Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 7, Number 51, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 16 June 1877 — Page 6

THE MAIL

PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

WHAT DOES IT MA TT*

It matters little where I was born,1 Or if my pareuts were rich or roor Whether they shrank at the colli world's scorn.

Or walked In the pride of wealth secure: Hut whether I live an lionent mtui, And hold my integrity Arm In my clutch I tell yon brother, plain as I cau,

It mature much!

It matters little how long I stay In a world of sorrow sin and care Whether In youth I am called away,

Or live till my bones of flesh are bare But whether I do the best I can T« HO ft en the weight of adversity's touch, On the faded cheek of my fellow man,

It matters much!

It matters Utile where be my grave, Or on the land, or on the sea By purling brook, or 'neath stormy wave,

It matters little or naught to me But whether the angel Death comes down And marks my brow with his loving touch, As one that shall wear the victor's crown

It matters much!

Applied Science

LOVE UTOR IN TWO CHA PTER8.

BY CHARLES BARNAItD.

CHAPTER II.

The event of the last chapter happened on the night of Friday, July 17, 1874, The following day, Saturday, broke calm, clear, and warm. Elmer awoke oarly, carefully looked out of a crack in his window curtain, and found that the chimney builder's room was entirely empty. 'The enemy has liown. I wonder if Aima is up?'

He uncovered a small telegraphic armature and sounder standing on the window swat, aud touched it gently. In an Instant there was a response, and Alma replied that she was up and dressed and would soon be down.

Kbe met him in the library, smiling, and apparently happy. 'Oh, Elmer, he has gone away. HP left a note on the breakout table, saying that he h?.d gone to Nt^vv York, and that ho should not return till Monday or Tuesday.' 'That's very good but I think it means mischief.'

Just tiere tho breakfast bell rang. The table was set for four, but Alma and Elmer were the only ones who could «nswer tho all, and they sat down to the table aionn. They talked of various matters which were of little consequence, and when the meal was over Elmor announced that as the day was •quiet, ho should make a little photographing expedition about the neighborhood. 'My visit here now is more than a quarter over, and I wish t'i take home some photos of the place. Will you not go with me?' •With all mv heart, if I can leave father. But please don't talk of going homo yet. I hope you will not go till tilings are settled. We waut you, Elmer. You are so wipe and strong, and— you know what I iwean.' 'Perhaps I do. At any rate I'm not going till I havo paid up that Bel ford for liis insults.' 'Oh, let not talk of him to day.'

This was eminently wise. They bad bottor enjoy the day of peace that was before them. The shadows of the coming events already darkened their lives, though they knew it not. Mr. Denny, •was so much better that he could spare Alma, and about ten o'clock she appeared, papor umbrella in hand, at the porch and Elmer soon joined her, carrying a Titnall camera, and a light wooden tripod lor its support.

Ho did not know all the circumstances of tho trouble that had invaded the family, but he felt sure that the confidential clerk intended some terriblo mhaino or exposure that in sonio way tsonoornod his cousin Alma. So it' was ho came to call himself her Lohengrin, come to light hor battles, not with a sword, but with the telegraph, the camera,, and the micro-lantern.

Tho Sabbath passed quietly, and the Monday came. Alter breakfast the student retreated to his room and tried to study but could not.

About ten o'clock he heard a carriage of some kind stop before the house. His room being at the rear, he could net see who had come, and thinking that it might lie merely some strange visitor, and that at least it did not concern him, he turned to his books and made another attempt to read.

After some slight delay he hoard the carriage drive awav, and the old house became very still". Then he heard a door open down stairs, and in a moment alter one of the maids knocked at his door. 'Would Mr. Franklin kindly come down stairs? Mr. Denny wished to see him In the library.'

He would come at once and picking up a number of unmounted photographs J'rom the table, he prepared to go down stairs. H^ hardly knew why he should tako the pictures Just theu. There seemed no special reason why he should show them to Mr. Denny still, an indefinite feeling urged him to take them with him.

