The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-11-05
CHAPTER VI.

u1uereuC Ihauner, leC nOthlng escal
me.
The massive Cy Walters, like rust
old Roman, deliberately picked up til
strongest chair in the room, set it
front Of the door and tipped it back {
that the front was elevated six or eigt
inches. Seated upon this, with his beam
like legs crossed and his Wincheste
resting on his lap, he showed back hi
SLOUGH hat from his forehead and ben
his keen eyes upon me.
"There's no hope of passing througl
that door," was my reflection, $50 Ion,
as he is one Of my guardians.
."Archie, set down in front Of tina
winder and the first move he makes to
ward 1t let him have it plumb in tn
center-that u.s." he added grimly, I'll
I don't get ahead Of you. If it WASH
for robbing the boys Of their fun tomor
rer, I'd wind up this infarnal business
afore you could wink both eyes,"
Don't worry bout me, dad. I'm al
anxious fur an excuse as you," replied
the son, placing his chair close to the
window, but slightly to one side. His
posture was much the same as his par.
ent's, the noticeable difference being
that he held big revolver instead of q
rifle in his lap. Jim DUNCAN had re-
tanned my weapon.
placed myself close to the fireplace
midway between the two and almost
directly under the lamp. Expecting sew.
eral hours Of the most dismal sort Of
waiting accommodated myself as best
could to the wooden chair, which could
not have been more uncomfortable.
The situation was this: l was with
out single firearm with which to de-
fend myself and was guarded by two
fully armed and desperate men, both Of
whom were my deadly enemies. I rec.
ognized that it was utterly out Of the
question to bride them. A million dol
lars would not tempt them to let me 90.
1t was equally hopeless to appeal to
their sense Of fairness and justice. Mel.
Their had the slightest doubt of my iden.
tity and would have been glad to help
hang me for one-tenth of the crimes
was believed to have committed It was
equally preposterous to think of over
coming them by sudden dash that
would give me possession of one Of their
weapons. That shaggy ex guerrilla had
the strength Of lion and could crush
me like an eggshell in his grasp.
Naturally the first thought that comes
to persons placed in situation resem-
bling mine is that of escaping through
the aid of slumber-that is to say, by
pretending to be unconscious himself he
~ b induce his enemies to give
u sanselves up to Sleep This trick has
probably been related ten times oftener,
especially Of captives in the hands Of
Indians. than it has ever occurred.
All the same, could think of moth
ing else and straightway began turning
it over in my mind.
The single window to which I have
alluded had no curtain, and If it pos.
sessed shutters they were fastened open.
1t was Of the old fashioned kind, and, 80
far as l could judge from visual in
spection, the lower sash was not fasten.
ed in place. It would have been relief |
to raise it and admit air, but I dared |
not suggest it through fear of awaking
suspicion Of my motives.
AS If the room was not already suffi-
GENTLY stuffy, Cy Walters brought out
corncob pipe, which he proceeded 10
fill, light and smoke with the delibera-
ton of an old soldier who knows how
to enjoy his nicotine. His son did not
seem to use tobacco in any form, which
was unusual.
After the words that have recorded
neither nor my captors exchanged
word as the slow hours wore away, but
Il there were ever three wide awake in
lividuals they were ourselves on that
memorable October night in Mississippi
When Jim DUNCAN announced that I
vas granted respite until morning and
had surrendered my pistol, my inten-
Ion was to remain quietly in the hotel
Without move toward escape, unless
t should prove too tempting to be re.
listed. l had scarcely doubt that after
what he said he would become convinc.
ID Of his mistake or at least his doubts
would be increased to that extent that
10 would investigate further, with my
luick freedom as the inevitable result.
But his last remark crushed that
lope. He had no doubt at all that I
vas Hank Boyer, and the hours of grace
hat be had granted were simply to give
ne time to make preparation for death. !
There was a thought which at first
ave some consolation. 1t seemed that I
mong the 10 or more men who had de. 9
handed my life there must be one or
wo into whose minds doubt had :
nrust itself, but reflection made it
lear that IL such were the fact they '
'ould have declared themselves at the :
me Of Dungan's dispute with his i
lends. But all remained mute, and the Il
My one besides myself who knew the o
hole truth was the real criminal, and 81
tile fear, after what had occurred, of o
Is coming to my assistance.
30 Iar as could figure out after two 81
ours thought, there was no earthly a
ope for me unless 1t should come with n
me whim Of the mob on the morrow. G.
During the interval named neither Of 81
y captors made the slightest change re
position or showed tho first inclina.
on to sleepiness. Oy Walters finished OF
s pipe and showed it into the pocket fl
his ragged coat. The rank fumes Of III
o tobacco lay In thin stratum abous o,
idway between the floor and ceiling, cc
solutsly motionless and just far cl
ough above my head to relieve me of III
g sickening odor. Not once did ho I'M Of
oss his legs or move one of his huge lie
ot. His son held corresponding pos.
re with the same iron rigidity. nj
1t was impossible for me to do like. CD
SO. ! fdgeted in my chair until it be. b
me too irksome to be endured. Final. til
rose to my feet. tn
IF you will permit me, I remarked, ga
liking across the room, picking up ell
other chair and placing it In front Of cd
) 30 as to allow mo to extend and rest I,
: feet upon 1t. an
Those two pairs Of eyes followed my gil