The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1904-09-10
the form and voice Of Antoine

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-
| tify that he did this deedv
"Oh, my brother, my innocent brother!
have they dared accuse thee of my
death? This question harrows me night
and day. Alas! tremble for Fitzroy,
when such fiend as Reginald Has prov
ed himself to be is let loose upon his
| track. ... 49,. ...-..
But to go on: Binding my hands-for
all my strength could avail little against
two hardy men--they passed a 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 1t 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 a 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.
ION the second night they visited me
about midnight, and, merely saying:
| "'All is now ready for your reception,
Iuse. Il
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.
l 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 I'M
til other screws could be procured.
"Now all was ready and here, just
eighteen years ago, was thrust and kept
prisoner by means of long chain fast
ened from my ankle to an iron bolt in
the wall. / 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,
| 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.
"0h, innocent, ruined brother! Oh,
forgetful Constancel When shall cease
to think of these two?"
Earle EHenstein 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 l last wrote on these pages. Not
once during that time has there been
change in my lot until tonight.
"To-night different hand opened the
panels. knew instantly that it was not
Reginald's. Something certainly must
have happened to him. The jerk was
wanting.
"A soft, uncertain way of pushing
them apart attracted my attention. There
was longer pause, a seeming study of
the modus operandi of the revolving
shelves, and slighter push made them
turn more slowly. Yes, 1 am sure a
stranger has been let into the secret of
my confinement; and that stranger, l
think, must be timid woman.
"Junc 6, 1S-Something terrible has
happened to my brain. am wildI am
undone! l can remember nothingl Who
am II Where am l? All, yes; have it!
I was peer; am 50 no longer,
81 am poor minister of the gospel,
confined here for the sake of religion. |
am. in short, Rev. Edwin @. Stiles. How
strange that l am herel I can remember
nothing.
"But have Bible, and I read and
preach long sermons, and pray continu-
ally. Yes, some day l shall, think,
be released. l shall preach the gospel.
How strange my head feels. Sometimes
think l am going mad"
July Isl am preaching and pray
| ing constantly. Night and day l plead
with God to send me knife. Will my
prayers be granted? Shall ever have
| hHiles SdH ever cut my way OUT Oh
this weary prison, out to liberty, and
preachingY
"July 19.-Hallelijah! My prayer is
heard! A knife came to me with my
food; sent me, presume, by accident
1t was forgotten, and now it is mine!
shall write no more. / shall instantly
get to work: 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,
am Rev. Edwin c. Stiles, a minister of
the gospel, and these lines are my diplo-
mas, my badge of office. Ha, ha; knife
is mine; my own! And now l shall work
myself free"'
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 be must have been
insane, or nearly so, at least, when he es-
/, | poOp1