trip. Down, down
we went, and presently, as IL began to be
unoomfortably hot, Homes produced ar
ointment which he had prepared -he was
something of a chenist--with which we
rubbed ourselves, finding 1t an excellent
protective against heat.
After short time we brought up with
shock Getting out, we found ourselves
In front Of an iron barred door, behind
which stood a sentinel, clad In the livery
Of Apollyon, who demanded our business.
Homes told him to conduct us to his mas
ter, at the same time slipping piece OF
money into his hand. The door opened,
as If by magic, and passing the cells OF
the damned we were conducted to the au.
dience chamber of the evil one In q few
minutes that well known parsonage walked
In. He has been described SO many times
that will not say anything about his
personal appearance. He bowed pleasantly
and said, "Well, gentlemen, you seem to
be little ahead Of time, but what can
do for your
Homes told him that we had been sent
by the United States government to pro-
cure an extradition treaty with his coun-
49, .x1 AknN
him 5000 for such treaty. He readily
consented and took the money from Homes
eagerly, though what use he could make
of 1t puzzled us. Homes found Blake and
straightway served the warrant on him.
The devil looked somewhat surprised, but
offered no objections, and Blake was
promptly delivered over to us. After ao-
oepting an invitation to dine at some fu-
ture date we journeyed back to Taunton,
happy to have our prisoner secure and
happy to have seen and escaped the devil.
We were SO happy indeed that we felt 1t
necessary to treat our prisoner, and while
we were drinking at Taunton bar he
escaped, only to be captured by we'll
known police officer, who got great deal
of credit out of 1t. We had never felt be-
fore the irony of fate
world that we really had visited hades, to
take party of friends to dine with the
devil. Arriving in hades by the same
route as before we found very warm re-
ception awaiting us. Homes and were
Immediately clapped into jail for kidnap.
ing one Of the DEVILS subjects, while the
rest of the party returned to Taunton,
leaving us to our fate.
The only satisfaction we now have is
that Blake is serving life sentence al
Charlestown, and every day when we long
for razor to shave our ever singeing
whiskers Homes says meditatively:
"There's such thing as being toe
smart, Hotson."
NoTE.-This narrative, written on asbestos
paper, was wrapped when found in fireproo
cover near the crater of Mount Shasta. Being
interested in it, the finder took 1t to New York
Upon investigation it proved TO be the story
| Of DR., Hotson and Mr.. Homes, whose sudder
disappeafdhce Century ago was nine days
wonder It is supposed that it was thrown VI
| through the crater of the volcano by HotsoI
himself OF Homes the reader already know
something. Hotson was the most celebrated
surgeon of his age having removed the wheel
from the head Of young woman namet
| Trilby,