the twin hells(两个地狱)-第31节
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limbs longer refused to support my body。 Overcome； I now sank down a
helpless mass。 Drowsiness now took control of me。 Half awake； half
asleep； I seemed to dream。 Far above me and in the distance I saw the
beautiful city of which we read in the Bible。 How wonderfully beautiful
were its walls of jasper。 Stretching out and away in the distance I saw vast
plains covered with beautiful flowers。 I； too； beheld the river of life and
the sea of glass。 Vast multitudes of angels would pass in and out through
the gates of the city； singing； oh； such beautiful songs。 Among the number
I saw my dear old mother； who died a few years ago of a broken heart
because of my wickedness。 She looked toward me； and seemed to beckon
me to her but I could not move。 There appeared to be a great weight upon
me that held me down。 Now a gentle breeze wafted the fragrance of those
lovely flowers to me； and I could now； more plainly than ever； hear the
sweet melody of angel voices； and I said； oh； that I could be one of them。
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As I was drinking from this cup of bliss it was suddenly dashed from my
lips。 I was aroused from my slumbers。 I was brought back from happy
dreamland by an inmate of my dark abode； who said to me that it was now
time to enter upon my future career。 He bade me follow him。 Retracing my
steps I again entered the dark passage way； and followed my guide for a
time； when we came to a door that opened in the side of the passage； and；
going along this； we finally found ourselves passing through another door；
and lo！ I beheld the lake of fire。 Just before me I could see； as far as the
eye could reach； that literal lake of fire and brimstone。 Huge billows of
fire would roll over each other； and great waves of fiery flame would dash
against each other and leap high in the air like the waves of the sea during
a violent storm。 On the crest of these waves I could see human beings rise；
but soon to be carried down again to the lowest depth of this awful lake of
fire。 When borne on the crest； of these awful billows for a time their curses
against a just God would be appalling； and their pitiful cries for water
would be heartrending。 This vast region of fire echoed and re…echoed with
the wails of these lost spirits。 Presently I turned my eyes to the door
through which I had a few moments before entered； and I read these awful
words： 'This is thy doom； Eternity never ends。' Shortly I began to feel the
earth give way beneath my feet； and I soon found myself sinking down
into the lake of fire。 An indescribable thirst for water now seized upon me。
And calling for water； my eyes opened in the prison hospital。
〃I have never told this experience of mine before； for fear the prison
officials would get hold of it； think me insane； and lock me up in the
crank…house。 I passed through all this； and I am as well satisfied as I am
that I live； that there is a Heaven and there is a Hell； and a regular old…
fashioned Hell； the kind the Bible tells about。 But there is one thing certain；
I am never going to that place any more。 As soon as I opened my eyes in
the hospital； and I found that I was alive and on earth once more； I
immediately gave my heart to God； and I am going to live and die a
Christian。 While the terrible sights of Hell can never be banished from my
memory； neither can the beautiful things of Heaven I saw。 I am going to
meet my dear old mother after awhile。 To be permitted to sit down on the
banks of that beautiful river； to wander with those angels across the plains；
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through the vales and over the hills carpeted with fragrant flowers； the
beauty of which far surpasses anything that mortal can imagine； to listen
to the songs of the savedall this will more than compensate me for living
the life of a Christian here on earth； even if I have to forego many sensual
pleasures in which I indulged before coming to this prison。 I have
abandoned my companions in crime； and am going to associate with good
people when I am once more a free man。〃
After he got through with this wonderful story I asked him if he was
going to tell others of his experience when he got out。 His reply was that
people would not believe him； and he would keep it to himself。 Should
this little book fall into his hands； and he should read of his experience
while in Hell for forty…eight hours； it will no doubt surprise him。 We give
the account to the reader just as we received it from Lennox。 We do not
pretend to solve the mystery。
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CHAPTER X
STOLEN HORSES
Justice should be meted out to many who； though guilty； are shrewd
enough to evade it。 From one of the most notorious horse…thieves in the
Kansas penitentiary I learned of the manner in which stolen horses were
disposed of。
This convict's name is John Watkins。 He served a term of three years
in the Missouri penitentiary； and is now serving out a ten years' sentence in
the Kansas State's prison。 He is the chief convict steward in the hospital；
and an able assistant of the prison physician； by whom his services are
highly appreciated。 This prisoner has immediate care of all the sick。 His
heart is tender as that of a woman。 To listen to this man； as he sat with
tearful eye at the bedside of the dying prisoner； and spoke words of cheer
to him； one would scarcely believe him to be the most daring and one of
the shrewdest horse…thieves that ever visited our State。 In conversation
with him one night as I lay on my sick bed in the hospital； he gave me an
outline of his life's history that reads much like a romance。
I said to him； 〃John； tell me how many horses you have stolen during
the time you have been engaged in that line of business？〃
His reply was； that if he had stolen one more he would have been
successful in having stolen an even two hundred。
〃What did you do with them after you had stolen them？〃
He told me his headquarters were in Kansas City； that he would go up
in the neighborhood of Omaha and Lincoln and get his horses； and tie
them in the woods until he had picked up a number of them； and then he
would make his way to the south。 Horses stolen in Nebraska he would run
south to sell。 Those stolen in Missouri and Kansas he would take to the
north。 He told me that in Omaha； St。 Joseph； Atchison； Leavenworth and
Kansas City there were dealers； usually keepers of livery stables； who
would purchase these stolen horses。 He gave me the names of a number of
these men； some of whom I know personally。 Little would I ever have
suspected that these men were engaged in such a wicked traffic as
knowingly to deal in stolen property。 〃When I had a number of horses；〃 he
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continued； 〃and wished to dispose of them in St。 Joseph； for instance； I
would ride into the suburbs of the city and send a note to the man who
usually purchased my stock。 I would never be seen about his barn。 After
night he would make his way to where I was and purchase my horses；
paying me about one…half what they would really bring in the general
market。 I would get about fifty dollars for an average horse。 After
purchasing my stolen horses he would not take them to his livery barn； but
to a private stable； usually at his residence。 When he would pay over the
money for this stolen property he would make out a bill of sale for each
one； and would step into a store or grocery； and in the presence of some
business man he would say to me； we will sign the bill of sale for that
horse I bought of you； and have this gentleman to witness the transaction。
I gave you fifty dollars at the barn； and now here is fifty dollars more；
