Evening star., 1901-05-18
sentence; you shall help me to execute 1T.

sentence; you shall help me to execute 1t.
Come"
What now?" 1 cried, startled
why delay longer? The man is in the
next room"
L stopped abruptly. and for a moment we
stood there glaring at each other Shock
ed and angered as 1 had been by Muir
doeh's recital. 1 was not prepared thus
Murder is an ugly thought to any man.
Murdoch!' l gasped. IL cannot do
| this. not even for you"
Murdoch bent his eyes on mine. ! could
not avoid them. i know not how to ac-
count for 1t. but they held me as a snake
| holds its prey. 1 have bent strong wills
| to mine but / had no strength to oppose
this man s. All at once he seized me by
| the shoulders.
"Burmester" he broke out in a changed
voice, don't think hardly OF me. What I
| must, / must. For three years, since she
| died, have lived only for this. Even as
loved her, 1 hate him. And now when
heaven puts him into my hands. and bids
me do justice on him. shall 1 hesitateg'
What will you do with him?' l asked
Il VIII finish what began when lured
him here" said Murdoch. Already dur
| ing two days he has suffered part OF the
agonies she knew. Now he shall grow old
old with pain. and by minutes as she by
years: and so he shall understand, at last
stil cast about me for some means OF
| escape. But IL IT is matter OF Justice
you will show me proofs" urged weakly.
You have heard my story" returned
N uoSh' 10 you uOuDt II stay. IL Is not
the only story you have heard OF him.
Looki"
He strode forward and flung open door.
A lighted room lay beyond, and at the
farther end. bound hand and foot TO a
chair' sat man. In spite OF the bandages
that gagged and blindfolded him I knew
him-knew him for the shrewdest political
intrigueri the vilest libertine and the hand
soonest man in Europe. 1t was the Crown
| Prince Michael.
/ L ha
uoCn with Wlde eyes.
| You know who he is and what he is?"
| he asked.
| Yes, but"
But you are afraidY' There was a
| world of scorn in the words
mo more for myself than for you" 1 an
sWered slowly: But the consequences
| for both of us?"
| There will be no consequences. W. are
| alone here, except for the servant yof have
seen. and and he knows nothing. When 1t
| is oversee, this is your way" He
| showed me sliding panel in the wainscot
| The passage opens into another street 90
| ne said. AS for me, L will take my
| chances. Come, Justice calls us and il
! will soon be over, soon be over"
| He stepped forward. and, half dazed I
| followed him. | make no excuses for what
| l did. If the power that swayed me was
| not superhuman, 1t was at least more than
| mine to resist it. We went up to where
the prisoner sat bound. At sign I
| grasped one side of the chair and we car
| ried II back to the room we had Just left
Ihe crown prince made no resistance. His
head hung forward on his breast. The gag
had loosened, and from his lips there
poured curious, pittable medley of low
| SOUNDS, curses, mixed with prayers. and
names that meant nothing to me. 1t was
| horrible to hear him. Murdoch spoke no
word until the chair and its burden stood
/ on the floor between the two grim ma
chimes and their steel rehectors. Then he
turned to me
| You will light this spirit lamp and place
1 it under the piece of IN this
| he said THE instant 1 give the word en-
tinguish It, on the instant; mind, all de-
| pends on that / will do the same with
| mine, and will manage the electric cur
| Up to this moment in spite of what had
| been told me. swear 1 had no least idea
| of what might be in store for this poor
| wretch / had thought only that at last
| would plead for him OF a sudden IL
came to me now that Murdoch actually ex-
| pected this machine to kill his victim in
| the way he had described. Yet / could not
| speak a word; the utter horror of the thing
paralyzed thought and tongue. Mechan-
| ically lighted the lamp, as / was hidden.
| Murdoch had lighted his and now turned
| rapidly at the handle of the disk. The only
| candle in the room sputtered low In it's
| socket L found myself counting, counting.
| as Murdochs arm rose and fell. Between
| us the crown prince sat on his chair NUT
| tering and crying continually. The piece
| of ore in front of me began to glow cherry
| red At the same moment came loud
| knock on the door. 1 snatched the lamp
| from my machine
| Put 1t back, put 1t backl' cried Muir
| doch. 1T is nothing. We must go on"
| The knock sounded again and again.
| "Open, in the name of the king" came a
stern voice. Murdoch labored but the faster
at his wheel. his eyes fixed the ore.
| which cleaned brighter and brighter. All
| at once he Strengthened up.
'"The lamp, the lamp ne cried, and /
| reached out and eXtinguished it. AS Muir
| doch bent over his own, / saw his face, and
| he was smiling. The blows on the door
| were redoubled.
Suddenly the prince leaped in the chair,
| screamed aloud. horribly, once. twice, and
| sank back moaning. Them saw the mir
| acle. Before my very eyes his hand. his
| head, his whole frame wrinkled, shriveled.
| sank together and disappeared. Nay. his
| clothing was gone Where the prince had
| sat was nothing. Murdoch sprang toward
| me. Quick" he whispered: the secret
| passage. 1t opens at a door they will not
guard. Go. God bless you, John-and.
| goodbye"
And your 1 cried.
| And II go to her" said Murdoch. He
thrust me into the passage and closed the
panel behind me. As he did so the door
| of the room burst open, and / heard the
| rush of heavy feet.
what would you have, gentlemen"
| came Murdoch's voice, clear and calm
| above the clamor.
''Tyhe Crown Prince Michael" began an
| officer.
| I be for long, gentlemen. Excuse me-" L
| heard him stepping back to where the red
| stones still sent out their demon rays.
| There was a moments silence. broken by
| a gasp of establishment from the kings
| officers Then my friends voice once more.
| weak but jubilant.
"Nita, Nitar' he called.
Then the silence again. l turned and
| fled, stumbling through the dark passage.
Murdochs voice was ringing in my ears.
| Creek.