El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-02-02
The Herald's
Daily Short Stery

and could not move an xnch- However.
after violent struggle, I managed to
release my legs partially, and, by
pushing against the stone-flag ged
floor, upset myself, falling with a crash
on my side.
In my fall I carried with me my
chair as a snail carries its shell, and
in this fashion 1 started towards the
candle At last I got to within two
feet of the cask. and, by raising my
self with my elbows as high as the
| back Of the chair would permit. could
just see over the top. The candle had
barely three inches TO burn.
Three inches of tallow between US
and eternity
I glanced hopelessly around our cell,
and suddenly a little pool OF water in
the farther corner attracted my atten-
ton Above the water was a large
brass tap.
Immediately an idea flashed through
my brain. and I started crawling as
fast as my bonds would allow towards
the spot. Reaching tit seemed
years later-I struck the tap with the
top of my head, and to my delight q
powerful jet of water gushed forth.
I turned the tap again and again, and
the water rushed OFT with ever in
creasing volume. In few minutes the
floor was covered 1 looked at my
chums, to find a CLEAN of hope in their
bloodshot eyes.
Well, boys, it was a race between
the water and the candle The water
had TO rise q couple of feet; the candle
had less than three inches to burn,
and there we sat bound and gagged.
The water rose inch by inch, and the
candle melted lower and lower. 1t was
a close race-its very closeness made It
all the more fearful-but slowly and
surely it was borne in upon US that
we must lose. The water had now
about fifteen inches to rise, and the
candle about half an inch to burn. The
comparative distances grew less and
less. 1 could hear the humping of my
heart above the swirl Of the water. The
sweat literally poured off me. Thomp-
sons head fell forward, and he shut
his eyes; Jenkins was watching the
candle, fascinated. We had given up
all hope; we simply waited.
The light began to flicker I lived
century in the moments that follow
ed. wondered whether any bits OF
US would be found. and how the pa
pers would account for the explosion
Queer thoughts for a man IA the
brink OF eternityl
Then came a binding flass..
When I recovered consciousness my
cords had been cut and the gag taken
from my mouth Gazing round In a
dazed fashion, 1 saw a workman cssn-
ing towards me out of the smoke.
with a candle in his hand
What's the meaning of all this?' he
demanded Where d'you come from?
If hadn't been attracted by the smoke
a'coming through the grating, you'd
ave all bin drowned"
Where am II" asked. in hoarse
whisper
In the cellar of Mrs. Jones, what
lets lodgings to respectable gentlemen.
l found the poor soul strapped into her
chair and gagged like you. What's
the meaning of it alp"
In a weak voice told him all that
1 knew
Thought you was a-goin' to be
blowed up. did you? Thought the bar
rel over the sink was full of gunpow-
der? What wicked hoax! Come
and see!'
He helped me up. and trembling in
every limb, I hobbled Dover to the
cask. The top of it was black and
burnt with powder, and in the the side
which had been carefully turned away
from US was yellow tap.
There was long silence in the cell
lar, broken by a horrible laugh We
both wheeled around. jenkins was
standing behind US. regarding the vim
egar barrel with wild, empty eyes.
Mad" whispered the workman
No, never saw Logan again He left
Mrs. Jones's lodgings that same night
But two years later poor Jenkins
tracked him dOWn-and killed him