The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-09-17

along a dark, narrow passage OF con.
siderable length. AS far as I could
make out we were entering one of the
Berkeley square houses by private
entrance. [ whispered as much to
Stomp, who nodded in reply, at the
same time holdingup warning finger
not to speak.
Our guide, who was leading, stopped
suddenly, and Stomp and I stumbled
up against him in the darkness. Just
ahead I could see o tiny spot Of light,
evidently a hole in the panelling,
through which the interior OF the bril-
liantly lit 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 q jerk, and with
sudden kissing, indrawn breath.
each! der villains" he said, in
hoarse whisper; and, slipping his hand
into his pocket, he handed me some
shells. 'Der pIay-agting business is
over Der rows shall be real rows,
And he snapped the breech OF his
revolver to with vicious snap.
The panel slid noiselessly into its
casing in the wall, and Stomp and I
stepped into the room. l shall never
forget the view that met my eye. 1t
seemed as though l were dreaming,
ard had suddenly been waited back to
medieval days; it was incredible that
such scene should be enacted here
in the end of the nineteenth century,
in a smart house in the very heart of
u 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, and round
his temples was piece Of thin cord
twisted SO tightly that it had cut into
the flesh. A man behind him was in
creasing the pressure from time to
time by turning a 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 q putty color,
and great beads of Precipitation were
streaming down it. On a small table
in front Of the group was what looked
like q 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 a low moan now and again from
the victim as an extra twist OF so made
the pain uncomfortable The three
fends were 50 occupied with then
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 q 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. HI
gave yelp of pain and surprise, which
was echoed by his two companions
and clapped his other hand to thu
wound. The string relaxed and De
Brenne's head dropped forward on hi
chest-he had tainted.
Glands up" shouted Stomp. One
of the two uniniured men slipped his
hand behind his coat-taiIs.
Crack! went the revolver again, ant
small pocket-pistol dropped to the
floor, whilst the fellows hand was
splashed with crimson drops.
1t was wonderful shooting. I be
lieve Stomp cauld have picked out thu
buttons on the mans waistcoat had h
chosen.
Now" said Stomp to me, Evil
you hat der goodness to take down the
der curtain-ropes and to tie up del
hands of orr friends therewith?"
This I did whilst Stomp still KEEP
them covered with that ominous black
smudged barrel. After which h
crossed the room and, throwing open
the windows walked the stiffness of The
night by requesting the presence Of
"a policeman" in stentorian tones.
Marvellous to relate, one came in less
than five minutes, followed by three
more whom he summoned.
Meanwhile [ had been doing my ut
most to revive De Brenne, with suffi'
cient success to enable him to make 6
short statement to the inspector, which
resulted in our three friends being
marched off in safe keeping.
The story was briefly as follows
De Brenne had gone to the continent,
but his pursuers had tracked him, and
with fendish ingenuity had hunted
him back to England to his own