The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1907-09-27

its turn, gave it's central chain to an
other pulley and swivel fixed in the
roof.
In the half Of his cell where his lit
tie bed was fixed the prisoner had fair
liberty Of movement. despite his
shackles. He could sit or lie, and use
his hands with some freedom. But
whenever he attempted to cross the
invisible line which divided one part
of the cell from the other the chains
frightened and forbade him.
He stood now, straining to the
limit Of his bonds. gazing at the long
couch Of black wood with its rubber
feet, it's clamps and collar at the head.
Above the mysterious couch, upon a
triangular shelf by the door. was
something that cleaned and shone
brightly. 1t was a cap of metal,
shaped like a huge acord-cup, or a
bishops mitre. From an ivory stud in
the center Of the peak coils Of silk
covered wire ran to a china plug In
the wall.
Rathbone stood upright for several
minutes gazing at these things. Then.
with a long. hopeless sigh. to the &C
companying Jingle Of his letters, he
turned and sat down once more upon
his bed. Al prisoners do. he had oon.
tracted the habit Of talking aloud to
himself. 1t was . poor comfort-this
mournful echo Of his own voice-but
it seemed to make the profound solf
tude more bearable for . moment. He
began a miserable m%onologue now.
II must understand I'll" he said.
THAT is the first step Of all. II am
to keep my brain. II there Is ever to
be the slightest chance Of escape, I
must understand this terrible and
secret business. What are these
fends doing to me? Let me go
through the whole thing slowly and in
order"
his frequent torture with the logic
| and precision with which he would
have worked out a proposition of Eu-
cid. It was the only way in which
he could keep a grip upon a failing
mind; a logical process of thought
alone and solve this horrid mystery.
What happened every day-sometimes
two or three times a day? Just this.
He would be lying on his bed, reading,
perhaps, II the electric lights were
turned on.
There would come a sudden creak
and rattle Of the big pulleys high up
in the roof-a rattle which ara with
out any warning whatever. Then the
central chain, to which all the other
thinner chains were fastened, would
begin to tighten and move. Slowly,
inch by inch, as II someone were turn
ing a winch-handle outside of the cell,
the chain wound up into the roof. As
It did SO the smaller chains, which
were fixed to the steel bands upon his
limbs, frightened also. Struggle as he
might, the arrangement and balance
Of the weights were SO perfect that in
less than a minute he would be swing
ing clear Of the bed, as helpless as q
bale Of goods at the end Of a crane.
Then the upward movement Of the
chain would stop. the door open with
a clicking Of its massive wards. and
Guest would come in. In q moment
more Gerald always found himself
swung on the long black couch. Hill
neck was encircles by tho collar OF
thick vulcanite, his head was bent up.
ward by means Of an indiarubber pill
low beneath It, his hands and feet
were strapped to the framework Of the
couch.
And finally Guest would take the
metal cap and fx it firmly upon his
head, pressed down to the very eyes
so that he could in no way shake II
OF. The man would leave the cell
sometimes with q chuckle or a malici
GUS sentence that seemed full Of hid
den meaning, sometimes in silence
And then the electric light Invariably
went out.
Rathbone never knew how long he
was forced to remain thus in the dark
the subject of some horrible expert
ment, the nature of which he could
only guess. The periods seemed to
vary, but there was no possible test Of
time. Long ago time had ceased to
exist for him.
Release would come ut last-release
food, and Highland 50 the dreadful.
silent days wsnt on.
What are these ghouls doing te
me?"
The hollow voice Of reverie ant
self-communing cut into the silence
like a knife.
1T must be that l am being made 9
victim Of an awful revenge and hatred
Charliewood was the decoy and too
Of Gouldesbrough; 1t was all planned
from the first. Marjorie was never
really r%elinquished by Gouldesbrough
He meant all along to get me out Of
the way, to get Marjorie back IL ht
could. All this is clear enough.
thought was dealing with an honora
BILE gentleman and q great man, too
proud to stoop even to anything petit.
or mean. | have been dealing will
desperate and secret criminals. peopl.
who live hideous double lives. WHIT
walk tho world and cit In high place.
and do unnamable evil In the dark
Yes; this IL clear enough. Even now
perhapo, my darling 10 once more Il