The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-28

stuffy little place of character which
showed me that she and her father lived
in lodgings. She set the lamp on the
table, and saying that she would go and
acquaint the invalid with my arrival, went
out, closing the door quietly after her.
The room evidently the home of a.
studious, II poor, man. Tor In a small zeal
bookcase I noticed Well-kept and Well
arranged a number of standard works
on science and theology, as well as vari-
Gus volumes which told mutely that
their owner was a student. While upon
the table lay a couple of critical reviews,
with the Saturday and Spectator.
] took up the latter and glanced 1t over
in order to pass the time; for my con-
ductress seemed to be in long consultation
with her father. My eye caught an arti-
Gle that interested me, and read It
through, forgetting for moment all
about my can there. Fully ten minutes
elapsed. when of sudden I heard the
voice of a man speaking somewhat indis-<
tnctly in room above that in which
was sitting. He seemed to be talking
low and gruff1y so that l. was unable to
distinguish what he said At last, how
ever. the girl returned. and. asking me to
follow her, conducted me to bedroom on
the next floor.
The only illumination was a single
nightlight burning in saucer, casting a
faint uncertain light over everything.
and shaded with an open book so that
the occupant of the bed lay in deepest
shadow. Unlike what one would have
been expected to find in such a house Can
iron bedstead with brass raid the bed
was great old-fashioned one, with heavy
wood damask hangings; and advancing
toward it, while the girl retired and
closed the door after her, l bent down to
see the invalid
In the shadow l could just distinguish
a dark bearded face on the pillow whose
oo,,toi yo1yy not
ing.
"You are not welI?'' I said. inquiringly,
as our eyes met in the dim haf-light-
Your daughter is distressed about you.
Eyes, I'm a bit queer" he growled.
but she needn't have bothered YOU
"Let me remove the shade from the
light. 50 that I can see your face" | sug-
gested. It's too dark to see anything
mo" he snapped. II can't bear the
light You can see quite enough OF me
here
Every WELL" said. reluctantly, and tax
| ing his wrist in one. hand held my watch
in the other.
II fancy you'll find me bit feverish.
he said in curious tone, almost as though
he were joking, and by his manner al
once put him down as one of those eccen-
trio persons who skeptical OF any
achievement of medical science.
| T was holding his wrist and bending
toward the light in order to distinguish
the hands of my watch when strange
thing happened.
/ There was a deafening explosion close
behind me which caused me to jump BACK
startled. I dropped the mans hand ano
| turned quickly in the direction OF the
|sound, but as / did so a second shot from
revolver held by an unknown person
discharged full in my face.
The truth was instantly plain. mad
been entrapEed for my watch and Jew
! ellery-like many another medlcal man
in London has been before me- Doctors
are always an easy prey for thieves. The
4 ruffian shamming fitness sprang from his
bed fully dressed, and at the same mo-
ment two other blackguards who hac
been hidden in the room flung themselves
/ upon ere could realize my dead1,
peril.
The whole thing had been carefully
planned, and it was apparent that the
! gang were quite fearless Of nelghbors
overhearing the shots The place bore
a bad reputation knew; but had never
suspected that a man might be fired a.
from behind in that coWardly way.
So sudden and startling were the cir
cumstances that 1 stood for moment
motionless, in inability to fully compre
bend their meaning. There was but ont
explanation. These men intended to Kill
/ me!
Without a seconds hesitation the,
rushed upon me, and I realized will
heart sinking that to attempt to resis
would be utterly futile. / was entirel.
helpless in their hands.
(To be Continued Monday.) ~