Year: 1879

secured nv watch and pocket-book.
Then they tied me with stout ropes TO
a chair.


Somers did not address me again, but
sat upon the floor and gambling with the
rest.


Presently he rose, and saying he
He evidently felt that was IN his power,
and seemed In no hurry to complete his
revenge.


When he had gone the card playing
was kept up for q couple of hours Then
they all stretched themselves upon the
floor and slept. The door opened in.
ward, and across it was the burly form
Of the treasurer. In spite Of the appar.
ent hopelessness of trial. I set about
deVising some plan of escape.


The first thing was to free myself
have large wrists and small hands. In
tying me they had not taken this into
consideration. Without much difficulty
1 iberated my hands; then, of course
it was the work of but few seconds tc
entirely free myself from my bonds.


Taking the precaution to place the
ropes in such position that should any
Of the gang waken, 1 would still appear
to be bound. Thought upon my chances
Of escape. They certainly appeared very
few and small. The fact of the men up
on the floor being asleep, seemed little
in my favor. 1 could not move the
rufian who was sleeping at the door
without waking him. As I have before
stated, escape by the window was i'm.
possible. Every plan that suggested
itself had insuTmountable objections to
It. I had almost given up scheming in
despair, and concluded to adopt some
hopelessly desperate measure, when l
thought of the contents Of a bottle
had in my pocket


In searching me, the rufians had not
disturbed it, thinking it of no importance.
1t contained ehlOrOform. also had
sponge in my pocket. In moment /
had resolved what to do. Drawing the
bottle from my pocket soaked the
sponge thoroughly with its contents.


Slowly, painfully q could hear my
heart beatJ. with all the caution that a
man uses when his life may depend on
the slightest noise, / stepped to the side
Of the nearest rufian.


placed the saturated sponge to his
nose. I saw him quickly yield to the
influence Of the vapor. From man to
man stepped. One by one they were
made senseless and helpless.


The man at the door was last. / drew
him away, first securing my watch and
pocket-boOk. I also found in his pos
session blackjack, which I took the
liberty of appropriating. Then, OPEN
ing the door, l STEPPED into the hall.


Ist moved about cautiously, feeling
that a.l LANCER was not past. thought
there might be watcher there, but, to
my relief. saw no one. descended
the first flight Of stairs, and reached the
second story in safety. had gone half
way down the second flight. My heart
stood still, for I heard some one enter
below; then, in the muttered cath, l
recognized Sommers' voice. l crouehed
down upon the stair next the wall,
hoping he might pass me. But as he
came up, his hand brushed my face.


In moment he had me by the throat.
l knew him to be by far the most pow
erful man, and it was not time. for
scruples. Luckily, it being so dark he
could not see the action, ! raised the
blackjack had held it since left the
room-and brought it down heavily
upon his skull


His hand left my throat, and Iifeless
mass, rolled down the stairs. l found
him at the foot quite still. Imade good
my escape, not stopping to see if I had
killed him. 1 do not know to this day
whether he is living or dead. never
saw nor heard of him again.


When 1 arrived home found very
frightened little woman, but 1 did not
tell her till long afterWard the history
of that night. I have never since been
IN such a FIX, and if discretion and 9
supply Of cowardice can pre-
vent it. never win be in the future.