The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-15
The
Sanle
I.orcha
- bY ---
Hsr0ee Hazeltine


- NS A3hhS anu hnecs, Wnlle
poignant pain shooting cruelty
through my ankle told me that
sprain was added to my mishap.
For a minute lay as had fallen,
prone and motionless; and In that
space I realized the foolhardlness OF
my whole course OF action. My very
fntrepidity had contributed to disaster.
Instead OF accomplishing a capture
had cast myself. disabled. into the
mesh Of the enemy.
The inky darkness and profound ST.
hence OF the place augmented, OF
course. my apprehension. In vain !
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 20 mete out my fate once he
made sure Of my position.
Tho minute-it could hardly have
been more. though, as / think Of Il, Il
seemed Infinitely prolonged-ended in
q sound above and behind me. Very
softly. carefully, some one was closing
the cellar doors. Steathily mufied
though IL 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 reisned once again
and In the engulfing blackness I lost
all sense Of direction.
The suspense OF tho moment was
unendurable. To stand there waiting,
not knowing when or from what quar-.
ter 1 should be set upon. was nervous
torment 30 hideous that I'm sheer des-
peration plucked my match box from
my pocket, drew forth q match and
struck IL to blaze. As II fiared forth,
routing The shadows In disorderly, II
bat 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
grimy. low-oeiled basement, In diligent
inspection. My first thought was that
Johnson was In hiding. and having 10
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 no had retracea
his steps up the rude ladder to the
street, closing the doors after him 20
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 a large bowl on a
rough table or counter was the granu.
lated flour with which these confec-
tons are invariably powdered: and
here, too. were boxes OF round. jumble-
Ike cakes. l saw now that the space
upon which l had fallen was SO re-
stTicted that I wondered how II was
possible for my quarry to have each.
ed the steps and reascendeG without
touching me or az least acqualnting
me with his movement. And mar.
veled. too. that twisting my ankle as
did, had not plunged at a slant and
struck my head upon one or another
OF the crowdlng 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 10 find the door unfastened.
Once open. II revealed a smaller and
nHre crowded room. warm and fetid.
into which were packed no less than
half dozen barrels OF raw and cook.
ed peanuts. arranged about low
stove or which peanut-flled caul.
dron was slowly steaming.
Curiously interesting as all this
would have been under ordinary cir.
cumstances. | experienced only n sur.
prised relief. for with my injured an.
kls | was I'm 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 10 my knee
and demanding instant relief.
In front OF the low stove / had no
ticed stool. and for this ! CROPPED
with the eagerness OF the drowning
man after straw. To my Joy I laid
hands upon II. and drawing II nearer
sank down with a sigh OF qualification
comparable only to that with which a
Marathon victor drops TO earth afte;
q hotly-contested race.
Gradually. now that my weight was
removed. the pain lessened. and q
sense OF comfort ensued. Content
.ment EMBODIED me which. IL thought