The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-12-24
A p Official Vendetta
WELDON J. COBB

S--
aught else, now that he had doomed her
to become legally bound to a monster
whose presence mast 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 menacins
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 a chance to send an answer.
but the prisoner only eyed him with lurid,
rageful glance, and when he was gone
threw himself on the hard, bare bench
that was his bad. 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 a 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 new course of swiading. This
finale well nigh drove Gideon Hope mad
Suddenly he raised his head and listen
ed. There was slight clatter in the cor
ridor. 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-
Elected 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, an1
once again 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.
reese mbling saving. ceased. Amid his deep
misery Hope forgot all about it, and final
ly sank into a sudden sleep.
He awoke with n 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 wa. disarranged, and he had his
head bound up in a cloth, as though in
iured 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.
"Not by the door," answered hollow,
| hutteriug voice.
''Then-how-" began Hope in pro-
| found wonderment Then succeeded in
tense curiosity, for the intruder had point
ed toward the partition. A 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-
| Dlained