Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1901-04-03

sent for by Herr Bruer, who urgently
required her services In the hall. This
Information had a thrilling effect on
me, for l remembered what Mile had
told me> me>regarding her treatment of his
advances. AT once acted on sudden
impulse to follow her to the hall, and
ON being admitted by the caretaker,
made my way toward the little room
which Bruer had set up as property
store" and office combined. Without
troubling to prepare an excuse for my
early visit l hurried into the ROOM
Millie had evidently been annoyed, for
her face was flushed and she trembled
violently. Bruer looked excited as he
turned to me on my entrance, and
asked, sharply:
We'll, Vincent, what has brought you
here so earlyT
The lie came readily to my lips, and
Informed him that had called to find
If any new trick required rehearslng
No" he answered, calmly enough;
there's nothing fresh that know OF.
l suppose l must tell you. though. that
you will henceforward be my only as
sistant. Miss Warner and l cannot
agree on private matter and l have
paid her fortnight's salary--more
than l need have done. She will per-
form with us no more"
But why?" Queried. ''Surely Miss
Warner has been most assiduous In her
work.?
As spoke he moved his gaze sudden
ly into Miles direction. That feel
Ing toward me more than friendly was
expressed in the girls face he was
quick in discerning, and his anger,
heated into flame by his newly-found
clue to the cause of her rebuff Of him.
showed Itself In his answer to my ap-
peal.
"Confound 1t ALI" he roared. "What
has Miss Warmers case got to do with
your
could not deny my interest longer.
why should I?-so, stepping to Miles
side, l took her hand In mine.
"Simply this" l replied, that she is
my intended wifev'
"All right" he muttered. l shall new
er forget the terrible look upon his face
as he watched us. Miss Warner, you
have, l understand. some properties of
mine at your lodging. You will greatly
oblige me by leaving them here this
afternoon"
Together we left the place-Millie
and l. She went home to hunt up the
stage dresses-Bruer's property-she
had at her lodging, and hurried off to
make preliminary arrangements for
our wedding. which we had just deter
mined not to further delay.
That evening as l hurried to the hall
an unspeakable feeling of coming dan
ger crept over me.
Bruer performed quite up to his Gus
tomary standard. His minor tricks baf-
fed the audience more than ever. He
kept smiling curiously at me, and his
pleasantly-spoken words before closing
the coffin lid impressed me rather ia
vorably than otherwise.
''If she has gone" he said 81 will still
have you'll"
Then the lid was tightly closed. and
waited to hear the drawing of the
sword-my usual cue to seek safety.
The many different sounds without are
quite distinguishable to ones ear when
the aperture In the coffin lid is properly
made. The faintly-heard sound of the
steel reached me at length, and l fol
lowed the usual method by pressing
my right arm against the usual side of
the coffin. What was thisr 1t remained
tight! l pressed harder-harder yet as
l heard voice seemingly a mile Off:
The "Now!" Of the magician. Again
tried the secret part, and the cold sweat
stood on my forehead on its failing
again. The seconds seemed to fly
Had there been foul work here? Yes,
surely this could not be the property"
article In which lay, for every part OF
the coffin l touched was immovable to
my widest efforts.
A prayer rose to my lips and tried
to forget my terrible position. Forget?
Merciful heaven! and the terrible point
Of that sword slowly shutting out by It's
entrance the tiny ray Of light hitherto
visible through the slot. Immediately
above my breast, and no room to move
myself to walt! Picture 1t, If you
can! One thing remained by which to
keep Off the end for maybe a few sec
onds. fr
wreEched my right hand upward on
to my breast, and gripped the horrible
point of the weapon until the cold steel
had cut deep into my fingers. With su-
perhuman strength of wrist l held the
blade hard against side of the slot
oh, the inexpressible horror Of that mo-
ment! A million fiends, each with the
face and voice of my murderous mas
ter, danced before my eyes, taunting
me Drowning the cry Of my soul for
succor.
could see nothing but them, but that
steel, ever moving lower to Its work,
cutting Its way into the bones Of my
hand as 1t moved, kept me conscious,
yet robbing me of the last thing then