Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-09-09

of'o'Ns
$50, "said Stomp, "they have caught
him Ia bis own house."
The deaf-and-dumb messenger
scrambled of the box and opened the
door for us, and we followed him along
the narrow pavement In the pouring
rain. About fifty yards from where
the cab was standing he stopped OPP
posite small door let into the wall,
and motioned us to be quiet
He opened the door noiselessly with
small key, and We walked softly
along dark, narrow passage Of con-
siderable length. As far as / could
make out we we're entering one Of She
Berkeley square houses by private
entrance. l whispered as much to
Stomp, who nodded in reply, at the
same time holding up whining finger
not to speak.
Our guide. who was leading, stopped
suddenly, and Stomp aud l stumbled
up against him in the darkness. Just
ahead could see tiny spot Of light,
evidently hole In the panelling,
through which the interior OF the bril-
liantly liz room beyond was visible.
Stomp applied his eye to this, and
for second or SO the point Of light
was blotted from view; then he drew
back his head with O jerk, and with
sudden kissing, indrawn breath.
each! der villsinsT" he said, in O
hoarse whisper; and, slipping his hand
into his pocket, he handed me some
shells. "Der play-agting business is
over. Der rows shall be real rows"
And he snapped the breech Of his
revolver to with q vicious snap.
The panel slid noiselessly into its
casing in the wall, and Stomp and !
stepped into the room. shall never
forget the view that met my eye. II
seemed as though I were dreaming,
ard had suddenly been waited back to
medieval days; II was incredible that
such scene should be enacted here
in the end Of the nineteenth century,
in smart house in the very heart Of
great city. Firmly dashed to an
ordinary kitchen table chair sat man
whom, Immediately recognized as De
Brenne from Stomp's description. His
head was bent forwards, aud round
his temples was a piece of thin cord
twisted so tightly that 1t had cut into
the flesh. A man behind him was In.
creasing the pressure from time to
time by turning short piece Of stick
which was inserted in the cord, whilst
two others were making preparations
for even more CHASTITY and inhuman
torture.
De Brenne's face was putty color,
and great beads Of Precipitation were
streaming down il. On small table
in front Of the group was what looked
like legal document, pens and ink,
and Jug OF cold water, which had
evidently been used to revive De
Brenne should he lose consciousness
under the terrible ordeal.
The room was perfectly quiet, save
for low moan now and again from
the victim as an extra twist or so made
the pain uncomfortable. The three
fiends were so occupied with their
brutal task that they did not notice
our entrance.
evil you sign?" asked the mani.
pulator Of the string in low, pleasant
voice.
A stifed moan was the only answer,
which rose to a sharp wall as the stick
was turned another half revolution.
Stomp raised his arm, paused for
second steadily as rock, pressed the
trigger, and the mans arm dropped
limp from the elbow downward. He
gave yelp Of pain and surprise, which
was echoed by his two companions,
and clappsd his other hand to the
wound. The string relaxed and De
Brenne's head dropped forward on his
chest--he had tainted.
Glands upl" shouted Stomp. One
Of the two uninjured men slipped his
hand behind his coat-tails.
Crack went the revolver again, and
q small poke pistol dropped to the
floor, whilst the fellows hand was
splashed with crimson drops.
1t was wonderful shooting. ] be-
lieve Stomp cauld have picked out tho
buttons on the mans waistcoat had he
chosen.
Now" said Stomp to me, Twill
you hat der goodness to take down the
der curtain-ropes and 10 tie up der
hands OF our friends therewith?"
This / did whilst Stomp still kept
Them covered with that ominous black.
smudged barrel. .. After which he
crossed the room nd, throwing open
the windows walked the stiffness Of tho
night by requesting the presence Of
"a policeman" in stentorian tones.
Marvellous to relate, one came in less
than Ave minutes, followed by three
more whom he summoned.
| Meanwhile had been doing my at
most to revive De Brenne. with SUM-
ciant auccssa IN anahla him IN mska n