The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-17
CHAPTER VII.

THE CoNsPIRAToRs OVERHEARD
It was more chance than mercy that
saved Buckford's life when Monroe, less
fortunate than he, was battered to death
by the clubs OF his hidden assailants.
He had not seen the attack, and the
first blow snt him unconscious to the
floor Monroe had seen the blow struck,
and rising to fight. had brought the con-
centrated fury OF the murders upon him
self.
Having killed one innocent, the thirst
for blood of the scoundrels must have
been assuaged. or they were acting under
orders that left them but one course to
pursue.
or. perhaps they did not examine Buck
ford closely enough to discover that he
had not been killed.
One corpse on the refuse heap was
enough
ing dragged from the building as Mon
roe had been, was AIKEN to a small
room and left lying on the floor In his
awful stupor.
He did not know. and II is not our
business 20 say, Just how long he lay
there. He awoke at first with dull
throbbing pain In his head He was
conscious OF a terrible thirst Half
stupened yet knowing he was where he
ought not to be, he sat up and looked
around him.
Gradually as his blood circulated more
freely. the pain in his head decreased,
and his senses became more acute
He found that he was In very small
room that had evidently been Informed
after the house was built by running a
partition OF thin and narrow wooden
strips across the end of a large room.
The purpose of this little room-the
original purpose-was not apparent. IL
NAV have been 10 provide an extra bed
or dressing room. It's present purpose
was clear IL was his prison.
The room was about six feet in width
and about ten in length. The wooden
partition ran along one Of the long sides,
and I'm this there was a small door
At one of the narrow ends there was a
window
Wallace sat for some time on the floor
before ne gathered strength enough 10
rise The blow on his head had deprived
him not only Of consciousness, but OF
strength as we'll
There was absolutely no furniture in
The room. Ii was, however, carpeted
with n thick. firm fabric.
After a time he rose to his feet, shook
of the momentary dizziness, and began
a more extended examination OF his
prison.
lie was really sick enough TO be in bed,
but excitement and the sense OF I'M
pending danger kept him up.
He did not know that Monroe was dead.
He had last seen Monroe sitting quietly
at a table drinking wine and waiting for
his supper.
lie first tried the door in the wooden
partition IL was locked He then went
20 the window. II opened upon a small
narrow court.
The building opposite were almost de-
void OF windows. There were two or
three little openings on the court for
ventilation. but nothing to be called n
windows as windows go
But leaning from his window and look
ing down he saw that there was n smaller
one underneath II In the same house. IL
opened. no doubt. from n room similar TO
the one he was In, or similar TO the one
that existed before the wooden partition
was put in.
The window was there, but conveyed
no thought OF escape TO his mind He
had not as yet begun 20 form any plan
of escape The ground was far below
him-the paved court, from which no exit
was seen, except through the lower stories
OF the abutting buildings
lie turned from the window and leaned
against the wall In deep and troubled
study
Where was Monroe7 That was the first
question he asked himself " was clear
that the plan TO rescue him from the
police station was simply TO bring him
again into the hands OF the enemies OF
Che prince. Tho pot had succeeded, as