The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-25
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darted out Of the vehicle and approached
me with heavy strides. I hurried on, but
bad not gone dozen steps when a detain-
ing hand was laid on my shoulder, and,
turning with q start, I felt myself sudden
" gagged, and, unable to scream and too
frightened to attempt resistance, the two
men-tall, muscular fellows, with heavy
black masks completely covering their
faces-in less time than it takes to relate
lifted me into the cab, then jumped in
after me.
I felt myself being driven rapidly of, I
knew not whittier. All the dreadful tales
of murder and abduction which had ever
heard of or read about trooped through
my dazed brain.
The blinds Of the cab vera down, max
ing It impossible to see into the streets
through which we passed. The moments
seemed like hours On, on oni Would
we never stopg Once or twice I tried to
rise to my feet, thinking it might be posi-
bic to burst open the door and spring to
the ground I was held down with q grip
of iron, while one of the men whispered:
81 Be perfectly quiet or III kill your
At last we stopped One of the men
opened the door and vanished from sight
in the inky blackness Of night, while the
other hastily passed his arm around my
waist and clasped my hands with wise
like grasp. Unable either to speak
move, I could only pray-pray harder than
L had ever done Do1Or6 IN my lie.
The masked oaptor who had left US pres
emily returned with a lamp. was hustled
out of the cab and led up a narrow alley
into what appeared to be a woodward.
We crossed this arena, went up two flights
Of steps and across a passa geWay, finally
stopping before a door, which was
locked, while the cloth which covered my
face was removed and I was thrust inside
and the door looked and bolted gain.
1 found myself in a large, brilliantly
lighted and handsomely furnished bed
room. Exhausted and wretched, sank
into an easy chair and tried to collect my
thoughts
One hour succeeded another, and still
sat waiting, wondering, trying to think
that 1 would soon be missed at home and
rescued. But even as thoughts of rescue
fitted across my mind knew how inn
probable was the chance of any one having
seen me enter the cab, and even had my
captors been noticed how impossible it
must have been TO any one to keep track
OF the cab in it's long and crooked course
I heard no sound-sew no one Finally,
toward morning, wornOut nature asserted
herself and I sank into a deep sleep
When I aWoke, it was broad day. The
sun streamed in through the windows and
played 6tfully on the carpet I watched it
idly for q few seconds as half waking peo-
pie are apt to do. Then, suddenly MOTTO
ing the strange room and my peculiar po-
sition IN a chair, a remem bFance Of the
terrible ordeal OF the preceding night
flashed across my mind, and I started W
in alarm. I looked out of the window,
but only saw an unfamiliar courtyard
which furnished no claW to the part OF
the city my oapoors had carried me.
Soon the sound Of footsteps outside the
door arrested my attention. The bolt was
drawn back, the key tUrned in the latch
and the door opened. I saw a tell, gaunt
woman of the middle class, seemingly
about so years of age, dressed in shabby
mourning, standing there. She carried in
her hand a tray, containing hot coffee,
rolls and fried chicken, which she set down
upon the table, with the words:
g Eat this little bis of breakfast now,
and you'u feel better.
sprang toWasd her.
TELL me. % cried, 'why am I hereP
/ What viii they do to ne2 Who
She cut me short by saying In a not IN
/ kindly voiee:
II am not able to help you or answer
/ your questions 1t may turn out all right. -
Presently she carried away, almost I'M
tasted, the tray containing the breakfast.
/ Later in the day she brought me some din
ner and toward night cup of tea.
The long hours passed by. and still DO
assistance arrived. tried to read On
+ the table were several fresh magazines, but
/ I could not TX my thoughts on any sub
i ject long enough to interest myself, and
finally gave up to my gloomy meditations.
1t grew dark again at last and perhaps
was about o'clock when the sound of
voices and heavy steps outside the door
aroused me, and Immediately after ward
two men, my masked oaptors Of the night
before, entered the room and advanced TO-
ward me. They still wore masks
In the glare of the gaslight I noticed
+ that their clothes were new and of fashion
able cut and their hands white and evil
IDENTIFY unused to toll Ny heart was in
my mouth. I confronted them, resolved
to defend myself to the last.
They aazed at me attentiyely, and one
of them exclaimed, with a dreadful oath;
1t is not the right oner'
They conversed together for e few mo-
ments in a low voice, and one Of them
presently said politely:
"Please put on your hat and shawl and
accompany US 1t is all a mistake -
did SO, and We three proceeded down
the stairway, across the courtyard and
! through the alley, gain entering the cab,
where was treat less like q prisoner and
/ with more ceremony than the night before.
We drove rapidly along and IN short time
stopped at the identical spot where I had
been seized. The driver opened the ca b
door and politely handed me out of the We
hicle, which, when It had handed me, drove
of again, the two masked men remaining
inside.
Ten minutes later was at home and
had scarcely stepped over the threshold Of
the door when I swooDed away.
I afterward learned what search had
been made for me during these "a hours
when I was in captivity and how no trace
whatever Of my wberea bouts had been
found. From shat day to this it has never
been discovered who my masked captors
were, and it will proba bly, always remain
mystery. But this strange adventure,
which is given almost word for v ord as it
was related to the writer, really happened
some years ago TO a young lady in Chicago.