The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-11-10

| reedy 70 90 out. She had q cloak 0veI
her shoulders and was in evening
dress.
"How Do you DOT" he said, pleas.
antly. with decent air Of surprise, q
IL she were the last person In the world
he expected to see.
But she was in q state Of great agi-
tation. Her face was pale and she
was trembling with nervousness, and
was 1t fear?
20, please don't stop met" she said,
excitedly. Il must not-O, I dare not
speak to you!"
She ran to the elevator-the boy was
on duty that night-the door was
closed, and he stood staring at it in
establishment.
What was the cause Of her agitation,
her distress?
He lighted cigarette, and, after .
moments thought, strolled out of the
building.
From the street he could see the
lights in the Ferrari fats. He looked
up, wondering what took place there,
and for what purpose that queer-look-
ing box had been brought in.
Suddenly he became aware that the
lights were being lowered, until the
place was almost in darkness A sick
ening thought came into his mind, and
he returned to the house.
As he stood there, hesitating, he dis
tinctly beard woman's scream, fol-
lowed by q low, moaning sound.
This was too much for him.
He turned to Wilkins and babe him
follow.
Come upstairs with met" he said.
'.1'm going to find out what is going
on. Did you zee that box taken into
Mr.. Ferrari's nat this morning?"
II did, SIR" said the man. ut came
mighty early, as II he didn't want any
body to see it. And stranger looking
box never see. says to my wife, I
says: You mark my words, there's
something queer going on up there!'
That's what says, sir"
They had been running up the stairs
while he spoke. and by this time had
reached the Ferraris' door.
''You have latchkey to all the
DOORS" said Archie. 'Open i'll"
The man hesitated.
"Open It'll" repeated the artist, sharp.
~. Il will be responsible"
In another moment he was standing
inside the Ferraris' hall. In q room
in front Of him he could hear voices
whispering. He burst in.
There was the box. It stood open,
and his heart turned sick as he per-
ceived that it was lined like a coffin.
On chair sat the pretty girl from
Weldon's.
Her hands were tied behind her.
and her face was pale and frightened.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Ferrari were
there.
"You dog!" screamed the Italian.
who was evidently mad with passion
at his intrusion.
s'Thank heaven, am in time!" said
Archie.
The Italian threw himself furiously
upon him, but he had no chance against
the athletic young artist. Striking out
like the practiced boxer he was, Archie
struck him in the chest and sent him
Keeling backwards.
Then he turned to the girl whom he
had come to rescue. Taking a PEN
knife from his pocket, he cut the rib
bon with which her wrists were bound,
and, regardless of all conventionalities.
snatched her to his breast.
"You fool!" said Mr.. Ferrari, strug-
Cling to his feet and rubbing his chest.
'You fool!"
He relinquished his hold upon the
girl and turned to Mr. Ferrari, who
was literally dancing with passion.
Chow dare you come into my tlat?"
he was screaming. what do you
think you area hero in a melo-
dranna?"
Archie began to think that perhaps
he had been precipitate.
II came to save her life," he stam-
mered.
ITO save her life!" echoed the Ital-
ian in dismay. what do you"
Then he, too, began to laugh.
'"The box!" he gasped. pointing at
the big. ugly looking receptacle. '.He
thought was murderer. He came
to safe her life. Did 1t not strike you,
my gallant young friend, that might
be going to use the box for profes.
sional purposes?"
"For professional purposes?'' said
Archie, lamely.
"Why not?"
II don't know what you are talking
about" said Archie. care you an un.
dertaker?"
"No, conjurer!" screamed Ferrari.
II am going to do the box trick at the
Pavilion tonight. I am going to make
this young woman vanish"
Heavens, what a chump I have
made Of myself" said Archie, truth
fully. "But why did she scream, and
why did you turn down the light?"
II only cried out because hurt my
self the first time got into it." said
the girl from Weldon's. "This is to
be my first night on the stake, and I
am nervous
MA-S