The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-08-03

+ ct entered
This decided me. Taking my cue
from what 1 had witnessed, 1, too,
knocked three times, and uttering, in
/ reply TO the challenge from within, the
1 mystic word, was admitted without de-
| muir.
On entering found MYSELF in a kind
/ of corridor, at the further end of which
/ was door opening on room, in which
stradghtway ventured.
1t was rather large apartment,
hung with heavy draperies, and in the
center stood a table upon which burned
& couple of candies. Several chairs
! were ranged around this central arti-
Gle OF furniture, one at the extreme end
! standing on a slight elevation above
the rest.
At the moment of my appearance the
chamber was quite empty, but the
| sound of approaching footsteps reach
Ing my ear almost directly, had only
just time to conceal myself in the folds
OF one OF the curtains, when several in
dfviduaLs entered and took their seats
at the table. From my position it was
| impossible to see who they were or
what they were like, but listened in
tently In order to get some idea of them
and their doings from their conversa-
! ton.
In this I was only partially success
full, for, speaking in low tones. the
greater part of their utterances became
lnaudibte to me, but what [ did hear
was sufficient to convince me thar the
league of life1ess men, was neither
more nor less than a secret assassin
alton society, and that the present meet
ing was one called for the purpose of
| reporting on the dastardly work that
it's members We're in the habit of doing.
/ As far as 1 was able to judge for the
1ndistinctness left a good deal to be
1magined) each member vas interrogat-
ed as to his work by an individual
who, occupying the post at the head of
the table, seemed to act as president of
the nlurderouS gang.
Each mans account of his doings
was evidently listened to with brutal
interest by his companions, and the
substance of the various variations, 1
took 1T, was being jotted down in a
book kept for the purpose.
Although 1 could not catch anything
like a connected account of what was
said in these ghastly recitals such ex-
presions as Unexpected attack "Des-
perate defensep' Prolonged struggle!'
were sufficient to make me understand
the nature of the terrible details.
When apparently ALI the members of
this atrocious league had rendered &C
counts of their atrocious stewardships,
the blood wellnfgh curdled in my veins
on hearing the question coolly asked,
Who is next on the list?" for I knew
that it meant one more life for these
ruffians to take away
Colonel Crawley, 81 Rubicon street,
W." And the announcement of it was
followed by the words Tomorrow
night at 9p'
The meeting subsequently breaking
up and the members dispensing, was
enabled to make my own departure I'M
observed.
1t was little I slept that night. the
events of the evening keeping my brain
far too actively employed to allow of
any real rest, and, it was a relief when
daylight came and it was time to rise.
Colonel Crawley was not a gentleman
with whom / was acquainted, although
his name was perfectly familiar to me;
therefore when 7 sent in my card at
No. q I dispatched it with a message
that my bushes was of an urgent ma
ture.
On being shown into q, reception room
was confronted by a young lady,
whose bright eyes and handsome face
were a pleasure to gaze upon. I asked
to be allowed to speak with Colnel
Crawley.
ooh, you NAV freely tell your bust
ness TO ME" said the young lady, in
response to my request: adding, in
charmingly artless tone. papa allows
me to transact almost all his affairs for
him
Crawford SO intimately" I answered
firmly. but with all necessary polite
ness, that it is most essential he should
hear it himself"
us it so imperative?" queried the
girl
an is a matter of life and deathr' 1
answered. gravely.
Evidently impressed by my manner,
the young lady left the room, and
shortly afterward returned with an eld-
erly gentleman, whom / rightly guess
ed to be Colonel Crawford himself.
My daughter tells me you have some
the officer on his entry, motioning me
back to the seat from which 1 had
risen on his approach.
Colonel" l said as calmly as the
seriousness of the case would allow, sit
is my duty to tell you plainly. without
mincing words, that your life is in dan
GER"
My life in dangerr' echoed the officer
with a tinge of derision in his tone
''Impossibiei I have carried it unscath-
ed through half a dozen campaigns,
and it cannot be menaced now. Be-
Sides he added, with CHEEKY laugh,
who cares for tine Life of a WORKOUT
soldier?"
II can tell you of one who does"
whispered the young lady on his arm,
looking lovingly into her fathers face
Now tell me, my dear sir, what you
mean said the old gentleman, ''for
you seem terribly in earnest
Sir 1 replied, 81 happen to know
that conspiracy is on foot to take
your life and that the assassins mean
to make the attempt this very night
For some reason of which I am quite in
ignorance you have incurred the hatred
of a secret assassination society, and
the members of it have decreed your
doom. 1t is in order to warn you and
prevent the execution of their foul de-
signs that I have come here this after
noon"
I related the adventure which has
formed the subject of my narrative, ex-
planning everything in its ninutest de-
tail AS 1 proceeded 1 noticed the vet
Grams features gradually relaxing, and
directly I had finished, to my intense
chagrin he burst into fit of laughter
that lasted several minutes.
Excuse my rudeness,' he said at the
end Of it, '"but nobody enjoys a joke
more than a soldier, and this is the
best that have heard for long time.
My dear SIR he went on, you have
stumbled across a monster mares
nest"
1.-The League of the Lifeless Men is
no more an assassination society than
the Salvation Army or any other similar
confederation. 1t is simply a social or