The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1896-12-14
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come to q standstin when two figures
darted out of the vehicle aud approached
me with heavy strides. / hurried on, but
had not gone dozen steps when a detain-
Ing hand was laid on my shoulder, and,
turning with a start, 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 1t takes to relate
lifted me into the cab, then jumped In
after me.
felt myself being driven rapidly off,
knew not whittier. All the dreadful tales
of murder and abduction which had evor
heard of or read about trooped through
my dazed brain.
The blinds of the cab were down, MAX
Ing 1t impossible to see into the streets
through which we passed. The moments
seemed like hours. On, on, on! Would
we never stop? Once or twice l tried to
rise to my feet, thinking 1t might be possi-
ble to burst open the door and spring TO
the ground. was held down with grip
of iron, while one of the men whispered:
"Be perfectly quiet or I'll kill you'll"
At last we stopped One of tho mon
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 a wise
like grasp. Unable either to speak or
move, could only pray-pray harder than
had ever done before In my life
The masked captor who had left us pres
emily returned with a lamp. Twas hustled
out Of the cab and led up narrow alley
into what appeared to be woodward.
Nya nm Af ohta
Of steps and across passageway, finally
stopping before door, which was un-
locked, while the cloth which covered my
face was removed and was thrust inside
and the door locked and bolted again.
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
thoughta
Ono hour succeeded another, and still
sat waiting, wondering, trying to think
| that would soon be missed at home and
rescued. But even as thoughts of rescue
| fitted across my mind / knew how i'm
probable was the chance of any one lasin,
| seen me enter the cab, and even had my
! captors been noticed how impossible 1t
must have been to any one to keep track
Of the cab In it's long and crooked course.
heard no sound-saw no one. Finally,
| toward morning, wornout nature asserted
| herself and sank into a deep sleep.
When awoke, it was broad day. The
sun streamed In through the windows and
played fitfully on the carpet. / watched 1t
| idly for few seconds, as half waking peo.
| pie are apt to do. Then, suddenly MOTTO
ing the strange room and my peculiar po-
sition In chair O remembrance OF the
terrible ordeal of the preceding night
flashed across my mind, and started up
In alarm. looked out of the window,
but only saw an unfamiliar courtyard
which furnished no clew to the part Of
the city my captors 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. saw tall, gaunt
woman of the middle class, seemingly
about so years Of age, dressed In shabby
mourning, standing there. She carried In
her hand tray, containing hot coffee,
rolls and fried chicken, which she set down
upon the table, with the words:
| "Eat this little bit Of breakfast now,
and you'll feel better.
sprang toward her.
"Tell me- cried, "wby am I here?
What will they do to me? Who
She cut me short by saying In a not un-
kindly voice:
| II am not able to help you or answer
your questions 1t may turn out all right. I"
Presently she carried away, almost un.
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 no
| assistance arrived. / tried to read. On
the table were several fresh magazines, but
could not fix my thoughts on any sub
ject long enough to interest myself, and
finally gave up to my gloomy meditations.
| 1t grew dark again at last and perhaps
was about 8 o'clock when the sound OF
voices and heavy steps outside the door
aroused me, and Immediately afterward
two men, my masked captors Of the night
before, entered the room and advanced TO-
ward me. They still wore masks.
| In the glare Of the gaslight noticed
that their clothes were new and Of fashion
able cut and their hands white and evi-
IDENTIFY unused to toll. My heart was in
my mouth. / confronted them, resolved
to defend my self to the last
| They gazed at me attentively, and one
Of them exclaimed, with 4 dreadful oath;
| "It Is not the right one!'
| They conver5ed together for a few mo-
ments In low voice, and one Of them
presently said politely:
| "Please put on your hat and shawl and
accompany uR. 1t 10 nll mistake
did SO, and we three proceeded down
the stairway, across the courtyard and
through the alley, again entering the cab,
where was treated less like a prisoner and
with more ceremony than the night before
We drove rapidly along and In a short time
stopped at the identical spot whore had
been seized The driver opened the cab
door and politely handed me out Of the ve-
hicle, which, when IL had landed 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 swo0ned away. 3
afterward learned what a search had
been made for me during those "a hours
when was In captivity and how no trace
whatever OF my whereabouts had been
found. From that day to this 1t has never
been discovered who INV masked Captore