The library was a small room, dark, with heavy "book shelves against the walls and crowded with tables, desk and easy chairs. There was a student lamp on the center tahle, and in a corner stood a large iron safe. Mr. Denny was seated at the table hi* back to tie door, and with his supported hv his band and arm. He did not seem to notice the arrival of bis visitor, and .Elmer advanced to the table and laid the photograph upon it. •I am glad vou have come, Mr. franklin. I wish to talk with you. I wish to tell vou something. A great atuiotlon has fallen upon us, and 1 wish you, as •our guest, to be prepared for it. I think vou, Elmer Franklin. I

I can trust

boy.

remember well your mother, my You have ber features— «nd I will now trust vou for hor sake. We are eutirely ruined.' ... 'How, sir? How Istbat possible, with all vour property?' 'Sot ouo cent of iny property—not a foot of ground, or a single brick, or a piece oi shafting in the mills-—belongsto uie.' 'This is terrible, air. How did it happen?* 'It is a short and sad story. I was my father's only child, and there were no other heirs. My lather's last illness was very sudden, aad he left no will. He told me when lie died that he had left everything to me. We never found any wlU that would bear oat this assertion. However, the ordinary process of law gave mo the property, and I thought myself secure. Suddenly a will was found, in which all the property was aeft to a distant relativ© in New \ork, and I was merely f00*, -It

he died, and when I was rusticating college. 1 thought I must needs Idav after to-mor-

.y wild oat*, an pay for them all by total btsgu7 The devisee, by the will, acted very strangely about the property. He did not disturb me for a very long time. He probably feared to do so and then he mado a mortgage of one hundreu thousand dollars on the entire property, took the money and immediately went abroad.' •And he left you here in possession? •Yes. The interest on the mortgage became due. There was no one to pay it, and they even had the effrontery to come to me. I refused to pay it again and again, and every time the interest was added to the mortgage till it rolled up to an enormous amount. Meanwhile the devisee died, penniless, in Europe, and on next Wednesday, Abrams. the lawyer who holds the mortgage, 1s to take possession of everything—and we —we are to go—I know not whither.'

For a few moments there was a profound silence in the room. The elder man mourned his dreadful fate, and the son ofscienoe was ready to shout for joy. Restraining himself with an effort, he said, :ict without a tremor in his voice: 'And have you searched fur any other will?' 'That is a very idle question, my son We have searched these long years for it. And then, too, jost as I need a stall for my declining years, it breaks under

'You refer to Mr. Bel ford, t-ir? 'Yea. Since I injured my foot in the mill, I have trusted my affairs entlrelv to him, and BOW I sometimes think that he is playing me false. Even now when all this trouble has oome upon me, bo is absent, and I have no one to consult, nor do I find any to aid or com fort me.' 'Perhaps I can aid you, sir. •I do not know. I fear no one can avail us now.' 'May I be very frank with you, sir? 'Certainly. For#I am past all pride or fear. There can be nothing worse now.' •I think, vou have placed too much confidence in that man. lie is not trustworthy.' 'How do you know? CUM you prove it?' 'Yes, sir. You remomber the new chimney?' 'Ye* but he explained that, and collected all the money that had boen paid on the supposed extra height of the chimney.' 'That was very easy, sir, for he had it in his own pocket. I met some of the work people in the village, and casually asked them how high the chimney was to be, and every man gave the real height.' Mr. Belford lied to you about it, and pocketed the difference between his measurements and mine. Of course, when detected he promptly restored the money, and thought himself very lucky to have escaped so easily. More than that, ho claimed that tho chimney was capped with stone. It is not. It is brick to the top, and the upper courses were rubbed over with some colored plaster.' 'I can hardly believe it. Besides, how can you prove it?' 'That will do it, sir. Look at it carefully.

So saying, Elmer selected a photograph from those on tho table and prefented it to Mr. Denny.

The old gentleman looked at it carefully for a few moments, and said with an air of conviction— 'It is a perfect fraud. I had no idea that the man was such a thief.' 'Yes*, sir. Look at that bare place. The plaster has fallen off and you oan see the brick 'Oh, I cau see. There is no need to explpin the picture. Havo you any more?' •Yes, sir quite a number. I'm glad I brought them with me.'

