El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-02-02
Logan's Revenge
BY Macklin Story.

ELL you what turned my hair
grey IN single night? Well
draw your chairs round the fire.
and-that's enough whisky. my boy
very little soda.
The experience is not one 1 care TO
talk about but 1 will relate it because
have noticed lately a growing failing
among you young fellows for practical
joking. This fearful experience was
brought about by practical joke.
1t occurred when I was apprentfced
to well known engineering firm and.
although that was 40 years ago, I can
remember every incident as clearly as
if it had happened yesterday
There were three of us7Jenkins,
Thompson and myself We were forev-
er playing practical jokes. The last
We played was on a young engineer
called Logan, who. on account of his
inordinate conceit, was cordially de-
tested by US all.
One of his pet boasts was that no
one had ever succeeded IN frighten-
ing him Well my chums and I
thought it high time that somebody
did; so one night, after he had gone
to bed, we dressed ourselves up in
sheets, covered our faces and hands
in phosphorus, and softly entered his
bedroom. We woke him with weird
and unearthly means; and when he
caught sight of our glistening faces
and white draperies he simply yelled
at the top of his voice. In fact, so
loud were his cries that we had to re-
veal our identity hastily to calm him.,
It was then that he swore a mighty
oath to have his revenge-and he kept
his word.
1t was perhaps six months after his
n hcf Toy7l
and 1 paid a visit to a music hall In
the neighborhood. On returning, a
trif1e merry, little after IL o'clock,
we were set upon by a gang of roughs.
knocked down and chloroformed.
On coming TO. I found myself gagged,
strapped to a chair in g. small, evil
smelling cellar. feebly Illuminated BY
bit of candle sticking up in cask.
Ny chums were secured like myself,
one on either side, but I noted that
their chairs were heavier than the one
to which I was bound.
Presently the deathlike silence was
broken by the sound Of footsteps
overhead. They came nearer and near
er; a door opened, and rou1e one
stealthily descended the stairs.
1t was Logan.
You look surprised to Sc me-" he
said, showing his teeth. Thought had
forgotten you, perhaps. eh2 No; I
have not forgotten you ncr your toke,
nor-my revengeI L wonder If you
have guessed what it is going 70 be7
It has been so carefully conceived
And he chucklcd softly while we shiv-
cred under the hearIless gaze Of his
cleaning eyes.
''Ahl It's my turn to laugh now" he
went on in ibis sneering voice. You
do look happy, all Of you. You can't
have thoroughly grasped my little
scheme. Allow me to explain the situa-
ton It's test of your courage. You
see that candle?" He pointed to the
cask which stood in the middle Of our
prison Now what do you think it is
sticking up in? Can't you guess?
Well. I'll show you"
He walked over to the barrel, and,
using great care, scooped from the top
of it with a sheet of paper some black
glittering substance. This he poured
into a little heap on the floor in front
of US and touched with lighted
match. There was a bright flash and
a puff of smoke.
The black substance was gunpow-
deri
The brute came quite close to us, and
calmly scrutinized our expressions.
you understand now, I Think he
chuckled. when that candle burns
down into the powder-don't look so
scared; 1t won't go off yet 1t will
burn for go minutes-perhaps little
longer. You mustn't cry before you're
hurt, you know. Well, I dare say
you've a lot of things to think about
during the next half-hour, so I will
wish you goodbye" And this fiend in
human form left US to our fate.
You may be sure it was not long
before I tested the strength of my
bonds; but 1 was trussed like a fowl,