The sea coast echo., 1899-12-23

of the class not usually money-poof
There could DE no harm in making
the trial at any rate. .
II had AZ considerable sum about
ma and began With an offer sufficient,
asI thought to tempt the man s cupi-
dity. He rejected II, however but in
such way as to render it evident he
was only ont for more.
II was to impatient to haggle.
:. Only help me out of this, and l
will give you all I have, I said, NAM
ing the amount. ss
"sTll put you in the way Of work
ing your ,ewn~way@o he replied,
that's the best l can do; but it must
be a cash-up job.
t''Put the means of escape in nay
hands, / answered, 'and that moment
the money goes into yours
with my next meal my new friend
brought small file and coil of rope.
ses' AL you hare to do. he said, is
to raise the sash and flea 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 I could get, but when You
reach the end you only have to drop
afew feet. Once you're safe off I'll
come in aud 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. 80
with Que hand I received my pur-
chase and paid tie money with the
other.
"The little iool worked like magic.
In couple of hours [ had sawn
nearly through Two of the bars, leav-
ing barely enough to hold them in
place till night Sc. in. [ could hardly
wait for the darkness, but when il
came it took but moment to COM
plete the work, remove the bars, adj
Just th9 rope and begin my descent.
Soon my feet had passed the end.
1 was about to let go my hold, confid-
ing in the seryant's word as to the dis
tance remaining. But that man may
have played me false, something
whispered; he may think my death
the Lest security against the discovery
of his bribery.
ssI had been unable while prisoner
to look out from my window upon the
ground and now all beneath was dark
ness. [ had one way of determing
the truth. l pushed my hat from my
head and listened closely. Then came
Il sound as of some object far below
bounding from cliff to cliff. 1t was
evident that I had hung suspended
over rocky preapice and if [ re-
leased my grasp L should be dashed
to pieces. as
with what speed [ could / clam
bered back in my old quarters. Soon
] heard step outside. Doubtless it
was the perfdious wretch coming to
remove the rope and arrange the
sheet. | 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.
''e,ALahe The least noise and I'll
strangle you, / said through my
clenched teeth. Now give me back
my money
50 'Do-don't choke me, and I will,
he gasred. ... esd
4 relaxed my hold and the money
was returned.
"'Now the key" 1 demanded.
ct. was handed over.
''.5pringins out OF tho door I closed
and locked it on by late accomplice.
/ rushed down the stairs and along
the passage to the front door For
tunately was able to open If, and q
few moments saw me free.
But what was the motive of your
Imprisonment" we asked.
"Oh it was all made up job be-
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 az
lunatic and my good friends Leech
and Pellet had done me that service.
But L made things disagreeable for the
whole set by al action for false ina
prisonment afterwards"