Mr. Denny turned them over very slowly, and commented briefly upon them. ,,

That is the house. Yory well done indeed, my boy. And that is the mill. Excellent. Why, I should know it at once. And—eh! what's that? The batting mill?' 'Yes, sir. That is the new building which is going up beyond the millpond.' •Great heavens! What an outrageous fraud! Mr. Belford told me it was almost done. He has drawn almost all the money to pay for it already, and according to this picture only one story is up. when was this picture taken?' 'On Saturday, sir. Alma was with me. She will tell you.'

Mr. Denny rang a small bell that stood at bis elbow, and a maid came to the door. •Will you call Miss Denny, Anna?'^

The maid retired, and in a moment or two Alma appeared. She seemed pale and dejected, and sat down at once fcs if weary. 'What is it, father?. Any new troubles?' •Were you with your cousin when he took this photograph?' 'Yes. It's the batting mill."

Just here the door opened, and Mr. Belford, hat and traveling bag iu hand, as if just from the station, entered the room. The two meU looked up in undisguised amazement, but Alma cast her eves upon the floor, and her face seemed to put on a more ashen hue than

Ah! excuse me.' I really did not mean to intrude. I am just from Now York, and I have been so successful that I hastened to lay the news before

^•What have you to say, Mr. Belford?' said Mr. Denny coldly. •Thpro are none but friends here, and you need not fear to speak.'

Mr. Franklin hastily gathered up the pictures together, and rolling them up, placed them securely in his pocket, with the mental remark that ho 'knew of one who was not a friend—no, not much.' ,, ,, 'I have arranged everything, said Mr. Belford, with sublime audacity. 'The note has been taken up. I have even 1 obtained a release of the mortgage, and here is the canceled not© and also the release. To-morrow I will have it recorded .' •We aro in no mood for pleasantry, Mr.

Belford. The sheriff was hero to-day and Abrams is to tako possession W ed-

n^Oh5

bl°-'

I knew that. He did not get

my telegram in time or be would have saved you all of this unnecessary annoyance. And now everything is all serene, and here is Abram's release in

^°He took out a carefully folded paper, and gave it to Mr. Denny. He read It In silence, and then said: •It seems to be quite correct. We-—-

Alma suddenly dropped her head upon her breast, and sUd to the Moor in a confused heap. Sho thought she read in that fatal receipt her death warrant. Nature rebelled, and mercifully took awav her senses. ,f

Elmer sprang to her rescue, but Mr. Belford intruded himselfis my place, Mr. Franklin. She Is

lt ray

1*° was an undoubted crept to its end. Alma

to her room. Mr.

PERRE HAUTE SATURDAY EVENING- MAIL.

Denny, overcome by the excitement of the interview, was quite 111, and the visitor, oppressed with a sense of partial deleat, took a long walk through the oountry. The enemy had made such an extraordinary movement that for the time he was disconcerted, and be wish•HI to be alona, that he could think over the situation. About six o'clock in the afternoo'U he returned looking bright and calm, as if he had thought out nis problem and had nerved himself up to do and dare all in behalf of the woman he loved. He went very quietly to his room, and immediately began preparations for a vigorous assault upon the enemy.*

He rolled out bis micro-lantern into the middle of the room, drew up the curtains at the window that faoed Mr. Bel ford's chamber, and prepared to adjust the apparatus to a new, and most singular style of lantern projections. He had hardly finished the work to his satisfaction before he heard Alma a knock at the door. He hastily drew down the curtains, and then invited her to come in.

She opened the door and appeared UDon the threshold, tho picture of resi'gnod and heavy sorrow. She had evidently boen weeping, and the dark dress in which she had arrayed herself seemed to intensify the look of bitter anguish on her face. Tho son of science was disconcerted. Ho did not know what to say, and, with great wisdom said nothing.

She entered the room with a word. aHd sat wearily down on a trunk. Elmer %uickly rolled out the great easy chair so that it would face the open western window. 'Sit here, Miss Denny. This is far more comfortable.' •Oh, Elmer! Havo you turned against me, too?' •Not knowingly. Sit here where there is more air, and before this view and tnis beautiful sunset.'

She arose, and with a forlorn smile took the groat chair, and theu gazed absently out of the window upon the charming landmenpe, brilliant with the ijlow the selling sun. Elmer moan ». ulit# went on with his work, and for a hitiu spaco neither spoke. Then she said with a faint trace of impatience in her voice— •Whatare you doing, Elmer? •Preparing for war.' •It is useless. It is too late.1 'Think so?' •Yes. Everything has been settiea and in a very satisfactory manner—at least father is satisfied, and I suppose I ought

Sho smiled and held out her hand to him. •How can I ever thank you, cousin ,Elmer? You will not forget me when I am gone.' •Forget you, Alma! That was unkind.'

