Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-08-12

my arm, then threw the dagger, red with
| blood, on the carpet, saying grimly:
| 'Fitzroys dagger. Lie there and tes-
tify that he did this deed!'
"Oh, my brother, my innocent brother!
have they dared accuse thee of my
death? This question harrows me night
and day. Alas! 1 tremble for Fitzroy,
when such a fend 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
as it would, then turned and noiselessly
bore me to 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 a 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 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 u.s. 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.
1 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-
til other screws could be procured.
"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,
l know, are several feet thick, built so
that no sound can issue from them. Not
a movement can be heard, unless the pam
els are open, and then but family.
"Oh, innocent, ruined brother! Oh,
forgetful Constance! When shall cease
to think of these two?''
Earle ElfenStein 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. Conquering
his emotion by an effort, he again read
on:
MAY "a, 1S-Nearly seven years
since last wrote on these pages. Not
once during that time has there been a
change in my lot until tonight
''To-night different hand opened the
panels. l knew instantly that it was not
Reginalds. Something certainly must
have happened to him. The jerk was
wanting.
"a soft, uncertain way of pushing
them apart attracted my attention. There
was a longer pause, a seeming study of
the modus operandi of the revolving
shelves, and a slighter push made them
turn more slowly. Yes, l am sure
stranger has been let into the secret of
my confinement; and that stranger,
think, must be a timid woman.
"June 6, 1S-Something terrible has
happened to my brain. l am wild! l am
undone! l can remember nothing! Who
T s&f
I was peer; 1 am 50 no longer.
81 am poor minister of the gospel, |
confined here for the sake of religion. |
am. in short, Rev. Edwin G. Stiles. How
strange that I am here! l can remember |
nothing.
But 1 have a Bible, and l read and |
preach long sermons, and pray contnu- |
ally. Yes, some day l shall. I think, |
be released. 1 shall preach the gospel. |
How strange my head feels! Sometimes |
l think 1 am going mad"
July Isl am preaching and pray
ing constantly. Night and day l plead |
with God. to send me a knife. Will my |
prayers be granted? Shall l ever have |
knife? Can 1 ever cut my way out of |
this weary prison, out to liberty. and |
preachingT'
July 19.-Hallelijah! Ny prayer is |
heard! A knife came to me with my |
food; sent me, l presume, by accident. |
1t was forgotten. and now it is mine! |
l shall write no more. l shall instantly |
get to work: l shall soon be free man. |
But these pages, written as it were. !
with my hearts blood. shall never once |
leave out of the reach of my hands l !
am Rev. Edwin c. Stiles, a minister of |
the gospel. and these lines are my diplo- |
mo hanpn of office Ha ha. In; |
is mine; my own! And now shall work |
myself freer'
Elfenstein paused and passed his hand |
over his forehead in deep thought A |
sudden idea had seized him; it was this: |
Ethel Nevergail and he must have been |
in the corridor when this poor creature |
escaped! Yes: poor creature! These |
last lines told that he must have been |
insane, or nearly so. at least, when he es-