Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-11-26

for those three wearying days Hope had
endeavored to draw the man into conver-
sation, to learn where he was, and why
there.
Feigned or sincere, apparent stupidity
of glance and demeanor was his mute uni
form responsible attendant would not
or could not, hear or speak.
On the morning Of the fourth day. as
this man left the breakfast tray. Hope
noticed that it bore three unfamiliar ar
ticles; first, folded note second, a
blank sheet of paper; third, a lead pencil.
sharpened to fine point.
Eagerly he opened the folded missive.
1t was unsigned, and the writing was rude
and unfamiliar.
Thus it ran.
you have "a hours to do as directed
or die. On this blank sheet write a plain
and correct statement of where you have
hidden those 25O half-thousand-dolar
notes. If we find them, you go free. If
we don't-it's all up with you."
Now the issue was perfectly plain to
the captive. His eye flashed vindictively
as he realized that he held the enemy at
defiance in one particular; that of the
great essential of money.
But this emotion died down and his
heart sank dull and spiritless within him
as he thought of Claire. What mattered
aught else, now that he had doomed her
to become legally bound to a monster
whose presence must be poison to her
gentle, innocent nature!
So Hope raved, wept, grew moody and
desperate to madness by turns, as the
slow hours dragged themselves along-so
another day passed. To the menacing
note only too we'll understood he vouch-
safed no thought or care. The attendant
waited for him a moment or two when
he came with the food that evening, as
if allowing chance to send an answer,
but the prisoner only eyed him with lurid
ragefu glance, and when he was gone
threw himself on the hard, bare bench
that was his bed, and lay stolid, and yet
acutely suffering merged in awful thought
concerning Kane, torturing self-condem-
nation when Claires sad, reproachful face
haunted his mind.
He could fancy Kane playing his wait
ing game. The man cared nothing for
reputation, the crimes of the past were
to him only useful stepping stones of ex-
perience for the future. He was safe
from exposure. while he, Hope, was out
of the way. His scheme was patent: to
wiring from his captive the secret of the
hiding place of the severed treasury notes.
If this failed, he would certainly trag-
ically remove him from his path. With
time given, he could adopt some specious
plot to secure at least few thousands
from the Trust wreck. He had Claire,
had he not? What more could he wish
taking her to some distant part. and be-
ginning a new course of swindling. This
finale well nigh drove Gideon Hope mad
Suddenly he raised his head and listen
ed. There was slight catter in the cor
rdor. Some one was moving about there
Then he heard the words
Hes asleep. It's late and We'll give
him another day to change his mind. Then
the red-hot torture irons, if he won't give
up the secret of that money reasonably"
Footsteps retreated. Grimly Hope re-
fected over this new phase of the case
He was certainly in a critical situation,
and in bad hands.
Once more he sank to the bench, and
once again a foreign sound attracted his
notice. 1t proceeded from one end of the
heavy wooden partition evidently separat-
ing the apartment he was in from the one
adjoining. He moved about. The noise
resembling saving, ceased Amid his deep
misery Hope forgot all about it, and final
ly sank into sudden sleep.
He awoke with a queer sensation, and
opened his eyes with a vivid start. His
cell held an occupant other than himself
At first. discerning treachery and attack
Hope raised both hands, fists clenhced
But he dropped them, as in the light of
faint daybreak he more closely observed
the figure standing a foot away from his
couch and regarding him fxedly
1t was that of a man about his own
age. though very wan and wild-eyed His
attire was disarranged, and he had his
head bound up in CLOTH as though in
jured there. But his pose was friendly.
"Who are you? How did you get in
here?" questioned Hope, quickly, spring
ing to his feet and staring vaguely at the
intruder
mot by the door," answered a hollow,
fluttering voice.
"Then-how-" began Hope in pro-
found wonderment Then succeeded in
tense curiosity, for the intruder had point
ed toward the partition. square about
two feet In size had been cut from the
heavy timbers and lay upon the floor,
amid litter of sawdust. The disturbing
sound of the night previous was now ex-
planned.