He took her hand, glanced at the diamond ring which was still upon her finer, and looking down upon her as she ay: half reclining in the great chair, he said, with an effort, as if the words pained him: 'Alma, you havo surrendered to him.'

She looked up with a startled expres sion, and said: 'What do you mean?' 'You have renewed your engagement with Mr. Belford?' •Yes—of course I have. He—is to be my hus'oand—' •On Wednesday.' •Yes. How did you know it?'

Instead of replying ho turned to a drawer and drew forth a long ribbon of white paper. Holding it to the light, near the window, he began to read the words printed in dots and lines upon it. 'Here is your own confession. Here aieall the messages you sent me from tho parlor, when you broke your engagement with him—' 'Oh, Elmer! Did jtou save that? Destroy it—destroy it at once. If he should find it, he would never forgive me.' 'You need notlear. I shall net destroy it, and it shall never cause you any trou-

Sho had risen in her exeitement, and stood upon her feet. Suddenly she flushed a rosy red, and a strange light shone in her eyes. The sun had sunk behind the hills, and it had grown dark. As tho shadows gathered in the room a strange, mystic light fell on the wall before her. A picture—dim, ghostly, gigantic, and surpassingly beautiful—met Ser astonished oyes. She gazed at it with a beating heart, awed Into silence bv its mystery and its unearthly aspect. VSfbat was it? What did it mean? By what magic art had he conjured up this vision? She stood with parted lips gazing at it, while hAr bosom rose and fell with her rapid, excited breathing. Suddenly she threw her arms above her head, and with a cry fell back upon the chair. 'Oh, Elmer! My heart—'

He had been gazing absently out of the window at the fading twilight, and hearing lier cry of pain, he turned hastily and aid: •Alma, what is it? Are you—'

He caught sight of the picture on the wall. He understood it at once, and went to tho stereoptioon that stood at the ether end or the room and opened it. The lamp was burning brightly, and he put it out and closed the door. Then ho drew out tho glass slide, held it for a moment to the light to make sure that it really was Alma's portrait, and then ho kist-ed it passionately, and shivered it into fragments upon the hearth Bione.

She heard the sound of breakiug glass, and rose hastily and turned toward him. 'Elmer, that was cruel. Why did you destroy it?' •Because it told too much.'

4It

was my picture?' •Yes. I confess with shame that I stole it when j-ou were asleep under tho influence of the gas I gave you. It happened to bo in the lantern when you came in.' •And so I saw it pictured upon the wall?' •Yes*. In that way it did betray me. Forget it, Alma. Forget me. Forget everything. Forget that I ever came

•No—never. I cannot.' •You will be married soon and go away: I presume we may never meet again.' •Oh, Elmer, forgive me. I am the one to be forgiven. I am alone to blame for all this sorrow. I thought that I alone should suffer. But—but, Elmer, you will not forget me, and you see—vou must see that what I do is for the best. It is the only way. I cannot see my father

he clear beaded son of science now seemed to be fast losing his self control. This was all so new, so exciting, so different from the calm and steady flow of his student life, that he knew not what to say or do. He began to turn over his books and papers in a rather nervous manner, as if trying te win back the control of his own wild, tumultuous thoughts. Fortunately Alma came to his, rescue. •Elmer, hear ,, 'Yes,' be said with an effort. 'Tell me all about it then perhaps we can understand each other better.'

it

l§S8

w* *•. 1 P*. 5 5?"

•I will. Oome snd sit by me. It grows I dark, and I—well, It is no matter. It will do me good to speak of it.' 'Yes, do. Borrow shared is divided by half.' 'And joy shared Is doubled,' sho added, "But wo will not talk of'the might have been.'

Then she paused and looked out on the gathering night for some minutes in silence. Elinor sat at her feet upon a low stool, ana waited till sho should speak. •Elmer say that you will forgive me whatever happens. No matter how dark it looks for me, forgive me—and— do not forget me. I could not bear that. On next Wednesday I am to be married to Mr. Belford. It is the only way by which I can save my poer father. There seems no help for it. And I consented this afternoon. Mr. Belford took tip the mortgage and I am to be his reward.'

