The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-15

Ou IL lutS was COlelnOfpe sCnalr OF
state, in which he was in the habit Of
receiving his cronies.
He resigned it now however, in my
favor motioning me to it with wave
of his white hand, and throwing him
self upon the little camp-bedstead a
few feet away. His face was turned
in my direction, and as 1 disposed my
self in the chair l noticed his long arm
stealing out, as if he wa9 seeking. some
particular spot in the pitch-pine board
ing which lined thea wall. i lay back,
spouted jet of smoke idly into the air,
and great heavens!
There was a sharp click Something
in the shape of cowl or hood dropped
down over my head, and at the same
moment the hooked arms of the chair
closed in upon me with a vicious sna2,
pinning me as tightly as if [ was held
in vice. The foot-rest also gave way.
and 1 felt my ankles caught in a trap
of some kind
l was so completely taken by surprise,
so utterly astounded at finding myself
SHARED in this extraordinary manner, that
for moment or two l could only gasp
helplessIX behind the heavy cloth af-
fair which had fallen over my head In
that brief interval, however, Colethorpe
had each of my wrists securely strapped
to the sides of the chair, so that I was
literally bound hand and foot
When l had regained my mental bal
ance a little the first coherent thought
which flashed through MY Train was, that
this was some grim joke on the part
of my eccentric companion. IT was ab-
surd to think it could be otherwise The
chair was simply some mechanical toy
of his, with which he was amusing HIM
self at my expense. That was all.
ROt his very DaHt stan tho GaIil,-
crate amer in which he set about it,
showed ME that I had altogether mis-
judged his Intentions; and for the first
time thrill of apprehension went
through me.
Removing the cloth from my head he
deftly slipped a scarf over my mouth,
and in a second or two had me effec-
tually gagged. Then he fell back, and
stood before me with folded arms, con-
templating his handiwork with sort of
sardonic complacency, that had some
thing more terrifying, more appalling in
it than any outburst of insane exuIta-
lions.
No, this was not the action Of a mere
madma2. That was the worst part of
it. 1t was the outcome of studied
malevolence, of vindictive hate. 1 read
that If the deadly look which he directed
upon ME. He had this diabolical con
trivance in readiness for me; and l I'M
derstood now the meaning of his strange
look when 1 first entered. He saw his
opportunity coming: l was walking blind
ly into the web which he had prepared
for me.
For some seconds he continued TO re-
gard me in the same cold, envenomed
manner, but 1 saw with ciisnay that his
eyes were gradually gathering fire. And
then he spoke
There is a, powerful electric current
connected with that chair he said,
watching the effect of every word IF 1
turned it on in full force, you can guess
what would happen In America they
call it an electrocution. This is how it
works.
He stepped aside, stretched out his
hand towards a metal disc in the wall,
and set the current gently in motion o.
heavens, the horror of it! A spasm went
through me; [ pringled all over from
head to foot. My hair seemed to bris-
tie; my heart to contract. It was ghast-
ly!
CoIethorpe's hand dropped to his side
again, and he placed himself before me
once more. But there was an evil glitter
in his eye, and a hooking smile curisd
his lip as he still saw me writing I'M
der the shock.
NUN you KNOW what 10 expect, Re
went on. eff the worst should happen,
it might easily be ascribed to an acct
dent. I could remove you from that
chair, say that you had inadvertently
come into contact with a high-tension
wire-there are several about lie place
here-and had received fatal shock
You grasp the situati ton, do you not?'
[ did. And though I was unable to
make direct answer, suppose that the
horror in my eyes told him as much.
do YOU know why I have laid this
trap for you?" he continued, raising his
voice. ''Do you realize nay object in hold
ing you there at my mercy? The explain
alton can be summed up in one word
Nabel!'
All! saw it all now. He had con-
ceived an insane passion for the girl And
no doubt, with the egregious conceit
which sometimes forms a marked trait
in such curious natures as his, he
thought he would have had no difficulty
in winning her but for me. I had stepped
in and taken her away from him. L was
the obstacle, the barrier between him
and Mabel.
LISTEN" he cried, advancing step
or two and jerking the words out at me-.
81 offer you one chance. Give her up!
Leave this place tonight and never set
near Mabel again. If you dc this,
will set you free at once. If not"
He paused; and a chilling, siekly SEN
sation came over me as I realized the
awful alternative
''Well?" he asked. (Which is it 10
be? Do you agree to nay terms? You
have only to nod your head?"
My eyes sought his face, but I read
no mercy there. l glanced despairing-
~ around; there was no help at hand
no means of escape from this CHASTITY
position. Then my gaze came back to
him again; and, bracing myself like
man about to take fatal plunge
shook my head.
An angry CLEAN shot from his eyes.
1--WE will see.'' he said, stepping back
again Perhaps a little pressure will
induce you to alter your mind
In a CULVER of apprehension, shrink
ing, shuddering, I watched him ap-
proach the metal disc A moments
pause, and then came the bringing
shock The current was stronger this
time I gasped, writhed in agony, and
collapsed.
I must have lost consciousness, for
the room and all it contained was
blotted out for some seconds. But the
first faint glimmering of sense showed
me the wretch standing before me again,
the whirl and throb of my brain making
his figure vague and blurred
'Once more, and for the last time,
viii you give her up?' I heard him say,
as he thrust his hateful face within an
inch or two of mine
He waited second, but no sign came
from me; was beyond it. 1 seemed to
be in the clutch of some CHASTITY night
mare, which deprived me of all power
of volition. The next moment, with
fierce BE it sou he turned to switch
on the current again.
But at that critical juncture when my