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


/ will not do it too hastily. You
shall have a few moments for re-
fection before you are launched in
to eternity. Oh, yes, il would be
cruel to kill a man like you without
allowing time for repentance. Ten
minutes-or perhaps a little longer.
Make the most of it, l beg. Think.
amongst other things, of all the poor
devils you have sent to perdition. A
few short minutes, and then, the girl
will ring you up. Ha! hal"
He rose, fiendish glare on his
face, and sprang to the door. I'm
expectedly his eye must have caught
| the electric switch, for the next Sec
ond the room was plunged into dark
ness.
"A good idea" he snarled. "You
shall wait for death in the dark
not knowing when it shall come up
on you"
The door clicked behind him. I
heard the key turn in the lock and
withdrawn, and as the soft pad, pad
of his footsteps died away along the
corridor, l renewed my straining
like a maniac. The cords tore into
my flesh. The blood surged up in my
head as II the veins that held it would
burst. Knowing that every moment
was vitality precious, fought for my
life with the desperate energy of
despair, until, utterly exhausted, I
collapsed and lay supine and impo-
tent. The imminence of an awful
death froze my blood. Merciful
heaven! If I could only free one
hand! If 1 could but scream! This
utter helplessness was horrible.
The inexorable tick-ticking of the
clock on the mantel maddened my
brain. Suddenly it struck the half
hour. The sound fired me from the
coma of despair into which my un-
availing efforts had plunged me to
make another spasmodic effort; but
it was useless. My constrained posi-
ton neutralized my strength.
The internal assassin had given
!. me no chance. Ten minutes! Great
heavens! Five must have flown al
ready.
Great heaven! what was that-a
footstep in the passage? My brain
/ was surely fooling me! But no, it
, clanked nearer. Someone was rat
Ting the handle Of the door. Hang
the fellow, he's gone!" The voice
/ knew it! 1t was Marshall-my
friend Marshall-come before his
time! Thinking me gone, he turned
: away.
. Merciful Heaven. he must not go!
With the frenzy of despair l beat a
tattoo with my heel against the desk
''That'sAueer; it's all dark" Mar
shall cried. "Dick, old chap" he
shouted, "are you there?'
For answer kicked the wood en-
ergetically.
by George" he muttered, there's
something wrong. I'm going to in
vestigate."
:. In fancy I could see him as, plant
ing his feet against the opposite
4 wall, he applied his shoulder to the
door, and with the purchase thus
: obtained thrust with all his mighty
> strength.
: Would he succeed in forcing it.
Again and again he tried. dashing
himself against it, but in vain. Back
Il ing against the wall, he smashed al
u it with the fiat of his heavy boot
Il The crash was followed by the sount
of rending wood. 1t was yielding
! it was yielding. Another might!
kick. and the hasp of the lock wal
torn bodily off, and the door flew
, open.
e In an instant Marshall's fingers
e found the switch. and the room wa
L flooded with light.
e Heaven and EARTH" he cried. as HI
: caught sight of my helpless figure
IS What deviltry is this?"
Springing across the room. h
u forced the gag from my jaws and com
u menced to hack the bonds from me
II NY mouth was parched, and, utterl
Ie unstrung for few seconds, althoug
L our very lives hung on it, could sa
'e no word. Then suddenly the re
III action came, and ] shrieked in morta
terror:
'e Marshall, the tube." lie followe
W my gaze, and jumped to his fee
u "Nitro-glycerine!" l yelled madl.
u "Unhook it, quick, but CAREFUL.
!, Marshall, for your life! Place it
=. that jar"
= In one bound he was at the tell
>, phone. The next second he had III
- hooked the dependent wire, and ha
drawn the tube away from the han
- mer. And, as he held it in his finger
before he could detach it from Il
n hook at the top the call cam
B@-r-r-r! rang out the bell. When
ceased I was bowling with mad, !
:, rational laughter.
he Marshall coolly unlocked the tub
a suspended IL in the jar Of water, al
~, took the receiver in his hand.
st "Hallo! who're you?" he yelled.
nd He waited moment for the a
nd swer, but receiving none, with th
r.. ,,f