Middletown transcript., 1907-06-01

.
door, turned the handle, and found
herself facing.a counter, behind
which was a Green. The flap of
The counter was raised and the
door of the screen ajar, so she
ran forward, crying, Oswald,
here / am, here | am I!
As she did so a form leaped
upon her from beneath the coun-
ter and envefopedd her head vii with b
q cloth, the ends of which were
held tightly over her mouth.
Then she felt herself borne along
and placed on a couch in a re-
position.
Little by little the cloth was
lifted, and a voice said, Listen I!
a scream or cry will'mean,instant
death. VIII you promise to re-
frain +?
She was brave women, and
the peril which threatened her
was as yet too formless to cause
her to swoon; but she was never
so near fainting in her life as
when-in answer to a movement
of affirmation she made-the
cloth was removed, and her gaze
encountered the barrel of a re-
volver pointed straight at her
head, directed by a tall, we'll
dressed, handsome but sinister
looking man, behind him whom
stood a red-faced, obese individ-
ual, with bristling mustache
and black goatee.
Listen to me, Mrs. Meredith,
said the tall man. You are in no
present danger, and if your hus-
band will help US little, all will
be well. You must write, in
such terms as I dictate, and ac-
quaint your husband of your
position. The rest you may leave
to US, and we will soon rid you of
our presence, with an honest
promise to trouble you no fur
ther.
I will not sacrifice my husband.
Do by me as you will. I am not
afraid to die to save him.
l do not intend to hurt him in
the least, madam, or to injure
his own financa position. We
leave very early tomorrow
morning. If you are obdurate,
MIR. Cotiswode has kindly prom
ised to undertake to persuade
you before that time; while | go
and dispatch telegram which
will send your husband on a wild
goose chase, till we are we'll on
our way, leaving you here in a
drugged sleep, to explain circum-
stances to Mr.. Meredith when
he fndsand restores you.
[ think you'd better go with
out wasting another word, inter
polated Cotiswode. I'm a rare
hand at persuading the ladies,
he added, turning to Mrs. Mere
dith with a leer.
The young wife uttered a brief
inward prayer for strength and
help for now the helplessness
and horror Of her plight were
only too evident. May I sit up
awhile ? she pleaded.
Certainly, said Spine, who
thought she was yielding. Colts
wode walked behind her, taking
a handkerchief and a little vial
from his pocket.
CaKfor help and I viii chloro-
form you, he said roughly.
Mrs. Meredith shuddered, and
looked at the other man with
frightened eyes. Sir,she almost
whispered, you are a gentle
man in manner, and must
have something manly in you.
Can you threaten a woman so No.
a woman who has done
you no harm? If it be- money
you want, tell me the amount,
and vow that I will send it in
instalments, if I have to deprive
myself Of the common neces-
saries of life.
A slight flush rose to Spine's
brow, and he looked toward the
other man with questioning
glance.
Rot said Cotiswode; there are
two of us in this, and I'm not to
be fooled.
You see how it is; I can do
nothing, Mrs. Meredith, Spine
said but his eyeg never encount-
cred her direct look again. We
are: it is almost unnecessary to
say, rogues; but when I add that
1ur present business is bogus
one, which is becoming SO risky
that We are about to bolt, you
will gather that we are desperate.
It is now three o'clock, and our
secretary--who believes us to he