Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-11-09

hllu IIillNltl llB EItNfS u NJ j dIllIltDly
was the path that led to our destination.
The low lying wall Of the Pantheon lay
directly in front of Inc, aud my guide
quickly trippcd up the steps which led
over it, reckoning for mo to follow.
Though loath to go farther, yet the won
drous beauty of the girl held me rs in u
spell, and step by step / advanced until |
stood upon the top of the wall.
AS | looked downward | thought l saw
the CLEAN of steel beneath the steps and
the shadow of u mans form crouching
there.
I halted and called out to the girl:
"Espcra!' (WaitD
At that the moon was again
obscurcd, and in the somidarkncss, for
there was no street lamp there, and now
all my senses were on the alert, / felt,
rather than saw, her form as she mounted
the steps, and reaching forward took my
hand, saying "Porque?" (WhyO
"Porquc no me voy" because I shall
not go), ! answered stcrnly.
AS I spoke her fingers clutchcd mino
and with incredible strength she strove to
drag Inc forward, but ignoring her efforts
l cast q final look downward, and this
timo | saw distinctly, for the cloud had
passed from the moon, "A man coming
swiftly and silently toward the foot of the
steps.
With ono glance at tho girl, whose faco
was now transformed by fury into that Of
q demon, / hurled her aside, rushed down
the steps, every nerve strung to its high
est tension and ran at my utmost speed
toward the city.
l heard u mans hoarsc shout behind mt
and had reached the steps which led down
into the city in safety whom suddenly |
caught my foot, stumbled and half fell to
the ground. Just as | fell forward some
thing grazcd my check, soaring it like n
rcdhot iron, and fell with ringing soun
on the steps fer below me.
Terror now lent additional wings to my
speed, and / never paused until | fell OK
haustod through the p~ortales Of Hendcr-
sons home. Managing to crawl up tho
steps, l staggered into the dining room,
where Jack and Henderson sat anxiously
awaiting me, and sank brcathless into a
chair.
Their looks of establishment were sue
ccedcd by those Of horror as Jack ex-
claimed:
"My God, Henderson, look at the bloodl'
Putting my hand up to my face with
drew it wet with blood, and Henderson,
who busted himself in washing it away,
disclosed "a cut two inches long where the
knife had just touched me.
Explanations followed, and rs l ntc tho
meal waiting for me I told the strange
adventure to my willing listeners. As !
finished Henderson, who had listened
quietly, as was his wont, burst out excit'
eddy:
This explains it all, boys. It's no lon
ger II mystery"
DrCceipn him, for his rpoCODG hn wont on
to say that for the last two years foreign
crs had frequently been found stabbed in
outlying and solitary parts of the city.
The victims were invariably well dressed,
but as no money or papers were ever found
upon them investigation had beer of nc
avail.
But here's n clew which can he fol
lowed up" said Henderson, land tomOr
row morning well consult the chief Of
police"
Bright and early next morning, for W.
got but little sleep that night, we repaired
to the chief Of police, and TO him | tOlC
my tale, Henderson acting Ms interpreter.
The chief was very much surprised ant
pleased by my information, and after eau
tioning us to keep silent dismissed us by
saying we'd hear from him in Il few days
Two days later the foreign element o
the city was thrilled by another atrociou!
murder. This timo 1t was a rich younl
Englishman named Burton, who ha(
come down from Lima to visit som'
.. friends, and who, after spending the even
ing with them, left about II o'clock TO
his hotel, which was only w blocks away
, Next morning his body, robbed Of all hi
= valuablcs and papers, was found ~floatin,
in the bay with n gaping dagger wound il
= the neck.
Burton's friends, who were rich and in
fuential, backed by the British consul
/, made d vigorous attack upon the supin
, methods of the police, and at last rouse,
1 the authorities to something like activity
t Following up the clew received from me
the %"jefe" took q personal interest in tn
(, matter, and within a few weeks succecdc
r. in capturing the gang, which consisted {
, five persons-thc girl, who was used as
I decoy, and four men. 1t WAS estimate
= that more thar twoscore foreigners ha'
- been murdered by this gang during the |
., months of their sinister operations. A
, the trial Burton's wallet and passport
found in the robbers rendezvous, convict
= ed the men, and my Identification OF til
o girl completed the case. The mon wcr
sentenced, and, according TO the method
{ Of that country, were shot three days afte
= the trial. The girl, owing to her yout
o and beauty, WAS sent to finish her days /
i. the penal colony at San Carlos.
Il The years have rolled away since then
r years of danger and adventure, Many
t time during the war of the rebellion hay
r l looked death in the face, and yet III
blood thrills when l think of that night
d adventure in Chile.-Philadclphia Time,
r