Elmer heard her tlircvigh in painful silence, and then he stood before her, and his passion broke out in fury upon her. •Alma Denny, you are a fool.'

She cowered before him, and covered her face with her bands. •Have you no sense? Can you not see the wide pit of docelt that is open before you. Do you believe what he says? Will you walk into perdition to save your father?' 'Oh, Elmer! Elmer! Spare me, spare me, for my father'ssake!'

Her sobs and tears checked her utterance, and sho shrank further into the depths of tho chair, in shame and terror, very thankful that the gathering darkness hid hor trom his view. Still his righteous Indignation blazed npon her hotly. 'Where have you lived? What have you done, that you should be BO deceived by this man? How can you saye your father? If you cannot find that missing will, of what avail is this withdrawal of tho mortgage?' •I do not know. Oh, Elmer! I am weak, and I hav© no mother, and father is—I must save bitn if I can—at any price.' •You cannot save him. The devisee who hold tho will has heirs. They ean still claim tho property. And besides, how could Mr. Belford pay off that mortgage? Depend upon it, a gigantic lraud •Elmer! Thank God, you have saved

Sho fainted quietly away, and slid down upon the floor at his feet. He called two of the maids, and with their help ho took her to ber room and placed her upon her own bed. Then, bidding them care for her properly, he immediately returned to his own room, and the heavy night fell down on the sorrowful house.

Far away in the northwest climbed up a ragged mass of sombre clouds. Afar the deep voice of the thunder muttered fitfully. The so» ofscienoe drew up his curtains and looked out on the etiming storm. Thero was a solemn hush and calm in the air. Nature seemed resting, and nerving herself for the warfare of the elements.

Ho too had need of calm. He drew a chair to the wiudofo, and sitting astride ol it, he rested his arms upon the back, and his cbin upon his folded hands, and for an hour watched the lightning Hash from ragged fcloud to ragged cloud, and gave himself up to deep and anx ious thought. The thunder grew nearer aud nearer. The dark veil of clouds blotted out the stars one by one. Tho roar of the water falling over the dam at the mill seemed to fill all the air with its murmur. Every leaf and flower hung motionless.

He heard the village clock strike nine, with loud, deep notes that seemed al most at hand. Every norve of tho body seemed strung to electric tension and all nature turnea to a higher pitch as if dark and terrible things were abroad in tho night.

He heard a sound of closing blinds and windows. The servants were shutting up the house, and preparing it for the storm.

One of thein knocked at his door, anil asked if she should,

xcome

in and close

his windows. He opened the door, thanked her, and said ho would attend to it himself. As he closed the door and stepped back into the room, he stood upon something and there was a little crash. Thinking it might be glass, he lit a candle and looked for the broken object, whatever it might be.

It was Alma's engagement ring, broken in twain. It had slipped from her nerveless finger when they took ber to her room. With a gesture of impatience, he picked up the fragments and, threw them diamond and all, out of tho window into the garden below.

Then for another hour he sat aloue in the darkness of his room, watchful and patient. He drew up the curtain toward Alma's room. There was a light there, and ho sat gazing at her white curtain till the light was extinguished. The other lights

were

all put out one after

the other and then it became very still. The clock struck ten. The gathering storm climbed higher up tho western sky. The lightning flashed brighter and brighter. There Was a sigh in the tree tops as if the air stirred uneasily.

Suddenly there was another light. Mr. Belford's certain was brightly illuminated by his candle. Elmer moved bis chair so that he could watch the window, and waited patiently till the light was put out. Then ho saw the curtain raised and the window drawn down. •All right, my boj! That's just what I wanted. Nemesis has a cloar road, and her shadowy sword shall reach you. Now for the closed circuit alarm.'

