The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-03-12
A PECULIAR FACE.

ahoho Wnoh tno uoor WIS opened ana
singular looking Individual stood before
me. asked the intruder to DO seated, but
DO declined the ciyility on the plea that be
had business Of Importance TO transact,
and that II would go with him for few
moments my services would be rewarded
More for ouriosity's sake than for Pc
cuniary benefit consented. -
After walking few squares we stop
ped In front Of brownstone mansion. 1t
was noble looking structure and lowered
far aboye the surrounding bulldogs. My
companion gave quick, nervous glance
up and down the street and then entered
the house. Through the unoccupied build
ing, up many flights of stairs, followed
this strange man, until he arrived at a lit
tie Iron door, which, on the pressure of q
secret spring, opened. He babe me enter.
l hesitated. But before had an oppor-
tunity to speak, he pulled me in, closing
the door after us.
l heard the key turn In the lock, and
then for the first time suspected that the
man was deranged. looked around the
apartment 1t was more like tower than
room. The walls were about feet
apart and reached to height of 80 feet
on each side A skylight served as roof
and window. In the center Of the room
was table, through the top of which
were stuck sharp pointed steel teeth, vary
ing In length from 8 to s inches. To ring
In the wall was fastened one end of a rope
the other was thrown over an iron bar
that reached fyoW wall to wall few feet
below the skylight and hung In hang
mans moose directly above the table.
"Well," said mine host after we had
been in the room full ten minutes, during
which time neither of us had spoken a
word, "you perceive that we are alone.
These bare walls tell no secrets, rest as
sured as to that. When / asked you to
come with me, said that had business
of Importance, secret to impart So l
have. 1t Is the result of so years Of &c.
clusion. Hear me, II you value your life.
my first discovery In the scientific
world was a plan whereby two trains 60
ing in opposite directions on q single track
could pass each other without damaging
or checking the speed Of either. Next
discovered how to substitute electricity for
steam and transport beings from place to
place like magic. l next discovered what
the north pole. And then, after years Of
hard and patient study, discovered that
which has perplexed the brains Of scientific
men from the beginning of the world
perpetual motion.
You may think, sir" continued the
lunatic, that after accomplishing all this
man should be satisfied, but no. l have
one more grand scheme-a scheme that
will crown all my former efforts-one that
have nursed in my bosom from boyhood.
/ have searched for many years to find
some person to aid me in this grand
scheme. Now l am rewarded. You arc
the man.
My plan is this: You will place your
head in that noose," said the lunatic,
pointing to the rope that dangled over the
table; then will rack your body on these
sharp instruments on the top of the table
until the vital spark is almost ready to de-
part, and then, for the climax of all, when
death with his arrow Is about to pierce
your soul, will capture him, and then he
present inhabitants of the world will live
forever. Ha, hal ! shall ruin tho occupa-
ton of the gravediGger, and generations
to come will honor my name"
You will not murder mel" gasped.
Murder youP Oh, no! 1t will merely
be suspended animation. l will rack your
body Oh this table until life is almost ex-
tinct, then ! will capture and disarm
death. You will live forever and bestuw
blessing on mankind"
So saying, he opened secret drawer un-
der tho table and drew out short, two
edged sword. could feel the color desert
my checks and the cold perspiration roll |
down my face My hands fell OF my side,
and grasped the chair that was sitting
in, intending to use it as a weapon of de- |
Tense. But, horror, it was riveted to the
floor! There was no hope. l was alone
and unarmod.
II will now proceed to business" said |
the mailman after cutting hair in two
with the sword
viii you not give me time to pray?"
"You should lave taken your mothers
advice and have been prepared. 1t is too
late now"
AS he said this he came toward me-
Look behind YOU" said ], pointing to
the ring IN the wall death is reaching
for you"
Ho turned his head a moment to look.
mndc fearful leap, caught the rope that
hung over the table, and with all my
strength began climbing. When within
about ten feet of the iron bar, stopped to
rest, and on looking down on tho demon
below | saw him glazing at Inc with
sardonlc smile and drawing tho sword
across tho rope where it was fastened to
the ring In tho wall
"Holdn' said l, to divert his attention
an instant until could reach the iron bar.
Il Follow me- and we will discover the hid.
den mysteries of space"
With the agility of a tiger he sprang 1T
tho end Of tho rope and was soon after
me, sword III hand.
l reached the iron bar and looked down
ut him. 20 feet below. Taking out my
cut the rope, ana tho mad
man fell, his sword turning under him
and piercing his body through.
managed to construct rope with my
clothes that enabled me to reach tho floor.
Tho mailman was dead. The sharp pointed
blades In tho table top had gashed his
body in hundred different places.
ofterward learned that the house with
tho strange tower in ono corner was built
according to the instructions of this de-
ranged genius and that he had spent
lifetime and fortune in trying to discover
motion. New York News,
fish! Fish! Fish! Fish,
Fish cents per pound, each day ut T.