Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-09-26
Alive Or Dead?'.
) The Strange Disappearance Of
! Gerald Rathbone.
~
" GUY TAonNE.

that hung far above his head and, in
Its turn, gave its 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. It was cap Of metal,
shaped like q huge acord-cup, or q
bishops nitro. From an ivory stud in
the center Of the peak coils OF silk
covered wire ran to q china plug In
the wall.
Rathbone stood upright for several
minutes gazing ct these things. Then,
with a long, hopeless sigh, to tho ac-
complaining Jingle of his letters. he
turned and sat down once more upon
his bed. As prisoners do, he had con-
tracted the habit Of talking aloud to
himself. It was . poor comfortable
mournful echo Of his own voice-but
1t seemed to make the profound soil.
tude more bearable for moment. He
began miserable monoloEue now.
II must understand I'll" he said.
THAT is the first step Of all. II am
to keep my brain, il there is ever to
be the slightest chance of escape,
must understand this terrible and
secret business. What are these
fiends doing to me? Let me- go
through the whole thing slowly and in
order"
He began to recount the scenes of
his frequent torture with the logic
and precision with which he would
have worked out proposition of Eu-
cid. It. was the only way in which
he could keep grip upon a falling
mind; a logical process Of thought
alone and solve this horrid mystery.
What happened every day-sometimes
two or three times day? Just this.
He would be lying on his bed, reading,
perhaps, If the electric lights were
turned on.
There would come sudden creak
and rattle Of the big pulleys high up
in the roofa rattle which came 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 If someone were turn
ing 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
q clicking Of its massive wards, and
Guest would come in. In moment
more Gerald always found himself
swung on the long black couch. His
neck was encircles by the collar of
thick yulcanite, his head was bent up
ward by means Of an indiarubber pill
low beneath 1t, his hands and feet
were strapped to the framework: OF the
couch.
And finally Guest would take the
metal cap and fix it firmly upon his
head, pressed down to the very eyes,
SO that he could in no way shake II
on. The man would leave the cell,
sometimes with chuckle or a malici.
GUS sentence that seemed full Of hid.
den meaning, sometimes IN silence
And then the electric light Invariably
went out rs @
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 tc
E varyJ4DuI In0re was no possible test o.
time. Long. ago time had ceased t.
exist for him. -: s# sss .s
Release would come at last release
food, and ngh land so the dreadful
silent days went on.
What are these ghouls doing tt
ma?''
The hollow voice Of reverie an,
self,communing cut into the silenc,
like q knife. sss B 3.si
1T must be that / am being made
vlcliM OF an awIuI revenge and hatred
| Charltewood was the decoy and too
] OF Gould esbrouEh; 1t was ali planne,
4 from the first. Marjorie was neve
really relinauished by GouIdesbrougf
H He meant all along to get me out Q
H the way, to get Marjorie back il b
could. All this is selear enough.
thought I was dealing with an honors
Il bic gentleman and great man, to
4 proud TO stoop even to anything petit
or mean. have been dealing Wit
! desperate and secret criminals, peopl
Il who live hideous double lives. VII
. walk the world and sit IA high place
and do unnamable evil Ia the dar,