Evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1907-1913, 1912-09-10


my whole course Of action. My very
intrepidity had contributed to disaster
Instead of accomplishing a capture
had cast myself, disabled. into the
mesh Of the enemy. 49,
The inky darkness and profound ST.
lence OF the place augmented, of
course, my apprehension. In vain l
strained my eyes to distinguish an OBJ
ject, my ears to detect a sound, yet I
knew that the uncanny creature / had
followed must be close to me; lurking,
possibly, with raised or pointed
weapon to mete Out my fate once he
made sure of my position.
The minute-it could hardly have
been more, thoughJ as think Of it, it
seemed infinitely prolonged-endedin
a sound above and behind me. Very
softly, carefully, some one was closing
the cellar doors. sStealthily muffied
though it was, the faint ereaking of
the hinges shattered the spell which
held me, and in spite Of my tortured
ankle, | managed to gain my feet. But
by now the silence reigned once again
and in the enguling blackness | lost
all sense of direction.
The suspense Of the moment was
uncomfortable To stand there waiting
not knowing when or from what quar-
ter | should be set upon, was nervous
torment SO hideOus that in sheer des
peration plucked my match box from
my pocket, drew forth a match and
struck It to blaze! AS it hared forth,
routing the shadows in disorderly, if
but temporary, retreat, | made quick
searching survey Of my dungeon. To
my amazement [ was apparently quite
alone.
Relieved, In a measure at least, |
employed another match and still an
other, hobbling painfully about the
grmy, low-ceiled basement, in diligent
inspection. Ny first thought was that
Johnson was In hiding, and having To-
Gated me by my own lighted matches,
waited now only an opportunity to
throw himself upon me from behind.
But | very soon discovered that he
had fed. Evidently he had retraced
his steps up the rude ladder to the
street, closing the doors after him to
check my further pursuit.
The place into which had followed
him was evidently a Chinese candy
mandatory and cake bakery. To the
right OF the entrance were rows of
shelves containing jars of what
recognized as sweetmeats peculiar to
the celestial. In q large bowl on a
rough table or counter was the granu-
lated -four with which these confec-
tons are invariably poWdered and
here, too, We're boxes Of round, jumble-
like cakes. | saw now that the space
upon which | had fallen was so re-
stricted that / wondered how it was
possible for my quarry to have reach
ed the steps and reascended without
touching me or at least acquainting
me with his movement And | mar
veled, too, that twisting my ankle as
did, l had not plunged at slant and
struck my head upon one or another
Of the crowding tables and boxes with
which the cramped basement was fur
nished.
My third match disclosed a narrow
door in the broad partition at the rear.
and fancying that perhaps the elusive
Peter Johnson had escaped by that
means While | was getting to my feet,
| lost no time in seeking to investigate
what was beyond. was somewhat sur
prised to find the door unfastened
Once open, 1t revealed a smaller and
more crowded room, warm and fetid,
into which were packed no less than
half a dozen barrels of raw and cook
ed peanuts, arranged about a low
stove or which a peanut-illed caul-
dron was slowly steaming.
Curiously interesting as all this
would have been under ordinary cir
cumstances, | experienced only a sur
prised relief, for with my injured an
kle was in no fettle to cope with
even the weakest adversary Indeed,
now that this easement was afforded
me, my sprain suddenly asserted itself
with renewed eXacerbation, sharp
twinges of pain shooting to my knee
and demanding instant relief
In front of the low stove ! had no
ticed stool, and fer this l CROPPED
with the eagerness Of the drowning
man after a straw. To my JOY I laid
hands upon it, and drawing it nearer
sank down with sigh OF qualification
comparable only to that with which a
Marathon victor drops to earth after
a hotly-coHtostod race.
Gradually now that my weight was
removed, the pain lessened, and a
sense Of comfort ensued. Content
ment EMBODIED me, which, if thought
of it at all, attributed, suppose, to
the reaction from the agony which I
had just been suffering. I remember
thinking that I would rest a few min
utes and then take my departure as I
had entered, for I realized that cellar
doors are fastened only from within,
and that there could therefore, be no
impediment to my going when I chose.
I distinctly recall that I was con-
scious of a certain strange incongruity
of situation, but could hardly compre-
bend in just what the incongruity con-
sisted. knew only that felt pleas