Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-12-25
CHAPTER XVIII


excitement.
He paid little heed to it. All the sur
roundings in this weird dwelling We're
SO greatly at variance with his antici-
pations that he partly expected to. find
further surprises.
DR.. Williams did not answer. Philip
advanced n hating foot, a hesitating
hand CROPPING for a door.
Instantly stout rope fell over his
shoulders, n moose was tightly drawn,
and he was jerked violently to the
one floor of the passage. He fell
prone on his face, hurting his nose and
mouth. The shock Jared him greatly,
but his hands, il not his arms We're
free, and, with the instinct OF self pres
eiwition that replaces all other sensa-
lions i'll moments OF extreme peril, he
strove yaliantly TO rise.
Iut hewas grasped by the neck with
brutal sforce and some one knelt on
lis back.
Philip Anson," hiased n mans
Voice, do you remember Jocky Ma
SOM
So he had fallen into Il trap, cunning
~ prepared by what tendish combina-
ton OF fact and artitice he had yet 10
learn. Jocky Mason, the skulkins
criminal OF Johnson's News. Was he
in that mans power?
Under such conditions Il man thinks
quickly. Philips first or,ered thought
was one of relief. He had fallen into
the clutches OF an English brigand
Money would settle this difficulty If all
other means failed.
Yes, yes" he gurgled, half stran-
gled by the fierce pressure on his
throat.
You hit me once from behind. You
can't complain If do the same. You
sent me to !; tiyius he'll for ten years
not your fault that il wasn't forever.
Lie still. Not ali your money can save
you now. l am judge aud jury and
he'll itself. You are G5ing-tying-
dead!'
And with the final words drawled
into his ears with bitter intensity
Philip felt u terrible blow descend on
his heat. There was no pain, no fear,
no poignant emotion ut leaving all the
world held so dear to him. There was
on awful shock. a thundercloud seem
ed to burst i'll his brain, and he sank
into the void without groan.
Now, in falling the hard felt hat he
wore dropped in front of his face. The
first wild movement of his head tilted
it outward, but the savage jerk given
by his assailant brought the rim slight
ly over his skull again.
In the almost complete darkness of
the passage Mason could not see the
slight protection this afforded TO his
victim, and the sledge hammer blow
he delivered with life preseryer--that
murderous implement named SO utter
ly at variance with its purpose-did not
reveal the presence of an obstacle.
He struck with q force that would
have stunned an OK; it must have killed
any man be lie the hardest skulled abo-
rigine that ever breathed. But the
stout rim OF, the hat, though crushed
like an eggshell, took off some of the
leaden instruments tremendous i'm
pact. Philip, though quite insensible.
was not dead. His sentient faculties
were annihilated for the time, but his
heart continued its life giving func-
tons, and he breathed with impercep-
tible flutterings.
Mason rose, painting with excitement,
glutted with satisfied hate. He lifted
his victims inert form with the ease
of his great strength.
"Come on.' he shouted and strobe
toward n door, which he kicked open.
A step sounded haltingly in the pas
sage. Grenier, the sio-disant doctor,
livid now and shaking with the ague of
irretrievable crime, stumbled after his
more callous associate. Unconsciously
he kicked Philips hat to one side. He
entered the room, an apartment with Il
boundless view Of the sea.
Here there was more light than in
the kitchen. The windows faced to-
ward the northwest, and the last radi-
ance of a setting sun illumined n wall
Oh the right.
Not there!" lie gasped. "1n this
chair. His face-I must see his face"
Mason, still clasping his inanimate
burden, laughed with snarl.
stop that" lie roared. Pull your
self together. Get some brandy. I've
done my work. II you can't do yours,
let me finish it,
"Oh, just a moment! Give me time!
1 hate the sight Of blood. Get a towel.
Bind it round his neck. His clothes!
They will be saturated. And wipe his
face. l must see his face"
Grenier was hysterical. He had the
highly strung nervous system Of a girl
where deeas OF bloodshed We're con-
cerned. While Mason obeyed his in
structions he pressed his hands over
his eyes.
Bring some brandy, white liver. Do
you want me to do everything:"
This gruff order lwoke Grenier to
trembling action He went to cup
board and procured u bottle. Mason,
having placed Arson in a chair and
steadied his head against the wall,
seized half tumblerful of the neat
spirit and drank it with gusto The
other, gradually recovering his self con-
troll, was satisfied with less potential
draft
1T will be dark soon," growled Ma
son. I'VE must undress him first, you
said"
Yes, if his clothes are not blood
stained"
Rot! He must go into the water
naked in any case. The idea is your
own"
"Ah, forgot. 1t will soon be all
right. Besides, knew ! should be DIP
set, so have everything written down
here-all fully thought out There can
be no mistake made them
He produced little notebook and
opened it with uncertain fingers. He
glanced mt Il closely written page. The
words danced before his vision. but he
perseyered.
Eyes. His coat first. then his boots;
clothes or linen stained With blood to
he burned. after cutting off all but
tons. Now I'm ready. will not funk
my more"
His temperament linked the artistic