Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-09-03

to me"
There was something frank in the
Young mans voice and way Of speaking,
/ that went straight to The little lady
heart. and she knew that he was honest
and manly, hence she sympathized with
/ hirl in his sorrow.
Il see you are her friend, sir, and as
such shall c0nide the facts to you. Nora
/ Warner has again fallen into the hands
of those demons from whom she once
before escaped The mad-house doctor
/ has been here
rs it possible"
There was gritting Of the strong
/ teeth. and even in the candle light she
could see that the mans face paled with
the comprehensive knowledge of what
! this meant.
She then wen on to tell all that had
occurred. and heard the news with
/ the aspect of man who suffered and
/ yet made no sound.
| Curses on his headw he muttered.
| fercely, when she was done. ''he is the
worst demon on earth, and the time viii
come when retribution viii fall upon him,
and it shall be my hand that deals the
! blow. If he has dared to harm hair
| of her head ! shall torture the life out Of
! him"
| When he became calm he made inqnir-
! les, for it seemed that Nora had only told
! him the circumstances of her past with
| out certain particulars, and he was glad
| 10 be shown the torn card which the doc
! tor had left behind him, and which Carol
| had thoughtfully picked up from the place
I where she had thrown it on the previous
| night.
| OF course this young man was the same
whom we saw in the company of Nora
| Warner at the time when she fought
| her memorable duel with Captain Grant,
! the Jack" whom the duelist thought be
! had seen before and yet could not place.
| While they talked Carol had joined
I them and her presence was acknowledged
| by the young man with polite bow. He
was unable to say what had been Nora's
mission in seeking the young girl again.
but all he knew was that the poor de-
ceived wife had discovered something of
| the utmost Importance which must be
communicated to Carol without delay If
she would save her from years Of intense
suffering. This was what she had been
trying her best to tell when the brutal
keeper choked her further utterance.
The widow had not dared to tell Jack
the full particulars Of that terrible scene,
for she saw that he was of an cNcitable
temperament and also that he loved
Nora Warner and she feared the result
Ii was enough for him to know that she
was again in the power of those villains,
and as he seemed 10 possess Nora's en-
tire confidence it might be readily sup
posed that she had some time in the past
given him to understand what manner OF
man the doctor was.
While they were yet talking. something
very like a mulfled shrek reached their
ears and caused them all to spring mp.
What was that!" asked each in won
| der.
'sThey say this place is haunted because
of singular noises heard here at times,
| but | found they originated in a very
| commonplace manner for the loft above
this mill was occupied by troop Of
wild cats and during the night they We're
wont to indulge in a melee that to SUI
perstitious ears sounded like the shrieks
of deadly foes, and their falls from raft
ers that ended each combat was to them
a repetition of the old murder that took
place here. | remedied all that by shut
ting up the holes in the window by means
| of which they gained ingress. and ever
since that time | have never been both
cred by any unearthly sound. Whatever
| it was we hear, just now, it came from
the interior of the mill, and will bear in
vestigation; so. If you would do us a
| favor, sir. the time is at hand"
| Jack was perfectly willing, and The
! three Immediately entered the main por-
| ton OF the mill by means of a door in
the back Of the widows humble kitchen.
! They had lighted lamp in place of the
! dim candle and were thus enabled to
| look around them in all directions.
When they stood within the mill proper
! the young man looked around him. He
saw but little of interest, The old saw
was there, but rusted so that it was
almost in pieces. and there We're gaping
holes in the roof through which both
rain and sunshine came intervals
according to the time.
While they stood thus there came Il
their ears a plain. unmistakuble sroar
that made them start, and a cold chill
run through their frames.
Again it sounded on their ears. Thu
time Jacks face frightened. for be saw
the hole in the great chimney, and strid
ing up to it he cried into the oritice
Hello! where ar" your
The answer came Immediately and We
was so mutticd that they could hardly
distinguish it.
In the chimney. For heavens SAX
get me out quick; believe am dying"
There was but one way TO accomplish
this, Jack realized the fact at once. IL
handed the lamp to the little widow an
replaced his revolver. feeling that h
would have no occasion 10 use ii, at leas
for the present.
Then he commenced eniarsiug the or
fee by tearing down the bricks Away
workip,- downward Sometimes he ha
difhc work, but in the en- he succeed
ed it task, and me res at was tina
at T md of ten or dfte minutes h
had AIRED the way to = lthin a foot c
so Ga the ground
Then stepping in, he bent down an
raised the form of the foreign detectir
in his stou. arms. When he had lai
! him on the floor Of tAc mill, he bent owe
to examine the mans CHASTITY wounds.
> "Who did this foul dced?" he asked
: horror.
The man whispered in reply. for he W,
l weak and almost dying. Jack uttered
! smothered curse and, gaining his fee
= cried in a voice that froze Carol wi
horror:
Some NOR Of that demons wor
; May the curse # heaven blight him n
y his forever. He A. vGe x S3tan's hen'
. and when we meet { shall send him