The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-10-18

20 pay yous tnab hayo a. yoS gwen you
nothing but promises''-
"Thsre, there, none Of thati DON'T
thrash that over again. ALI you have to
do is to hand that money to me and get
out-after I'm through with you" he
added with horrible significance.
Suppose I have changed my mind"
"What are you trying to got at?'
Suppose have changed my mind
and concluded to keep my money and
have nothing to do with you two infer
nal scamps."
"Be careful. don't allow such jokes
as that"
II am not joking. I never was more
in earnest in my life. consider you
and Huke two Of the most contemplate
sneaks and villains in the country.
There are hundreds in the penitentiary
better than you. You are such coward
that you pretend you do not understand
me, when I can't make my language
any palmer. Now, am not going to let
you have penny. When leave here, I
shall take every dollar I brought with
uiCs A4uNO JOA CAou6A pAnAAo Al yOuA
thick skull to understand that?'
With the last words rose to my feet,
kicked the chair from behind me, and,
with my arms at my side, confronted
the ruffian.
Something like smile scanned his
evil countenance as he, too, arose. He
must have been struck with the grim
absurdity Of the whole thing. I was
actually defying him-Tom Discoe, the
great desperate who had killed more
than one man.
II wish Jake was here" he said.
'I'd like him to see this"
"I'll wait till you bring him."
My fear was that the criminal would
draw pistol. Such fellows are ''quick
on the shoot" and had learned some-
thing about Discoe within the past "a
hours.
But the wretch was in New Jersey,
where they have habit of hanging
murderers, and, much as he would have
been pleased to send bullet through
my heart, his fear for his own neck re-
strained him.
No; he would pound me to jelly
and leave me to recover at my leisure.
His self confidence was absolute. He
deliberately walked round the end Of tho
table, and, without any haste in the
matter, extended his hand to grip my
throat.
did not stir my body, but, reaching
out both hands, grasped each of his
arms above the elbow. With flirt I
turned his side against my breast and
with my left hand reaching around and
holding his left upper arm squeezed him
SO tight that his right arm was power
less between our bodies
Thus with one hand I held him help
less, my right arm being free.
"Now, Thomas, what arc you going
to do about it:''
He possessed the strength Of two or
binary men, and he put forth every
ounce of it, Three furious wrepches
failed to release him.
No use, my boy. You see. am u.s.
ing only one hand aud you can't help
yourself. See?"
And to convince him Of the trnth Of
what said raped his cheek smartly
with my free hand.
"When you get your breath, try it
again..
He did, with the delirium Of o wound
ed tiger. Then he tried to twist and in.
terlock his legs with my own. Isuffered
him to do So His knotted muscles wero
like ivory, and it seemed as If he could
wrench an oak from it's roots.
."While you are amusing yourself in
that way I'll attend to business -
Thrusting my free hand into the rear
pocket Of my coat, drew out brace Of
handouts.
II think these will look we'll on you.
So be good boy and submit to what
you can't help"
I have often wondered what thought
Rurged through the scoundrel's head,
when, catching his two wrists in one
hand, held them immovable while
snapped the steel bracelets in place.
did it deliberately, as does one who is
sure of his ground. He struggled with
the madness of desperation and was still
struggling when from the same pocket
I pulled out new and powerful cord.
"This, Thomas, nre for your ankles.
1t won't do any good to kick"
He tried it, but, throwing him on his
back with force that made every win
dow rattle, wound the rope around his
legs several times and tied it.
"The cord isn't very strong" I said,
holding piece out at arms length and
easily swapping it by twitch of my
two hands, "but it will hold you.
At this juncture it seemed to occur to
my prisoner that it would be good
thing to have Jake Huke present. Ac-
cordingly, he emitted yell, which
might have been heard half mile off
in the stiffness Of the night.