The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-03-22

UlO" upOlA lIlC 1ICdA"0l GAL SAAS "
twisting and bending and gyrating
about him as he fell. But how did he
get here, and who had fastened him
up in this fashion?
Gradually, too, as full consciousness
came upon him, he became aware that
there was a light in the room; twisting
his head around painfully, he saw the
light standing Upon his dressing table
saw a mans shadow in front of it n
a hand stretch u and lift it up
Turning his aching eyes slowly in the
direction of the shadow, he saw a fig
ure advancing towards him, holding
the light high, so that it might III
upon him.. The figure stopped before
him, and out of the swimming room
and the moving shadows looked the
face Of Nugent Leathwood, with a grin
upon it.
"Ah, so you are not dead, after all?"
said L~eathwood, naring h candle at
him. Tn glad Of that; it would have
been too good a death for you, to die In
a second, like that. You shall have
your death spread out a bit-a lingering
affair. You can only die once, you
know, so We'll make the most Of it for
you"
why have you brought me here?"
asked Gilbert, family. "You coward,
you know you dare not face me, even in
this weak state, if my arms were free!'
IT prefer not to take risks" retorted
Nugent, with a grin. "You see, you're
such a slippery customer, one never
knows what might happen. But I don't
think you will give me the slip this
time. Now, if you are sufficiently sens
BILE to understand what I'm saying, I
want to talk to you. With your per-
mission, I'll sit down, and z hope you're
as comfortable as I am" He pulled
forward O. chair and sat down within a
foo or two Of his helpless prisoner.
you have already n dastardly
murder to account for" said Gilbert.
care you going to add another to it,"
II am" replied Nugent, coolly. He
set down the candle on the floor at his
feet, folded his arms, leaned back in
his chair, and, finally, shook his head,
laughingly, at Gilbert.
Let him laugh who wins, Cousin
Rickerby,' said Leathwood. "You
managed your business very well to-
night, with your witnesses n your
dramatic appearance at the psychology
zeal moment; but l managed mine bet
ter. oh, you were going to be SO clev-
err: the girl was in your ~hands-every-
thing was in your hands. You'd got the
money-or one Of your friends had
and you'd nearly got the papers,. I
should think that added head of yours
must ache a little, eh?"
Gilbert made no reply; he was de-
termined, If possible, not to answer any
thing that a said. He wondered
how long this man intended to torture
S.S-~ --I -I~ "a l41ki. H. 1ryo q
preparing for him.
"You had all your arrangements
made-the rope was dangling from the
have made my arrangements. Shall I
tell you what they are?"
Still Gilbert did not speak; life was
growing more strongly in him with ev-
cry moment, and the instinct Of sheer
self-preservation prompted him to
struggle again and tug at the ropes
which held him.
"That's it-kick and struggle as hard
as you like" said Leathwood. "This is
the best game I've played yet. You
dog-do you know what sort of purga-
tory you've made me live in for the
past day or two? Do you know that
you've made me die fifty-times over;
have made me start up in bed at night.
with hat horrible s%trangling feeling at
my throat, and with solid things slip
ping away from under my feet? What
agony is there that I can make you suf-
fe. that will compensate me for all
that? I will give you the worst death1
know of; but even that won't be
enough"
"What are you going to do?" The
words were forced from Gilbert's lips,
strive as he would to be silent.
"IIl tell you. Cornelius n I carried
you from the other house, just as we
carried the body Of that servat of
yours. We brought you here and tied
you ur, securely. When I've done talk
ing to you, I'm going into the lower
rooms Of this house and I'm going to
set fire to them. Every shutter in the
place has been carefully closed. so that,
the flames won't break out, or be seen
from outside, until the. place Is a rag
ing, roaring furnace within. How do
you like the prospect? You'll hear the
wood cracking; you'll find it growing
hotter and hotter; gradually the flames
will creep up about you and catch the
bed hangings and the wood of the bed
stead-and you'll roast alive. Yes, Gill
bert Tickerby-it was the worst days
work you ever did when you came back
from abroad"
you fiend-I did It, as I supposed. to
help you-to give the girl to you. be-
cause I thought she loved you"
"Yes-that was where you blundered;
you should have explained your mean
ing more clearly. You've been the d.
rect cause Of my staining my hands
with blood twice over. You've made a.
muddle Of the whole business-and you
must pay the penalty. Cornelius has
gone into the other house to get Miss
Olive Mallory ready for a journey; we
start tonight, AMI Ri%ckerby's Folly
will know us no more. You're very much
attached to the placer you should be.
seeing that you, were born in it-and I
don't like to separate you from It. This
place will blaze splendidly-and / don't
fancy that they'll recognize Gilbert
Rickerby when they find what's left OF
him. I don't think I need detain you or
myself any longer. I have business to
attend to-and, more than that, one
mustn't keep q lady waiting. Cool
bye!!" 4
He reached the door, carrying the
candle with him; came back again ana
set It on the dressing table. II might
as well leave you the light" he said,
with > smile; although you'u have