Ho silently pulled off his shoes, and then, with the tread Of a cat, he felt about his room till he found cn the table two delicate coils of fiuo nsulated wire, aud a conplo of tacks. Carefully opening the door, he crept down stairs and through the hall to tne door of the librarv. The door was closed, and kneeling down on the mat he pushed a tack into the door near the jamb and stuck the other in the door post. From ono to another he stretched a bit of insnlated wire. Then, aided by the glare of the flashes of lightning, that had now grown bright and frequent, be laid the wires under the mat and along the floor to the foot of the stairs. Then in his stockinged feet be crept upward, dropping the wires over into the well of the stairway as be went. In a moment or two the wires were traced along the floor of the upper entry and under the door into his room. Hero they were secured to a small battery, and connected with a tiny electric bell that stood on the mantle shelf. To stifle its sound in case it rang, he threw his straw hat over the bell, and then he felt sure that at least one part of bis work was done.

Louder and louder rolled the thunder. The lightning flashed brightly and lit up the bare, mean little room where the wretch cowered and shivered in the bed, sleepless and fearful be knew not why. He feared the storm and the night. He feared everything. His guilty heart made terrors out of the night and nature's healthful workings. The very storm, blessed harbinger of clearer days and sweeter aire, terrified him.

There was a sound of rushing wind in tho air. A more vivid flash blinded him.

w.

4v

Herat up In bed and stopped his coward ears to drown the splendid roll of the thunder. Another flash seemed to fill the room.

Ah! What was tbnt? His eyes seemed to start from their sockets in terror. There, written In gigantic letters of fire upon the wall, glowed and burned Mingle word ,•'*

FRAUD!.

Hs stared at it and rubbed his eyes. It would not be winked out. There was a loud crash of thunder snd a furious dash of rain against the window then another blinding stroke of lightning. Ho drew the clothing over his bead in abject terror. Again the thunder rolled as if in savage comment on the writing on the wall.

It was a mistake, ad elusion. He would faoe the-horrid accusation.

It was gone, and in its place was a picture. It seemed the top of-— Ab! It was that chimney. Already the false stucco had fallen off, and there, pictured upon his wall in lines of fire, were the evidences of his lraud and crime.

He sprang from the bed with an oath and looked out of the window. Darkness everywhere. The beating rain on the window pane raa down in blinding rivulets. A vivid flash of lightning illuminated tho garden and the bouse. Not a living thing was stirring. He turned toward the bed. The terrible picture bad gone. With a muttered curse upon his weak, disordered nerves, he crept into bed and tried to sleep.

Suddenly the terrible writing glowed upon the wall again, and he fairly screamed with fright and horror

MURDER!

4

He writhed and turned upon the bed in mortal agony. He stared at tho letters of the awful word with ashen lips and chattering teeth. What hideous dream was this? Had his reason reeled? Could it play biin phantom tricks like this? Or was it an avenging angel from heaven writing his crimes upon the black night? 'Great God! What was that?'

The writing disappeared, and in its place stood a picture of his wretched victim and himself. Her fair, innocent face looked down upon him from the darkness and he saw his own form beside her.

He raved with real madness now. Great drops of perspiration gathered on his face. He dared not face those beautiful eyes so calmly gazing at hiin.Where had high heaven gained such a knowledge of him? How could God punish him with such awful cruelty? •Hell and damnation have oome,' he screamed in frantic terror. Thw thunder rol.ed in deep majesty, and none heard him. The wind aud rain beat upon the house, and his ravings disturbed noone. 'Take it away! Take?lt awav!' he cr.ed in shoer madness and agony.

It would not mo\e. The lightning only made the picture more startling and awful. The sweet and beautiful lace of Alice Groen lived before him in frightful distinctness, aud his very soul seemed to burn to cinder belore her serene, unearthly presence.

It was her ghost revisiting the earth. Was it always thus to tormeut him? 'Thank God! It has gone.'

Tho room bocamn pitch dark, and he fell back upon tho pillow in what seemed t* him a bloody sweat. He could not sleep, and for sonio timo ho lay trembling on the bed and trying to collect IjJs senses and decide whether he was in possession of his reason .n-not.

Suddenly there was a flash of light, and a new vision sprang into existence before him.

An angel in long whito robes seemed to be flying through the air toward him, and above her head she h«ld a sword. Beneath her foot was the word "Nemesis!" in letters of golden fire.

The poor wretch rose up In bed, kneel ing down upon tho mattress, and facing the gigantic figure that seemed to float in the air above bim, cried aloud in broken

ea*Pardon!

