Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-11-02
"'What is the meaning of this?' I

demanded fercely.
Come, come, Mr.. Clavering, be
calm, said the doctor, in his smooth,
hypocritical tone; excitement will do
you great harm, you see. We trust
you will soon be better.
'BetterP exclaimed; why there's
nothing on earth the matter with me.
"'You are scarcely the best Judge
of that was the quiet response.
But tell you was never i'll in
my life, replied driven to frenzy by
such insolent mockery.
Not exactly ill, perhaps, returned
the imperturbable doctor; but you
have not been quite yourself lately,
you see-not quite, and he tapped
his forehead Significantly.
"Then you take me to be crazy?' I
said, bursting into a laugh at the abb
surdity of the thing.
" We'll, we'll, if you only keep
quiet and avoid excitement, we hope
to bring you round in month or so.'
II strove to dash my fist in the fell
lows face, but the aperture closed
suddenly and I only skinned my
knuckles.
''Next morning breakfast was
brought by a servant and passed
through the opening. The man was
coarse and brutal looking, apparently
of the class not usually money proof.
There could be no harm in making
the trial at any rate.
II had considerable sum about
me and began with an offer sufficient,
as thought, to tempt the mans cupi-
dity. He rejected it, however, but in
such q way as to render it evident he
was only out for more.
II was to impatient to haggle.
Only help me out of this, and I
will give you all have, said, nam
ing the amount.
"I'll put you in the way of work
ing your own way out, he replied,
that's the best can do; but it must
be cash-up job.
Put the means of escape in my
hands, answered, tand that moment
the money goes into yours.
with my next meal my new friend
brought small file and a coil of rope.
All you have to do, he said, is
to raise the sash and file couple of
the iron bars. Then wait till night
and by means of this rope you may
safely reach the ground. It's the
longest l could get, but when you
reach the end you'll only have to drop
a few feet. Once you're safe off I'll
come in and remove the rope, and
twist up your sheet letting it hang out
OF your window, so that they may
think you've done all this without
help.
"With one hand 1 received my pur-
chase and paid the money with the
other.
'"The little tool worked like magic.
In couple of hours I had sawn
nearly through two of the bars, leav-
ing barely enough to hold them in
place till night set in. could hardly
wait for the darkness, but when it
came it took but moment to COM
plete the work, remove the bars, ad-
just the rope and begin my descent.
Soon my feet had passed the end.
1 was about to let go my hold, confid-
ing i'll the servants word as to the dis
tance remaining. But that man may
have played me false something
whispered; he may think my death
the best security against the discovery
of his bribery
81 had been unable while prisoner
to look out from my window upon the
ground and now all beneath was dark
ness. l had one way of determining
the truth. pushed my hat from my
head and listened closely. Then came
a sound as of some object far below
bounding from cliff to cliff. 1t was
evident that had hung suspended
over rocky precipice and if l re-
leased my grasp l should be dashed
to pieces.
"With what speed L could I clam
bered back in my old quarters. Soon
l heard step outside. Doubtless it
was the pertidious wretch coming to
remove the rope and arrange the
sheet. l crouched so as to be hidden
by the opening of the door. Soon it
opened inwards. Springing from my
concealment seized the villain by the
throat.
Make the least noise and I'll
strangle you, 1 said through my
clenched teeth. Now give me back
my money
'Do-don't choke me, and I will,'
he gasped.
81 relaxed my hold and the money
was returned.
"'Now the key' demanded.
SIT was handed over.
'Springing out of the door I closed
and locked it on my late accomplice.
l rushed down the stairs and along
the passage to the front door. For
tunately was able to open it, and o
few moments saw me free"
''But what was the motive of your
imprisonment?' we asked.
"Oh it was all made up job b.
tween the doctors and the disinherited
relations to enable the latter to get
control of my estate. The certificate of
two doctors, as the law then stood,
was enough to get man locked up as
l,,,, g.