The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-08-15


the nature of the terrible details.
When apparently all the members of
this atrocious league had rendered ac-
counts of their atrocious stewardships |
the blood well nigh curdled in my veins
on hearing the question coolly asked
who is next on the list?" for 1 knew
that 1t meant one more life for these ruff
fans to take away.
"Col. Crawley, p Rubicon street. w"
And the announcement of it was followed
by the words Tomorrow night at 81
The meeting subsequently breaking up
and the members dispensing, l was ena-
bled to make my own departure unoo-
served.
1t was little / slept that night. the
events of the evening keeoing my brain
| far too actively employed to allow of any
| real rest, and ii relief when day
| light came and it was time to rise.
| Col. Crawley was not a gentleman with
whom ] was acquainted, although his
name was perfectly familiar to me; there
| fore when 1 sent in my card at No. p
| dispatched with it a message that my
| business was OF an urgent nature.
On being shown into the reception room
| 1 was confronted by young lady, whose
| bright eyes and handsome face were
| pleasure to gaze upon. 1 asked to be al
| lowed to speak with Col Crawley.
"Oh. you may freely tell your business
| to me-" said the young lady, in a charm
| ingly artless tone, papa allows me TO
| transact almost all his affairs for him.
| What / have to say affects Col Craw-
ley so intimately" 1 said firmly, but
with all the necessary politeness. that 1t
is most essential he should hear it him
self"
is it so imperative?" queried the girl.
1T is a matter of life and death!' l
answered gravely.
Evidently impressed by my manner. the
young lady left the room, and shortly at
terward returned with an elderly gentle
man, whom l rightly guessed to be Col.
Crawley himself.
MY daughter tells me you have some
thing important to communicate" said
the officer on his entry, motioning me
back to the seat from which l had risen
on his approach.
Colonel" 1 said as calmly as the ser
iouness of the case would allow, lit is my
duty to tell you plainly, without mincine
words, that your life is in danger!
"My life in danger!" echoed the officer
with a tinge of dersion in his tone. I'm
possiblel 1 have carried it unscatheo
through half dozen campaigns, and II
cannot be menaced now Besides, ht
added, with a CHEEKY laugh, who cares
, for the life of a worn out soldier?
Il can tell you of one who does, WINS
, pered the young lady on his arm, look
, ing lovingly into her fathers face.
! Now tell me, my dear sir, what yo'
! mean," said the old gentleman, for you
T seem terribly in earnest"
= Sir" 1 replied, Il happen to know
that a conspiracy is on foot to take you
life and the assassins mean to make IN
a attempt this very night For some rea
4 | son of which l am quite In ignoranc
| you have incurred the hatred of a secre
assassination society, and the members o
it have decreed your doom. 1t is in orde
to warn you and prevent the execution o
their foul designs that have come her
this afternoon"
related the adventure which has form
ed the subject of my narrative, explain
ing everything in its minutest detail. A
1 proceeded 1 noticed the veterans fea
: lures gradually relaxing, and directly
e had finished to my intense chagrin, h
:, burst into fit of laughter that Taste
o several minutes.
it Excuse my rudeness," he said at tn
d end of it, but nobody enjoys a joke nor
than a soldier, and this is the best that
e have heard for long time. My dear sir,
IT he went on, you have stumbled across
1t monster mares nest
y THE League of the Lifeless Men is
more an assassination society than IN
n Salvation Army or any other similar col
e federation 1t is simply social organlz;
y ton formed for the primary object
10 playing chess, and the only people 1
r members are in the habit of slaughterlr
S are the opponents against whom the
lie happen to be pitted, for 1 give you n
a word as an inveterate chess player, th'
they are the most skillful manipulators
q, the lifeless men l have ever seen.
D. "They are now about to play series
le games with kindred club to which
a have the honor to belong, and a meetir
1 is arranged for at my house this eveniI
at 9, when l anticipate we shall get a d
= cisive beating Their headquarters are
GA Delamore street, and the meeting
81 which you so romantically assisted WI
= doubtless one called TO report on the
~ last tournament
," Now that l have explained it all
- you and you see there is no cause I
~ alarm" concluded the colonel good
~ moredly, Il must insist that you do II
the honor of staying to dinner with
-, and smoking a cigar with me afterwai
"a The man who is anxious to save the Ii
he of fellow creature is entitled to knc
- something of the person that life belon
49, to-"
.ot Stupid, however as was the mistake
as to which 1 had fallen, never regrett
it, for acquaintanceship with Col Crawl
and his charming daughter led to an {
no gagement which ultimately resulted in
-er happy Observation-Disclosures