The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-11-13

u
surroundings to find myself gagged,
and in recumbent position on the
floor. My arms had been trussed
tightly behind my back and my legs
were securely tied with a tough
cord. My back was pressed against
the bottom drawer in my heavy desk,
and when tried to move, discovered
that my body was fastened securely
TO il by a cord wound about it's base.
The knots cut into my flesh. Ny pos
ture made struggling AN utter i'm
possibility.
Speechless and helpless. l gazed up
bewildcredly at my assailant. He
was enveloped in black macintosh,
and my gaze fingered dazedly on the
discoloured red lining inside the cape
which was thrown over his shoulders.
His sinister-looking face was dis
torted with a look of savage exulta-
ton as he noted my return to con-
seriousness. The next instant an evil
smile crept into his eyes-a horribly
expressive smile that made my blood
run cold, and left me eager for
his speech.
Coolly annexing one Of my cigars
ne lit it, and, STOPPING, puffed the
smoke deliberately into my eyes.
"Good-evening, Richard Shenstone,"
he said quietly. you're no doubt
surprised to find yourself in your
present constrained position. l re-
gret the necessity, but do you the
compliment of saying that with a
slippery individual like yourself 1t
Is wise to take no risks. Richard
Shenstone, l am come to kill you!"
He announced his purpose as coolly
as if retailing an anecdote. For
brief second my heart seemed to
cease its pulsation. The next in
slant in the throes of mortal terror,
/ was straining at my bonds like q
frenzied madman. His burst OF
mocking laughter fired me with the
strength Of giant, but it was in
vain. The fellow had secured me but
too well. Overcome with my siren
uous efforts l collapsed, while the
fend urged me with horrible chuck
lings to persist.
Good" he cried. 81 like to see q
man die game! Now, listen to me,
Richard Shenstone! This day, through
your malignant eloquence, you sent
two men to living death. You
: would say that you were but an in
: strument-their fate was assured,
whoever had pronounced the indict-
ment. Probably so, my learned
friend; but l was in court, and knew
you were glorying in the task. Dog
that you are, you gloated over your
victims as if you enjoyed the sport OF
It! Fool. and worse than fool, to
imagine that you could defy us with
impunity. But enough of this. There
; is one OLeary left to act as avenger
( of his brothers. This night l strike
/ a blow which will vindicate the
brotherhood in the eyes of their
4 comrades the world over, and by the
same act punish you as you deserve
: A shade of tolerance little re-
: straint-and you would have been
spared"
He threw the half-smoked cigar in
to the CRATE and, springing to his
= feet. crossed behind me to the door
: AS he rose, l noticed that his boots
were covered with galoshes, which
l. accounted for his noiseless entry. II
l a moment he was before me again, {
l small black bag in his hand. Will
staring eyes | watched him as h,
passed over to the telephone and Sc
the bag down very carefully on the
floor.
=, Fumbling in his pocket he pro
:, duced what appeared to me th'
u striker of an alarm clock, which h
proceeded, with deft fingers. to at
e.! tach to the hammer of the telephone
). bell. / followed his every move
>. ment as trapped animal watche
- it's destroyer.
From his lips there issued the SCUM
= Of suppressed laughter as he rose an
=; surveyed his work. Measuring OF
space directly above the bell h
screwed into the telephone box lii
y" tie hook. Immediately below h
SCIt"eu dlOlHtT, anu lll'u It NHi nt
and bent to open the bag.
NO commonplace end shall b
yours" he snarled maleyolently. "Io
. shall admit the method of your AZ
= initiation has the merit of origir
ality at least. And, more than tina
il shall be contrived by the hand G
~ one as innocent Of intent to murde
>. as any child. Now watch me closel,
- my friend, and learn how the hand {
- death will strike you"
~ He plunged his fingers into tn
- bag and drew out a glass jar full {
~ water, IN which there appeared su
-, pended an inner glass tube filled wit
N some yellow liquid.
be IF you are anything of sciel
I tist," he said drawing it slowly ou
-. you will know that this little tut
N requires very delicate handlin
III Nitro-glycerine, Shenstone? Do yo
20 recognize its appearance? The lea
shock 10 that fragile receptacle, ar
4. -" He elevated his eyebrows al