Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-06-24

pushed him into the darkness.
A few moments later II. Il. Smith,
accompanied by three detectives, in
spected the room which Poltavo had
left. There was no sign Of the man,
no evidence of his having so recently
been an occupant Of his prison house.
For an interminable time Poltavo
stood in the darkness. He found he
was in a small cell-like apartment
with apparently no outlet save that
thru which he had come.
He was able to breathe without Diff
ficutly, for the perfect system of ven-
tilation thruout the dungeons Of the
Secret House had been its architects
greatest triumph.
It seemed hours that ne waited
there. tho In reality It was less than
twenty minutes after his entrance
that the door swung open again and
he was called out.
Harrington was In the room now,
harrington with his trusty lieutenant,
and behind them the one-eyed italian
desperate whom PoItavo remembered
| seeing in the power house one day.
when he had been allowed the privi-
lege of inspection.
Some slight change had been made
in the room since he was there last.
Poltavo's nerves were in such q con-
dition that he was sensitive to this
variation. He saw now what the
change was. The table had been
| drawn back leaving The chair where
it was fixed.
Yes, it was a fixed chair, he re-
membered that and wondered why it
had been screwed to the wood block
floor. DR.. FAN and the engineer
grasped him roughly and hurried him
across the room, thrusting him into
the chair.
what are you going to do?" asked
Poltavo, white as death.
THAT you shall see."
Deity they strapped him to the
chair; his wrists and elbows were Sc
ourely fastened to the arms, and his
ankles to the legs OF the massive
piece of furniture.
From where he sat Poltavo con-
fronted Harrington, but the big mans
mask-l face did not move, nor his
eyes waver as he surveyed his treach-
erous prisoner. Then Fall knelt down
and did something, and Poltavo heard
the ripping and tearing of cloth.
They were sitting up each trousesr
leg, and he could not understand why.
us this joker" he asked with q
desperate attempt ut airiness.
No reply was made. Poltavo
watched his captors curiously- What
was the object of 1t all? The two
men busy at the chair lifted num-
Der of curious-looking objects from
wrist, and he felt the cold surface of
some instrument pressing against
each calf. Still he did not realize the
! danger. or the grim determination of
these men whose secret he would
have betrayed.
mfr. Harrington" he appealed to
the big man. let us have an UNDER
standing. I have played my game
ands lost"
you have indeed" said Harrington.
They were the first words he had
spoken.
Give me enough to get out OF the
country" Poltavo appealed, 'just the
money that 1 have in my pocket, and
l promise you that I will never
trouble you again"
| my friend" said Harrington, II
have trusted you too long. You forced
yourself upon me when did not de-
sire you, you thwarted me at every
turn, you betrayed me whenever it
was possible to betray me, or when
ever 1t was to your advantage to do
shall have no other chance OF dong
me an injury.
What Is this foolery?" asked Pol
tayo, in q mixture OF Diinu I.ur and
rage. They hau unlocked the n..4lu-
cults ana taken them OH nllu, .,ud
now for the FIRST time olt;ivo nouc,u
that the curious bronze Clamps on ms
wrists were attached by thick green
cords to plug III the wall.
He shrieked aloud as he saw this
and the tull horror OF the situation
flashed upon him.
MY Co.." he screamed. you are
not going to kill me?"
harrington nodded slowly.
"We are going to kill you painless
ly. Poltavo," he said. 1T was your
life or ours. We do not desire to
cause you unnecessary suffering, but
here 10 the end Of the adventure for
you, my friend"
You are not going to electrocute
me2" croaksd the man in the chair, In
hoarse cracked voice. Don't say
that you are going to olectrocuts me,
FarringtonI 1t 10 diabolical, 1t 10 ter
rible. Give me q chance Of life! Give
me pistol. give me q knife, but
fight me fair. Treat mo as you will;
hand me to the police, anything but
this: for Gods sake, Harrington, don't
do thisl"
The doctor reached down and lift
ed a leather helmet from the floor
and placed it gently over the doomed
mans head.
Don't do it Harrington" Poltavo's
muffled voice came painfully from
behind the leather screen, Don't!
swear l will not betray YOU"
harrington made little signal and
the doctor walked to the wall and
placed his hand upon a black
switch,
II will not .betray you," said the
man in the chair in hollow tones,
Give me a chance, I will not tell
them anything that you"
He did not speak again for the
black switch had been pressed down
and death came with merciful swift
ness,
They stood. watching the figure. A
slight quivering of the hands and
then Harrington nodded and the doc
tor turned the switch over again,