Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-11-26

| DuVal.
ain the course Of the conflict Reginald
drew out dagger and plunged 1t into
my arm, then threw the dagger. red with
blood, on the carpet. saying grimly:
"'Fitzroy's dagger. Lie there and tes-
tfy that he did this deedp
"Oh. my brother. my innocent brother!
have they dared accuse thee Of my
death2 This question harrows me night
and day. Alasl | tremble for Btzroy.
when such a fcnd as Reginald has prov
ed himself to be Is let loose upon his
track.
"But to go on: Binding my hands-for
all my strength could avail little against
two hardy men-they passed rope
around my body, after first putting on
my clothing. and, dragging me from the
window, swung me from the balcony to
the ground below.
Carrying then my helpless form to
the lake, they there bound up my
wounds, staunching the flow of blood,
which until then they had allowed to drip
MS it would, then turned and noiselessly
bore me to a lonely cave, situated in the
heart of Demons Wood--a place never
frequented, and, presume, the existence
| of which was unknown.
This place had been prepared for my
reception, and after fastening me firmly
to staple with chain they had in
readiness, they left me, gagged and help
less, then alone, for two days and one
| night. Twice they both came with food,
and, while one stood with a pistol over
my head. to prevent a word, the other
fed me.
"On the second night they visited me
about midnight. and. merely saying:
All is now ready for your reception,
rise and go with us, they placed me in
a wagon as before and took me back to
the Hall
| Leaving the wagon concealed outside
the grounds, they between them carried
me to the ruined part, and entering,
conveyed me into this, my prison, which
they had secretly arranged for my use.
| was not brought here at once, it seems,
because on the very night of their daring
outrage they had discovered that some
revolving iron shelves they had fitted to
the entrance could not be securely fast
ened as the large screws to be inserted
were too short. Not wishing to postpone
the horrible business, they had hastily
prepared the cave, and held me there un-
Now all was ready and here, just
eighteen years ago, was thrust and kept
a prisoner by means of long chain fast
ened from my ankle to an iron bolt in
the wall l was securely fastened, then
the gag was taken from my mouth. and
the ropes from my limbs.
"From that hour have seen no human
face, heard no human voice! These walls
4. -. Ill.
that no sound can issue from them. No
movement can be heard, unless the pan
els are open, and then but family.
"Oh, innocent, ruined brother! Oh
forgetful Constance! When shall cease
to think of these two?"
Earle Efenstein paused when he
reached these last words, and large tears
of sympathy still rolled over his cheeks
as they had often done during the read
ing, while every one of his intent listen
ers were similarly affected. Conqnernl
his emotion by an effort, he again read
: on:
May "a. 1S-Nearly seven years
since | last wrote on these pages. No
once during that time has there been
change in my lot until tonight.
ITO night a different hand opened the
, panels. | knew instantly that 1t was no
Reginald's. Something certainly mus
, have happened to him. The jerk wa,
, wanting.
"A soft, uncertain way of pushing
them apart attracted my attention. There
was a longer pause, a seeming study o.
the modus operandi of the revolvinI
shelves, and a slighter push made then
! turn more slowly. Yes, am sure
! stranger has been let into the secret o.
q Nmy confinement; and that stranger,
think, must be timid woman.
3 ".Junc 6, 1S-Something terrible ha
happened to my brain. am wild! an
! undone! | can remember nothing! N'h,
! am |? Where am |? All, yes; have it
r was a peer; am 80 no longer.
5 81 am a poor minister of the gospel
}, confined here for the sake of religion
e am, in short Rev Edwin G. Stiles. How
: strange that l am herel can remembe
$ nothing.
n but have a Bible, and read an,
: preach long sermons, and pray continu
ally. Yes, some day | shall think
n be released. | shall preach the gospel
q How strange my head feels! Sometime
o | think | am going mad"
I July Isl am preaching and pray
p ing constantly. Night and day plea
! with God to send me n knife. Will m
= prayers be granted2 Shall ever have
knife2 Can | ever cut my way out O
Is this weary prison, out to liberty. an
N preaching2"
% July l9.-Hallelijah! My prayer
y heard! A knife came to me with m
food; sent me, | presume, by acciden
" 1t was forgotten, and now it Is min,
pr | shall write no more. shall Instant
pr get to work shall soon he free MAJ
ly But these pages, written as it wen
e, with my hearts blood, | shall never ono
s. leave out of the reach of my hands.
am Rev. Edwin q. Stiles, minister
s, the gospel, and these lines are my dipl
H. mas, my badge of office. Ha, ha; knit
X is mine; my own! And now shall woI
myself free"
IN Elfenstein paused and passed his har
lie over his forehead in deep thought.
M sudden idea had seized him. it was thi
H. Ethel Nevergail and he must have be.
H. in the corridor when this poor creatu