The Forrest City times., 1913-05-02
C. 1 should os set upon. was nervsso

tel should oa set upon. was nervJe0 torment so hideous that in sheer des- peration I plucked my match box from my pocket, drew forth a match and struck it to blaze AS 1t flared forth. sfouting the shadows in disorderly, if but temporary, retreat. l made quick searching survey of my dungeon. To my amazement I was apparently quite alone.
 Relieved, In a measure at least l employed another match and still an- other, hobbling painfully about the grimy, low-ceiled basement, in diligent inspection. My first thought was that Johnson was in hiding, and having To- cated me by my own lighted matches, waited now only an opportunity to throw himself upon me from behind. But I very soon discovered that he had fled. 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 I had followed III III was ShihCoC SohN1 manufactory 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 rough table or counter was the grant, tions are invariably powdered; and here, too, were boxes of round, tumble like cakes. l saw now that the space upon which l had fallen was so re- stTicted that l 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 l 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 crowding tables and boxes with which the cramped basement was fur nlshed
 My third match disclosed & narrow door In the broad partition at the rear, and fancying that perhaps the elusive Peter Johnson had escaped by that means while I was getting to my feet, I lost no time in seeking to investigate what was beyond. was somewhat sur prised to find the door unfastened. Once open, 1t revealed smaller and more crowded room. warm and fetid, into which were packed no less than half dozen barrels of raw and cook ph stove or which a peanut-fllled caui- dron was slowly steaming.
 Curiously interesting as all this would have been under ordinary cir cumstances. I experienced only a sur prised relief, for with my injured an- kle I 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 l had no- ticed a stool, and for this I groped with the eagerness of tho drowning man after a straw To my joy l laid hands upon it. and drawing 1t nearer sank down with a sigh of qualification comparable only to that with which a Marathon victor drops to earth after a hotly-contested race.
 Gradually, now that my weight was removed, the pain lessened. and a sense e comfort ensued. Content fn1 cd tNh of 1t at all, attributed, I suppose, to the reaction from the agony which I had just been suffering. I remember thinking that I would rest few min utes and then take my departure as | had entered, for I realized that cellar doors are fastened only from within. and that there could, therefore, be no impeachment to my going when l 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 antly warm and drowsy; and my sprained ankle had ceased altogether to pain or annoy.
 And then. was sailing in an open boat in midocean, and Peter Johnson, in oilskins, sat at the helm, with a saturnine leer on his face, and tugged at brief intervals, always longer and stronger, upon what seemed to be the sheet, which had become wrapped around my throat and chest and which, by degrees, was crushing my windpipe and lungs. 80 that my breath came only in sharp. shuddering, aching gasps.
 ITO RE CONTINIrEDN