Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-01-06
CHAPTER TX.


CHAPTER TX.
When the door had closed behind her,
Hendricks gave deep sigh and smiled
family.
"She doesn't know what an awfully
narrow escape had" he began. when
l retired last night was so overcome
with fatigue that hardly could take
time to undress. actually fell asleep
while sitting on the side OF the bed
TO take off my boots. almost tumbled
to the floor, and that reused me suf-
flciently to complete the operation.
1.-THE first intimation of danger came
10 me in dream. thought was in
the basement of burning building,
confined in room, the walls Of which
were solid masonry and the doors OF
iron. Iseemed to be choking and gasp
ing for breath. It was no dream; 1t
was reality as far as the sitting sensa-
ton was concerned, for on waking
found my arms pinioned. q weight on
my breast and towel saturated with
chloroform held tightly over my nos
trils.
"My Lord! it was awful. Every vein
in me seemed on fire. felt as If had
been pumped full OF ignited gas. l
tried to scream, but my human night
mare prevented that, or the slightest
movement on my part.
"All at once the thought struck into
my benumbed consciousness that was
~ %ba o1,,+ob ~ Wv eaora{ Goo op1 wit h
that came sort of repugnant despera-
ton that had strength. l threw out my
right hand, and catching the towel
wrenched 1t from my nose, and then
sucked down into me Whit of God S
pure air. It seemed to act on me like
releasing gigantic spring, for
hurled him from me as you would o
singing lizard. heard him strike the
middle of the floor and grunt as the
breath went out of him. Then felt
hastily under my pillow, and missing
my revolver, and hearing click from
where he crouched, knew that he had
nabbed it. l was on my feet in mo-
ment, and you can bet did some tall
lodging in the darkness, for l knew
was his target. saw him moving as
moved, trying to get an aim at me, and
all the time was edging, sometimes
erect, again on all fours, toward the
corner where I knew that old SWORD
stood-a relic of the Revolution.
Before he pulled the trigger hat
hold of it. He heard it rattle ant
blazed away. His bullet struck thu
brass scabbard, glanced off and crashed
into that mirror there. The flash helped
me locate him, and Jerking my weap
on from its rusty sheath, dashed a
him, hoping to cut him down before h.
got another shot. My first furiou
thrust with such q formidable weapon
astonished him, and he backed, cooking
the gun as he did so. gave him stal
| right at the breast. 1t would have rul
q two-inch plank through, but 1t ha,
no more effect on him than il ha,
struck the iron sides of an American
| man-of-war. He had on bullet-proo
suit of clothes. I heard him laugl
derisively, and then he fired again.
felt the twinge in my side just as m.
mother screamed below, and then wa
almost overpowered by the though
that she would rush to my rescue an
get killed along with me. dashed a
him, cut at the hand holding the re
volver and wasrewarded by hearing tn
weapon strike the floor at his side.
saw him stoop for 1t, and plunged m
swords point at his back. II rebound
ed as II 1t had struck cork. The mex
lick was dealt at his hand as it grope
toward the pistol. knocked his arr
out and he fell sprawling on the foo
The mistake made then was in try
ing to get possession OF the revolver, to
when reached for it, he bounded to hi
feet, and, kissing like a cat, sprang on
at the open window through which b
had come. ! saw his head and shou
ders disappear below the sill just as
secured the gun. ran TO the windo'
and saw hiss crGwljng down the SIAN
ling roof Of the conservatory. Remem
bering his armor, I took aim at the bacl
OF his neck, but I was too shaky to shoe
we'll, and missed. Before my unnerve'
fingers could cock the revolver again b
was out OF sight, and / heard the gat
In the rear close with slam.
II started in pursuit down the from
stairs, but when I reachedthe first land
Ing met my mother and keeled owe
in dead faint. The drug and tn
wound were too much for me. I cam
to In a moment and prevented her fror
notifying the police or the neighbors G
J the accident Then II was four O'Clock
I tried to get message to you, br
failed On thu Asas attaNnt, That's II