He threw up his arms and screamed in delirious terror. The angel advanced through tho air to ward him and grew larger and taller. She seemed ready to strike him to the ground—and she was gone.

He fell forward flat on his face, and tears gushed from his oyes in torrents. For a while bo lay thus moaning and crying, and then he rose, staggered to thewath basin, bathed his iaco with cold water, and crept shivering and trembling into bed.

The storm moved slowly away. The lightfiing grew less frequent, and io thunder rolled in more subdued tones. The wind subsided, b-t the raia fell steadily and drearily. One who watched heard the clock siriko twelve and then one.

Slowly tho laggard hours slipped away in silence. The rain foil in monotonous showers. The darkness hung like a pall over everything.

The wretch ib bis bed tossed in sleepless misery, lie hardly dared to look at the blackness of tho night, for faar some new vision might affright bim with ghpstly warnings. What had ho better to do? Another night in this haunted room would drive him insane. Had he not better fly—leave all and escape out of sight in the hiding darkness? Better abandon tho greater prize, tako everything in reach, and fly from scenesso terrible.

He rose softly, dressed completely, took a few essentials from his table, did them up in a bundle, and then like a cat, he crept out of the room never to return. The bouse was pitch dark and silent as a tomb. He had no neeu of a light, and, feeling his way along with bis hands on the wall, he stole down stairs and through the hall till ho reached tho library door. With cautious fingers ho turned the handle in silence an4 pushed tue door open. It seemed to catch on the threshold, but it was only for an instant, and then he boldly entered the room.

Placing his bundle upon the table, be took out a small bunch of keys, and with his bands outstretched before him he felt for the safe. Jt was easily found, and then be put in the key.unlocked the door and swung it open. With familiar fin* fiers be pulled out what he knew were mere bills and documents, and then he found the small tin box in which—

A blinding glare, an awful flash of overpowering light blazed before him. His eyes seemed put out by its bewildering intensity, and a little scream of terror escaped from bis lips. A hand seized him by the collar, and dragged him over backward upon the floor. The blazing, burning light filled all tho room with a glare more terrible than lightning

r,

may make. Your conduct is very singular, Mr. Belford, to say the least. That's it. Sit down in tbe arm obalr. Now I'm going to tie you into it, and on tbe slightest sign of resistance, I shall fire.'

The poor cowed creature sank Into the chair, and the son of science placed his strange lamp upon tbe table. With the revolver still in his hand, he procured a match and lit a candle on the tabje. Then he extinguished his torch and the overpowering light at once gave place to a much more agreeable gloom. Then he took from bis pocket a tiny electric bell and a little battery made of a small ink bottle. Then he drew forth a small roll Of wire, and securing one end to the battery, with revolver still in hand, ho walked round'the chair three times, and bound the thief into it with the slender wire. 'Stop this fooling, boy I Lower your revolver, and let me explain matters.' 'No, sir. When I have you fast so that you can do no harm, I talk with you—not before. Hold back your bead. That's it. Rest

it against

K,nce

For-Christ rMMis

tho chair while I draw this

wire over your throat.' •For God's sake stop! Do you intend to garote me?' 'No. Only I mean to make you secure.' •This won't hold me long. I'll break your wires In a flash, you little fool.' •The moment tho wire is parted that bell will ring, and I shall begin firing and keep it up till you are disabled or dead.1

The man swore savagely, but the cold thread of insulated wire over his throat thrilled his overy norve. It seemed some magic bond, mysterious, wonderful and dreadful. This cool man of science was an angel of awful and incomprehensible

wer. His lamp of such mystic,briland that battery quite unnerved his coward heart. What awful torture, what burning fiash of lightning might not rend bim to blackened fragments if the wires were broken! To such depths of puerile ignorance and terror did the wretoh sink in his guilty fanov. He dared net move a musclo lest the wire break. Tbe very thought of it filled him with unspeakable agony. The son of science placed himself before his prisoner. With the revolver at easy rest he said: •Mr. Belford I am going to call help. Do not move while I open the door.'

In mortal terror the wretch turned his head round to see what was going on. He managed to get a glimpse of the room without breaking the wire round his throat, and ho saw the young man stoop to the floor at the door and pick up something. Then ho made some strange and rapid motions with the lingers of his right hand, while the left still steadied the revolver.

