The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-29


room at tho back whence. 1 had broken out
those NO had left were deep in mutteIcd plan
and whisperlnas of the marsh, and Hunt
house. and Harrison's In ut Dimchurch. oetor'
"Smitb'sV Srst act, when he reached the room
above, was 70 close the door upon us: m II
flame threw dark, wayerinR outlines OF on
figures on. tho ceiling, and moved to the hearth
Here, while I stared, wondering at his silence
no searched for some spring or handle. and find
ing It. caused a large piece OF me w!inseot tt
dec deep G and s siS long. He beckoned me to bring III,
candle and look in, and, surprising II, TO be I
secret way out, ! did so. However, outlet ther,
Well he said, when he had moved the
his face the while wearing a smile that caught
and held my gaze, well, what do you thinE
/ did not understand him. and 1 said 30. trem
1T is a t~olerablo hiding place. : said he.
! nodded; to please l would have said 1t was Q
And not a bad prison -
1 nodded again, staring at him. fascinated. ]
began TO understand.
1 shuddered. what do you mean r. I NUT.
Lay a man In there. bound hand and foot,
and gagged: what would you lind In n years
time, M. Pricci I. Not much"
iii they knew of that downstairs" he con.
tinued, stopping, to SNUFF the candle with his
they use It, j wonder ! Would they use il
What dc, you think. Mr.. Pricef"
Again / made no answer.
"Shnll l tell them T. said he easily.
"What-what do you want whispered
THAT is better" said he nodding. well. to
that You Will give no evidence against any one
l muttered assent. I was ready to promise
aAnd secondly, that you will, when I call upon
matter; a trife / asked you at my lady house
three days back. Promise to do that for me,
when demand performance; and in ten min
safe. free and unhurt."
II promise" I said eagerly. II promise hon.
But even while I spoke this seemed to be tho
stransest OF all the things that had happened to
me that night.that this man should think it
worth while to pledge mo under such cir
cumstances; or value at a groat a promise so
given. For the pledge was a pledge to do III.
were laid by the heels or had fed the country.
what sanction remained to bind met l saw
H Ana VS. Mou ! dsPSS avs. 1 npom Psen'f sftv time promiiied a.
reservation that 1 did so under force majeure.
Who would not have done the same. being in
l suppose answered too quickly to please
him, and so he road my thoughts or he had 1t in
the words We're scarcoIr out Of nv my month beifope
he slid his hand into his breast with tho ugliest
smile ] ever saw on a mans face, and he signed
o.hho ~ hVb ihpo ~ SupuONids wv ~, uo
said, between his closed teeth; and then, when
terrified By the change in him and the order. I
voice that set mo shaking. "or take the conse-
Snences. Do you heart 1 am no Ferguson TO
threaten and no more"
l dared resist no longer. and I erawled in.
trembling and praying him not to shut me in
cruel eyes-and his hand still in his breast.
hatsS c yoHn R Bse ( ! S {S1 % yc5f back =. he con.
4 inuad 80 nd vn,,r hapda hv yonr ailoa 90 :
That is better. Now listen to me. Mr.. Price,
and think on what 1 say. When you want to be
you arc ready for your coffin and shroudHand
coffin and shropd and worms win be ready.
the temptation comes. And bark you, you
taneS," he went on. liking his eyes on mine.
not fear me. Don't deceive yourself. II a week
Pfssss y o% ie RF'iSs a; TIKI e I t am tr 1Ss o s sIso olbs snd
or God help you T.
know not how to describe, with any approach
parently, SO simple. had on me. or the terror.
put OF gil proportion to the means chosen-for
into which they threw me. and which, Was very
Ferguson, but T feared this man more. a hun.
adduce no explanation. save that he spoke
quietly and 80 seemed to mean all. and something
beyond. what he said. The plans for deceivins
tanned a moment before. melted into thinnest
air while lay and sweated in my narrow berth.
not daring to move eye or limb until he gave
me leave.
And he. as II he knew how fear of him grew
on me under his ,gaze-or in sheer cruelty. I
know not which kept me there. and sat smiling
and smiling at me las the devil may smile at
some dead men passed beyond redemption)-
kept me there God knows how long. But so
he bad me rise. and, looking closely into my
face. nodded, and told me l might go-nay. later
than that, when he had led me downstairs and
opened the door for me and supported me
through it-for in the cold air I staggered like a
drunken man-even then, l say. 20 heavy was
the spell OF fear laid on me and such his power l
dared not move nor stir until he had twice
smiling the second time-bidden me go. go,
man, said he. you are free. But remember