Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-03-26

Se4k S&<So0A 0uS - AA<A&A IN " A9xA ~
hang as a murderer or to pass my re-
naming years in one of Her Majesty's
prisons. Things were sufficiently bad
with me as it was. could save the
life Of the prisoner in that box, if it
were not already fed, without calling
anyone outside to my aid. If l only
kept my wits about me- l need take
no longer time in going to the nearest
! ironmonger's and procuring a chisel
than the employees Of the hotel fright
ened at the work they had to do, would
| require in putting their own imple-
ments to use.
Drawing the key from the door Of the
/ room, went out into the passage, and
was in the act of inserting it again
on the other side when a chambermaid
inquired if ! had not just rung.
l had done so. I admitted. I had
thought OF asking for writing mater
ials, but had decided that it would be
pleasanter to attend to my correspond
ence downstairs.
/ 1 locked the door; and the young
woman would have been astonished in
deed had she guessed with what in
tense disproval, even apprehension,
regarded her pass-key.
81 shall" / was beginning when
the man in the blue sDectacles (who
had, if l were right, lately been man
/ in knickerbockers) leisurely passed us.
He paused at a door diagonally oppo-
site mine, and began with great DELHI
Grafton to fit in his key.
l had temporarily forgotten him and
the fact that his existence-his business
must be taken into my calculations.
But I pulled myself together, and fin
ished the sentence l had begun in a
different way from that originally in
tended.
81 shall be leaving by the next train
| for Ayr" remarked coolly, in tone
which could be overheard by the new
conner. But as I have about an hour
and a half first, I may be up in my
room again, when I've written a letter.
You need not attend to it until have
gone; and then, as you may have been
told, am keeping it on for my return"
VERY well, said the maid, who saw
too many eccentric specimens of hui
mainly, no doubt, to be in the least
! OF Of
information. 81 hope your fire is all
right"
"Quite right for some time to come,'
fastened to reply; and by this Blue
Spectacles had succeeded in opening
his door.
Released from further conversational
obligations, strobe down the corridor
at a great pace and did not wait for
the slow old-fashioned lift. l was in
luck, for there was an ironmonger's
within three minutes wilk Of the hotel;
and with a chisel Of good size hidden
in an inside pocket of my coat, and a
flask of brandy and bottle Of smell
ling salts in another l presently re-
turned with all speed to my room.
Once inside, turned the key in the
door, and set to work in good earnest
at the lock of the box.
Never shall I forgetthe strange chill
illness that curdled in my veins as the
chisel did its work. l felt citation in
my success, with sickly mingling Of
dread. What should I see when I had
lifted the lid? What sight of horror
was waiting for me?
1t is easy to brave in battle. You
rush through, whiried along by excite
ment, and the feeling that you stand
or fall among D thousand comrades.
Before you know what has happened
the fight is over. Only those who have
watched from outside can recount it's
incidents; and if afterwards you are