The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-06-30
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half dozen squares when noticed cab
drive hastily by me and stop suddenly o
few yards ahead Scarcely had the horse
come to o stapdstjll when two figures
darted out OF the vehicle and approached
mo with heavy strides hurried on, but
had not gone a dozen steps when detain-
Ing hand was laid on my shoulder, and,
turning with start, I felt myself sudden
f4y 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-
I&elt myself being driven rapidly off, I
knew not whittier. All the dreadful tales
1 of murder and abduction which had ever
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 stopS Once or twice tried to
rise to my feet, thinking II might be posi-
bic TO burst open the door and spring to
the ground. was held down with o grip
of iron, while one Of tho 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 claspsd my hands with 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 lamp. Twas hustled
out Of the cab and lou up narrow alley
into what appeared TO BIO a woodward.
We crossed this arena, went up two flights
of steps and across passageway, finally
stopping before door, which was IN
locked while the cloth which covered my
faoe was removed and was thrust inside
and the door locked and bolted again.
l found myself In large, brilliantly
lighted and handsomely furnished bed
room. Exhausted and wretched, sank
into an easy chair ind 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 I 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 it
must have been to any one to keep track
Of the cab in Its long and crooked course.
heard nc sound-saw no one. Finally,
toward morning, wornout nature asserted
herself and l sank into deep sleep
When l awoke, 1t was broad day. The
sun streamed in through the windows and
played iltfully on the carpet. l watched it
idly for few seconds, as half waking PEG.
pie arc apt to do. Then, suddenly MOTTO
Ing the strange room and my peculiar po
sti0u in chair, remembrance, OF The
terrible ordeal Of the preceding night
flashed across my mind, and started up
In alarm. l looked out of the window,
but only saw an unfamiliar courtyard
which furnished no cew to the part Of
tho city my captors had carried ne.
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 30 years Of age dressed in shabby
mourning, standing there. She carried in
HUI AaiE cray, otItalHlHb uuu G''ltti
rolls and fried chicken, which she set down
upon the table, with the words;
Eat this littla bit Of breakfast now,
and you'll feel better"
l sprang toward her.
"Tell mo" cried, "why an here?
What will they do to me? Who
She out me short by saying In not IN
kindly voice:
II en- not able to help you or answer
your questions, 1t may turn out all right
Presently she carried away, almost un.
tasted, the tray containing the breakfast
Later in the day she brought no some din
ner and toward night a cup of tea.
The long hours passed by, and still no
assistance arrived. I tried to read. On
tho table were several fresh magazines, but
l could not fix my thoughts OF any sub
Joot long enough to Interest myself, and
finally gave up to my gloomy medtations,
1t grew dark again at last and perhaps
was about s o'clock when the sound OF
voices and heavy steps outside the door
aroused Inc, and Immediately afterward
two men, my masked oaptors Of the night
before, entered tho room and advanced to-
ward me. They still wore masks
In the glare Of the gaslight noticed
that thor clothes were new and of fashion
able cut and their hands white ard evil
IDENTIFY unused to toll. My heart was in
my mouth. I confronted them, resolved
to defend myself to tho last
They gazod at Inc nttentivey, and one
Of them exclaimed with dreadful oath;
1T Is not the right onal'
They conversod together for few mo-
a Of hp,
presently said politely:
Please put On your hat and shawl and
accompany us 1t is all mistake"
di1 so, and we three proceeded down
the stairway, across the courtyard and
through tho alley, again entering the cab,
where was treat ted less like q prisoner and
with moro ceremony than the night before
We drove rapidly along md in a short time
stopped at the identical spot where had
been seized The driver opened the cab
door and politely handed rue out Of the We,
hicie, which, when it Ind landed me, drove
off again. the two masked men remaining
inside
Ton minutes later was at home and
had scarcely stepped Ov5r the threshold of
the door when l swoonod away.
l afterward learned what search had
been made for me during those "a hours
when I was in captivity and how no trace
whatever of my whereabouts bad been
found. From that day to this It has never
been discovered who my masked captors
were, and it will probably always remain ;
mystery. But this strange adventure
which is given almost word for word as it
was related to tho writer, really happened
some yenrs agoto II young lady in Chicago.
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