WOLFF'S SCHNAPPS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144150, 21 July 1913, Page 5

WOLFF'S SCHNAPPS.

wm Mdkction of Happiness &A GoodSmrd_

borate these amazing lies of yours? But I toll you that X defy you! Take that, curse you!” . ■ And he suddenly raised his hand, and ere I could guard myself flung something full into my face. Next second I was blinded. My eyes were on fire, and I could see nothing. “Yon fool!” I heard him cry in loud triumph. “You believed you had me cornered here, but it takes a cleverer man than you to got the better of Lvarl Koop. Perhaps now you’ll keep your infernal tongue between your teeth, or it will be the worse for you—you understand.” I shouted loudly for help, and grablied frantically in an endeavour to prevent his escape from the room. But I only clutched at air,'Staggering blindly about the place. “I wish you good night,. my very dear friend,” he laughed, grimly. “And bo careful that both you and Joan, do not fall into tho hands of tho police. When next, ypu meet me I hope you will do so as a friend, not as an enemy.” I shouted to the landlady to lock the front door and prevent the assassin’s escape. But, alas! he was far too quick for me, for instantly he dashed out of the room, and seizing his hat escaped from’ tho house..' , ' . I, tried to follow, but stumbling, nearly fell. ■ The : crafty old man had, while ,talking .with me,..stealthily seizodftho old-fashioned cut- glass pepperbox from the table and, empty tho contents, into his palm, had, with a sudden movement, flung it full into my eyes, causing me temporary blindness and pain most excruciating. . Truly He was tho most cunning and elusive man I had ever met. The instant ho had gone 'the landlady came running breathlessly from the basement'to inquire what had happened. But when I told her to rush out and follow him sho hesitated, apparently believing that I had taken leave of my senses. . Ye I when a second later she started sneezing violently with me, and saiv, the empty pepper-box, she began to realise that her lodger had had’some urgent reason to escape. “That man is a murderer!” I cried. •“Ho must he stopped at once, and given into custody.” But she only went to the door, and looking up and down the dark street, declared that he had disappeared. Naturally she was filled with curiosity and burning with anxiety to learn what had occurred between ns. But I told her practically nothing, though she brought mo water in which to bathe my eyes and thus obtain relief. That strange man, so. full of craft and evil, had completely taken me by surprise. I had not oven noticed the pejjper-box placed with the salt upon the corner of the table. He had cleverly secured it, yet I had not detected his action in so doing. Presently I could again see, hut my eyes w'ere terribly painful, and I was compelled to constantly apply my handkerchief. Koop had escaped, but, what was more, he had vowed a terrible vengeance upon Joan—just as the poor girl had predicted. No. AVhen I stood there in reflection I saw that I had noted most foolishly and injudiciously. My proper course would nave been to slip out after Koop had entered there and then called the police to pounce upon him and arrest him. Ho wonld'then have been caught like a rat in a trap. (To be continued.)