For several minutes nothing happened. The two men glared at each other in silence, and then there was a souud of opening doors. One closed with an echoing slam that resounded strangely through tho old house, and then there were light footsteps in the hall, •©b! Elmer! What is il? What has happened 'Noi

othlug vi ry serious—merely a common burglar. 1 callod you because I wished help.' •Yes, I heard the bell, and I read your mossago in my room by tho sound. I dreBsed as quickly as possible. Is there no danger?' •No. Stand back. Do not come into the room. Call tho men, and let them wake the gardener and his son. You yourself call your father, and bid him dress and come down at once. And Alma keep cool, aud do not be alarmed. I need you Alma, and you must help me.'

Tnen the bouse was very still, and the watcher packed up and down belore bis prisoner in silence. There came a hasty opening of doors, and excited steps and flaring lamps in tho hall. "Tis the young doctor. Oh! By mighty! Here's troubles!' •Quiet men Keep quiet! Come in. He cannot hurt you.'

The three men Bhivering and anxious, peered into the room with blanched faces and chattering teeth. 'Have you a rops?' i.t

The cal'n voico of the speaker reassured them, aid all three volunteered to go for one. 'No. One is enough. And one of you had better go to Mr. Denny'B room and help bim down stairs. You, John, may stop with me.' 'Gods! Sir, ho will spring at me!' •Never you fear. He's fastened into tho chair. Besides 'Ay, sir, you've tbe little pet! Thai's the kind o' argiment.'

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ft rather fcioe weapon—aix shooter —Colt's.' Presently with much clatter, the gardener's son brought a rope and then, under Mr. Jbranklin's directions, they bound tbe man in the chair hand and fo°t. ... t-

A moment after they heard Mr. Denny crutch stalking down the stairs and Alma's voice assuring bim that there was indeed no danger—no danger at all. 'What does this mean, Mr. Franklin said the old gentleman as he caine to the door. 'Burglary, sir. That is all. You need fear nothing. We have secured the man.'

Mr. Denny entered the room leaning on Alma's arm. He saw tho open safe and the papers strewed upon the floor, and ho luted his hand and ehook his head in alarm and trouble. •A robbery! Would they ruin mo utterly? Where is the villain?' jr'There, sir.'

Alma turned toward the man in tbe chair, and clung to ber father in terror. The old man lifted his crutch as if to strike. •My enrso be upon you and yours. •Ob, father, come away. Leave the poor wretch. Perhaps he has taken nothfug.'

The men now gathered around in a circle, and Elmer drew nearer to Alma. She felt his presence near ber, and involuntarily put out her hand to touch him. ,_r. •My curse fall upon you! Who are you? What have 1 done to you—you—

§he man secured In the chair, and with the wire drawn tightly over bis throat, replied not a word.

Elmer advanced toward him. and

Alma,

with a little cry, tried to hinder

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gii He recovered his sight, and saw

Nemesis standing above him, revolver In band, and with a tdrch of magnesium wire blazing in horrid flames above his bead. •Stir hand or foot, and—you understand. There are six chambers, and I'm a good shot.' 'Let me up you fool, or IU kill vou. 'Oh! You surprise me Mr. Belford. I thought it was a common robber.' 'No, it is not—so lower your pistol.' 'No, sir. You may rise, but make the slightest resistance and I'll blow your brains into muddy fragments. Sit In that chair, and when rve secured you properly I'll hear any explanation you

not fear. He cannot move. I will release bis bead, and perhaps you will recognize him.

The wire about bis throat was now loosened, and the wretch permitted to lift his head into a more comfortable position. 'Ab!' •Great Heavens! It is Mr. Belford!' •Yes, sir,' said he. 'I forget to put away some papers, and I came down to secure them, and while I was here that wretch surprised me, threatened to murder me, and finally succeeded in overpowering me and binding me here as you see. If you will ask him to release me, I will get up and exvun every-

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a lie,' screamed Mr. Denny,

fiercely lifting his crutch. 'I don't believe vou—you thief-you robber. It's a lie!' 'Ob, lather!' cried Aima. 'Release him —let bim go. Ho will go away then, and [Continued on Seventh Page.]

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