Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-08-22
1I8 X411IV1448

That, sane or mad, the fellow meant
what he said there was no doubt, fol
with pistol in one hand and watch in
the other he began quickly to tick of
the seconds. OF course, was not
slow to see it, and looked round for q
way out of it, but saw none. The door
which I had entered knew was locked
so that escape by means of it was out
of the question. There was one other
exit to the place, as I could see, but
between it and myself stood this ruff
fan with loaded pistol. For moment
I thought of springing at the man and
taking my chance, but he was stronger
built than I, and, armed as he was, I
felt I should be no match for him.
"Tbirty seconds have gone; what dc
you say?"
His words sounded mockingly, and
he leered as he spoke. Once more
prudence seemed to point out that the
better course would be to make pre-.
tence of yielding, in the hope that q
way out of the danger would yet pres
ent itself.
1 II consent" I said.
cha! I thought you would" he
reioined. "Now for an interesting
game. We don't want to make long
business of it. One cut each; highest
card wins ~
Replacing the revolver, he shuffled
the pack and laid it face downward on
the table, offering me first play. I re-
moved a portion of the pack, and ex-
posed the card I had drawn. 1t was
the ace of diamonds My heart beat
freely, for knew that I could not be
beaten. He followed, and showed bis
card. 1t was the ace of spades, and
we had tied!
At once he reshufded the pack and
laid it on the table.
"My first play this time" he said,
taking a dip at the boards. He drew
the duce of clubs, and I had the salts
faction of knowing that it was impos.
sible for me to lose. / went down into
the pack and eagerly displayed it. 1t
was the duce of hearts, and again we
had tied
"The third time will settle it l'' said
my opponent, rubbing his hands in en-
|joyment of my suspense. With few
dexterous twists he rearranged the pack
and once more placed it on the table.
"Your play" he said to me, and !
reached out my hand hesitatingly.
drew the queen of clubs this time ! he
capped it with the king of spades
and-I had lost
With yell of triumph the fellow
pounced upon me, and hurled me to the
floor. For several seconds struggled
violently in his grasp, but, as I had
anticipated, he proved more than a
match for me, taken by surprise as /
was. Notwithstanding my efforts to
prevent it, he bound me hand and foot
with rope he drew from his pocket,
and then dragged me to the end of the
room, where he fastened the cord to an
iron ring projecting from the wall.
"Villain !" I gasped, breathlessly iii
you intend to murder me, at least tell
me your motive for the atrocious act. "
"Have you so coon forgotten?" he
said, fiercely. "You cheated me out
of my estates, and so worked my ruin
Is not that enough? have sworn to
be avenged, and now the hour is
come"
1t was in vain to protest that he
was mistaken. The fellow needed
nothing of what l said, when in des-
pair I raised my voice to shout for
help, he put gag over my mouth and
effectually silenced my cries. Help.
less, breathless, and almost stifed, l
could only watch the preparation for
my murder.
"This would do the thing quicker
than DESIRE" said my self-appointed
executioner, pointing to the revolver,
which he again produced; "and l
want to give you chance of saying
your prayers before you die !"
Grinning hideously as he spoke, he
went to a cupboard at one end of the
room, and dragged from it keg,
which, by dint of much exertion, he
managed to get on to the table. Stand.
ing it on end, he speedily knocked of
the top and exposed its contents.
"Gunpowder," he said, explanatorily,
dipping his hand into the barrel and
allowing the material to run through
his fingers. He then went back to the
cupboard and produced candle,
which he buried half its length in the
sombre grains, and, striking match,
deliberately set light to the wick.
"Not bad idea, is it?" he said, ex'
ultingly, addressing me. "The taper
will burn for about half an hour, and
you can amuse yourself in the mean,
time by watching the flame as it gets
nearer and nearer the powder. When
it touches, good.by to you. Ha ha u
/ With fiendish laugh, he glided out
of the room, and the banging of the
outer door few seconds later told
me he was in the street, and l was
left face to face with certain death.
My brain reels as I recall the awful
time that followed. Slowly, but sure
ly, the candle burned away, each tiic.
ker of its flame bringing me closer and
closer to the fate I was powerless to