Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-14
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giving me salt meat.
That shall be remedied tomorrow
Jordlson replied with grim smile 'You shall
not have any meat tomorrow, and you can have as
much water as you want. There's plenty in the
creek"
Salt water" said Holme, in low voice "You
fevill My God II could be free for five min
utes II you and we're alone in here man to
man-just for five minutes, would not ask a sec.
ond longer. II you are man. and have any
grievance against me, let me go, and tackle me
like man. If you get the best of it, you can
kill me-
q could kill you just as easily now," Jordson
replied. 81 have no grievance against you, Mr..
Holme. But have a purpose in life. There's
something. wish to find out, and you can tell
it to me-"
"I can tell you nothing"
"You do not know what is in store for you,
Jordson said. IL think you will speak one of
these days. Salt water is poor diet for a
healthy man."
"You cowardly cur" said Holme. Then he
broke into string of blasphemous oaths, revil.
ing Jordison, and even reviling the God who had
delivered him into Jordisons hands. Jordison
stepped forward and kicked him brutally. Holme
did not utter sound but suddenly rising to his
knees, stretched out his wrists and struck with all
his strength. The iron handouts just missed
Jordison's kneecap, as the latter sprang back
out of reach. Then he laughed,
Savage, eh," he said, with sueer. II think
we can tame you"
liolme sank back on the straw and glared at
him like a wild beast.
"Why are you not reasonabe?" Jordison con-
tinued. "You will be bound to get the worst
of it. It is not much ] ask Of you You have
only to tell me all you know about Arthur Ste
rious"
81 will tell you nothing" Holme replied dog.
gedly.
"You cannot look me in the face and say you
know nothing" Jordison said sternly. II can
see that you are lying. If | thought for mo-
inent that you spoke the truth would let you
60"
"You dare not after what has happened"
He referred to his own imprisonment He did
not then know that Jordison had far stronger
reasons for keeping him from communication
with the outer world. He did not know that
William Outen was dead.
,Jordison bit his lip with vexation. He saw
now that he had made a mistake. Only the
hope of release would extract any information
from Arthur Holme. And Holme realized that
whether he spoke or not there was no hope Of
release He would therefore keep his mouth
shut Jordison fastened to remove this i'm
preston.
Il
to give me your word of honor not to say any
thing of what has occurred. But I shall GER
tainly let you go"
Holme looked up keenly into the dark fierce
face. 'You lie you scoundrel," he said, Il
shall never leave here with your consent,
/ shall not speak
"There are ways Of making men speak," Jord-
ison replied grimly. "You might come to think
Of death as something very sweet indeed. You
might even be induced to speak by the offer Of
DEATH But / will give you one more chance.
Do you know if Arthur Sterious is in England%
Hone was silent.
How did his watch get into the creek, where
we found it?"
Home was still silent.
"What connection had you with Richard Be
hag when you were in Valparaiso"
Still Holme did not answer.
"Do you know anything about Behag's death
that is not known to the police OF Valparaiso
Home shrugged his shoulders, but still did
not reply.
do you know whether it was Arthur Sterious
or Richard Behag, or both, who defrauded the
firm of Sterious & Company, and do you know
what cause of quarrel there was between Behag
and Sterious% f5
At last Home spoke.
"I have heard all these questions before" he
said quietly; "you are wasting your breath and
time Mr. Jordison."
IT will do so no longer" Jordison replied. II
will gag you and leave you to think over them
till the morning. Are you going to let me gag
YOU quietly, or must use force? You know it
has to be done. 1t would not do for any one
to hear you"
II refuse to be gagged until you have given
me some water"
rYou shall have all you want tomorrcw."
"For Gods sake. give me some water-just
wneglassfulp
1Not a single drop until tomorrow" Now,
are you going to let me gag you quietlyl'
Come and try it," Home replied, rising to
his knees. Ina second Jordison was upon him,
and had borne him to the ground Holmc dashed
his fists in the mans face and the blood
streamed down his fingers. He fastened his
teeth in his hands and bit out a piece Of flesh.
Both were powerful men, but the contest was
too unequal In less than minute Jordison had
choked 'Holme into insensibility with the rope
that was fastened round his neck. Then he
forced open the mouth, inserted the gag and Sc
cured it tightly.
when this was done he rose to his feet and
looking down at the PROSTATE figure, began to
All his pipe Then he pulled out his matchbox,
but his fingers shook with the struggle he had
inst zone through and the box fell to the floor
He stopped down, gathered up the matches, lit
his pipe and went out Of the loose box, locking
all the doors after him. In less than half an
hour he was asleep.
An hour afterwaTd Holme partly recovered
his senses He was semidelrious, and gurgled
inarticulate sounds in his throat. Lights flashed
before his eyes, and strange noises vibrated in
his ears. He had dcamt Of running water in
his swoon, and stretched out his hand to find
the water,jug, He found nothing but single
wax match He turned II round and round IN
his fingers. Then he laughed horribly-the laugh
Of a maniac stidsd by the gag into low sob
bing moan