Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-12-03
A / olitical Vendetta
WELDON J. COBB
uApTFR XVllI.-(Continued.) }

AND easy
"Show me the way to freedom, then :.
You pledge yourself shall go with
you?"
"Oh. surely"
ITO assist me if need aid?'
"Yes -
ITO hasten yourself to the execution
of the mission. should | be overcome and
incapacitated by weakness or accident:
II promise you that =.
And you look like a man who means
what he says, and believe in you" earn
estly said the other VERY well, then
our course is simple. Alone, fear |
could not carry out my designs, but you
are strong. fearless, while am physical
wreck. There is a window in my cell, un-
like your own. An hours work with the
saw will enable you to break out the
framed grating Then there is yard to
cross, a high stone wall to scale. and
liberty, But we must wait for nightfaIl,
for all day long the attendants here are
about the garden
Hopes energies spurred up as II by
magic. His crushing experience of the
past week had we'll nigh distracted other
man Graves liberty, and the prospect OF
freedom was alluring.
Il shall certainly hold myself solely at
your service while you carry out this ms
sion of yours" he said.
At the allusion, the former agitation OF
his companion recurred.
MY mission - he repeated, welrdly,
pacing the floor with excitement. "lleav-
ems when | think of it! And only
twenty-four hours left. If | fail If |
fall"
Hope placed hand soothingly on the
mans arm. for he observed that he was
becoming frghtfully worked up.
BE calm. my friend" he said, reassur-
inglv. YOU are not going to fail. Is not
the way to freedom open to us?'
Yes. yes-it seems so.'
will not | be at your side to assist
you:'
Then the mans face glowed with hope
He resumed his place on the bench.
my name is Warren" he said, after
long dreary pause, "and am an expert
chemist. and agent for the Vulcan Nitro
Glycerine Company of New York"
So peculiar and grim-sounding was this
announcement that Hope secretly wonder
ed if, after all, the speaker was entirely
responsible for what he said, but the lat
ter proceeded, with a manifest powerful
effort to be cool and coherent:
at was exactly two months ago yes
terday that | was struck down in the
railroad wreck. This l know by compu-
1oo ho do nf ba
from newspaper and an overheard con-
versation in the garden. 1t is. therefore,
precisely 63 days tomorrow morning that
| left in the Vandyke House, at Murry-
vile. a satchel containing my latest chem
ical experiment in dynamite"
''YOu meant"
.Wl.dt tell you. 1t is there now, in
the closet of the room | always occupied
when a guest there, pushed way back on
a dusty unused shelf
"Ah. I see" nodded Hope, you fear
someone may discover it, tamper with it,
and create disaster"
mot at all ~ dssented Warren, sharp
". NO one would do that, for the hotel
people understand my ways, and | have
frequently used the room. Again, the
satchel has a warning tag attached that
would at once apprise a meddler of his
risk"
LISTEN" proceeded Warren, his tones
shaking-''it is nearly ripe.'
''Ripe?'
"Yes."
Il don't understand you"
Warren wrung his hands.
LAS a chemist" he said. II know that
precisely 63 days from the date l made
the mixture spontaneous explosion will
positively materialize ~
Hope gave an awed start, comprehend
Ing.
Then. indeed" he began.
1T must be reached, removed, cast into
innocent lives will be blotted out. WHY.
man there is enough dynamite in that
little satchel to blow the vandyke House
to atoms in an intsant."
1t was fated that what Warren had
planned should be in a measure carried
out.
just after dusk Gideon Hope and his
strange associate in escape removed the
sawed-through window frame, let them.
selves down by a trellis to the garden
found a ladder, and gained the top of the
high stone wall surrounding the private
asylum.
Its broad surface was Uttered with
broken crockery and glassware. About tc
pull up the ladder to drop it over on the
other side, Hope caught a faint moan
from the lips Of his companion.
what is the matterE" he inquired
quickly.
Warren was tottering, and Gideon
gras9ed him to steady him with his strong
hand.
Il have cut my wrist on a fragment
of broken glass ~ painted Warren. and il
is bleeding profusely. l am SO weak-ah
i feared it / shall not have the strength
to go with you"
"Nonsense-courage ~
"No-you must see that. Alb now il
Is not a question of choice ~
A shout arose from the garden, a
rustling echoed. Two attendants came
into view around the corner Of the build
ing.
Halt. there - was gruffly ordered, and
the click Of a revolver cut the air, SHARP
and meDacing.