The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-24
THE MINNEAPOLIS JOURNAL.

"Do what you like, 7 cried to her
you got any. brandy in the house?,'
8 Brandyl and for him!' said she,
arranging her dress which he had torn.
Is it me that should be running for
it, iba+, Not if ! know it; brandy like
19Then leave the room,' I exclaimed
imperatively; and with that she went
off, banging the door behind her, and
I was alone with the man and his
Jewels. think it was the strangest
situation have ever known. Some
thousands of pounds worth of gems lay
scattered upon the coverlet, upon the
sheets and nc even 9!, upon the carpet. Ladd
white and motionless; there was only
the light of common paraffin lamp,
and three parts Of the room lay in dark
ness, Ny first thought was for the
man g life, and remembering that I had
q flask in my pocket, forced brandy
him fat upon his back. In few mo-
ments there was a perceptible, tho very
quick beat Of his pulse, and after that,
when he had taken more of the spirit,
he opened his eyes, and endeavored to
raise himself, but forbade him rough
Y, and gathering up his gems I bundled
them KEN IN ths greassF m saf f. and o tusRea
watched me with glazing eyes, scarce
being able, for lack Of strength, to utter
word; but he motioned for ME to give
him the key, and this he placed under
the pillow Of his bed and fell presently
into gentle sleep, which was of good
omen.
7 should mention that it was now
full dark outside, and, as I, Judged,
about the hour Of TO-. I had got the
man IS Jewels into his safe for him, and
he was sleeping; but where tho bewitch-
ing little hussy was I did not know; or
what was the value Of the old man 8
fears about his nephew; It was clear
robbed, probably, by the immediate
agency of the girl who acted as his
servant; and it was equally obvious
that I had no alternative but to stay
by him, even if prospect of probable
business in the future had not moved
me to do so. An inspection of his room
by the Pickering light Of the lamp dis
closed to me a small dressing-room lead
ing from it, this containing sofa;
and when had quite assured myself
that my patient, as I chose to regard
him, slept easily, and that his pulse
was no longer intermittent nor faint,
I took my boots off and lay down upon
to serve me for bed. Strange to say,
in half an hour 7 fell into dreamless
sleep, for was heavy with fatigue, and
had walked many hours upon the Ken
nett $ bank; but when I awoke, the
room was utterly dark, and the screams
of dying man rang in my ears.
In moments of emergency ones in
dividuality asserts itself in curious &C
lions. I am somewhat stolid, and a
poor subject for panics, and l remem-
Der on this particular occasion that my
first act was to draw on my boots with
deliberation3,, and even to turn in the n
and got a sight Of the scene which l
remember so well, tho many months
have passed since its happening. When
T had light, I found Ladd stand.
ing by. the door of his large
safe, which was open, but there
was deep crimson stain upon his shirt
scream. In fact, he was dying then;
and presently he fell prone with a deeI
gasp, and I knew that he was dead
In the same instant black shadow, as
, Of man, passed between me and the
flicker Of the light; and as the mattel
went out the door Of the chamber swung
upon its hinges, and the assassin passed
from the room.
Now, Ladd had scarce fallen before
I was in the dark passage, listening
!, with great tension of the ear for 8
sound Of the hiding mans footstep
! But the place was as still as the grave
and then there came upon me the horric
!, thought that the fellow lurked with me
: about the rooms door, and presently
, would serve me as he had served tho
other. Cold with fear at the possibil
| ity, 7 struck match and advanced
l along the passage, using half a box Of
lucifers in the attempt. At the corner
; I came suddenly upon Granny; and as
? the light died away, two cleaning eyes
shot up chances to mine, and MAI
sprang out flashing blade in the air
but rushing past me, and fleeing like
l the wind towards the southern wing
that I saw nothing of his face, and i
seemed scarce a moment before heart
: a door open, and another great cry
l. followed by a splashing Of water ant
utter silence.
! This second cry took, 7 think, VIVA
! little nerve I had left; and while tn,
= echo Of it was still in the passages ny
:. now black with unbroken darkness
:. every step that took appeared to reacl
t mysterious stairs and to send me stag
: gering; but at last a sudden patch O.
= moonlight from a corner encouraged
g where the man had disappeared. A
s that point a door creaked and bange,
upon us nlnSeS, OUT Cne Wn1Co light com
4 ing thru it saved me from the fate O.
: him who had gone before. 1t showet
;, me at a glance that the door was bull
t in side Of the unfinished wall of tn
: wing, and that the man, who evidentl,
q had mistaken it for the entrance to tn
4 back staircase, which I saw few fee
. farther on, had crashed down fifty fee
into the moat below, carrying, as I sup
! posed, his plumber in his hands. Then
+ knew the meaning Of the gurgling CT,
! and the horrid thud; and terror seeme
T to strike me to my very marrow.
f How got out of the house I do no
Q know to this day. Thrice I made Gil
n cult of winding corridors only to fin
Q myself again, before the room. wher
n Ladd s body lay in the circle Of moon
Q light which the window focused upo
b the safe; thrice I reached doors whic
t seemed to give access to the yard; bu
g led only into gloomy suffered chan
u bers where curious shapes of the ye
:, low rays came thru the dusty crevice'
= At last, however, I reached the frows
= kitchen, and the yard, and stood mil
" ute to breathe the chill night air, an
= to think what was to be done; whithe
a first to go; to whom to appeal. Th
~ whine Of a voice from the stab]
= seemed to answer me. I entered th
f roofless shanty, and there found til
d dark-eyed girl sitting upon q rottin
n garden roller, and quivering in ever
r limb. She too was dressed ready t
r. accompany the man who then la