Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-02-16
KIDNAPPED.

Nuhi eCN coo VI UIC anu QppIb0oLON
me with heavy strides. hurried on, blu,
had not gone dozen steps when detain
ing hand was laid on my shoulder, and
turning with start, felt myself sudden
ly gagged, and, unable to scream and too
frightened to attempt resistance, the two
men-tall, muscular fellows, with heavy
black masks completely covering theil
faoes--in less time than 1t takes to relate
lifted me into the cab, then jumped il
after me-
felt myself being driven rapidly off,
knew not whittier. All the dreadful tale
of murder and abduction which had eye
heard of or read about trooper through
my dazed BRAIN
The blinds Of the cab were down, max
ing 1t impossible to see into the street.
through which we passed. The moments
seemed like hours. On, on, on! Would
we never stopY Once or twice tried tt
rise to my feet, thinking it might be posi-
BILE 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 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 Oh
move, could only pray-pray harder thar
1 had ever done before in my life
The masked captor who had left us pres
entity returned with lamp. Twas 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 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.
I found myself in a large, brilliantly
lighted and handsomely furnished bed
room. Exhausted and wretched, I sank
into an easy chair and tried to collect my
thoughts.
One 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 having
seen me enter the cab, and even had my
captors been noticed how impossible ii
must have been to any one TO keep track
Of the cab in its long and crooked course
heard no sound-saw no one. Finally
toward morning, wornout nature asserted
herself and sank into deep sleep.
When awoke, it was broad day. The
sun streamed in through the windows and
played fltfully on the carpet. 1 watched ii
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 a chair, remembrance of the
terrible ordeal of the preceding night
flashed across my mind, and started up
in alarm. I 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. l saw tall, gaunt
woman of the middle class, seemingly
about 80 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" I cried, "why am herei
What will they do to mep Who
She cut me short by saying in not un-
kindly voice:
II am not able to help you or answer
your questions. 1t may turn out all right J"
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. I tried to read. On
the table were several fresh magazines, but
I could not fix my thoughts on any sub
ject long enough to interest myself and I
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 oaptors Of the nighS
before, entered the room and advanced to-
ward me. They still wore masks.
1p the glare Of the gaslight noticed
that their clothes were new and Of fashion
able out 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 gazed at me attentively, and one
Of them exclaimed, with dreadful oath:
~ IL not the right onep'
They oonvessed together for a few mo-
nents in low voice, and one Of them
said politely:
"Pleass put on your hat and shawl and
accompany ua II 10 all mistake"
! did SO, and we three proceeded down
bhe 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 short time
stopped at the identical spot where had
been seized. The driver opened the cab
ioor and politely handed me out of the We
Mole, which, when 1t had landed me, drove
III again, the two masked men remaining
inside.
Ten minutes later was at home and
lad scarcely stepped over the threshold of
The door when swooned away.
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
ound. From that day to this 1t has never
,een discovered who my masked captors
we're, and 1t will probably always remain
J mystery. But this strange adventure,
which II given almost word for word as 10
vas related to the writer. really happened