The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-01-01

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her. Suddenly; when her torture was at the
sbapest, there flashed into her brain q thou ht
so startling, SO unexpected, that for q moment
ter surprise with which it overwhelmed her.
There had been revealed to her at one glance
a sure and speedy mode of escape.
She stood for a few seconds almost breath
less, trying to steady her brain. Yes: there
it was before her very eyes, q sure and speedy
mode of escape, but not paiuless Any
thing but O painless one, indeed, but still one
that must be carried out at all costs to. herself
She was in torture already and that other
torture which she must undergo for the sake
of liberty might be sharper, perhaps, but it
would soon be over. But she would not give
should fail her. She would put herself to the
immediate proof.
The pillar to which Martins was tied was
en- open. Close to the edge of this desk was
small jet, still afight. Of which mention has
already been made. BY stretching ont
do more than that: she could hold her wrists
over it, and let the flame burn away the band
by which they were fastened together; and
h.T hanSs once liberty the rest W
cape that had flushed like an inspiration
across her brain: and she now proceeded to
put it in operation.
She drew in her breath aud locked her teeth,
and pushed ont her hands with quick mOve-
ment, and SO held them extended while the jet
of fame played on her wrists and on the band
invoiunta rily, and her yebro VIZ came together
in O frown, of ngony. Tho tiny jet played
lightly against the band which held her, " hich
presently burst into flame. Even then she
sIntie o6 steel, so fol and elss55 srrs, essss,
so sternly was she Bent on accomplishing the
thing she had set herself to do. III q few mo-
ments-moments that to her seemed hours
BLAZING o.
swiftly back like burning serpent, aud her
hands were free.
Her hands were free, and they fell hopelessly
by her sides. She gave utterance to u long sigh
"a Sigh that was lt;lfa sob; then her chin
dropped on her breast, and for little while
she knew nothing.
Marthc's return to her senses quick
ened by the pain from which she was still suf-
fering. After one bewildered glance round
she came back to knowledge of her true
situation, and of the peril that was still before
herself together, and, despite her pain began,
with quick aud nimble fingers, to unlOosen one
of the knots in the cord by which she was fas-
tened. This offered no long opposition to her
efforts and the first knot unlOOsened, the rest
quickly followed. In two minutes more Mar
tina Bnckhoase was a free woman. A deep,
silent Thanksgiving went up from her heart as
the last fold of the cord dropped to the floor
She was SO cramped by her bonds that for a
little while she was unable 10 move She stood
thinking, we'll as the torture she was i'll
would allow her to think. Hitherto she had
had thought except how to free herself; but
now that fact accomplished, what Ought
her next move to be- She was still far from
being out Of peril. The masked woman. light
that case would her life be worth moments
purchase? Evidently the first thing TO do, if
such thing were possible, was to make her
escape from the bank, without alarming the
thieves in the bullion-cellar. The next thing
was to raise an alarn and eDdeavor to effect
their capture before they had time to get clear
away with their booty. If only those two great
objects could be combinedf The thought
thrilled her heart through and through
She stopped ard took off her shoes without
as much noise as would have Enlightened
mo1se. Then she stood listening for moment
with all her senses on the alert. There was q
noise of voices, brokea, faint and hollow, with
now and then dull, solid thud, like the NUT
fled blow of some heavy instrument. They
were still in the cellar, and their task was as
yet unaccomplished.
Step by step, and silent as shadow, she
crept out of the office, and so along the pass
age leading to the cellar. faint light which
shown up the cellar stairs, betrayed where the
work was still going on. Towards
this light Martha now eaa2t with sort of
stealtby swiftness. WIZ she had reached
and listened. Then, keeping her body
we'll out of sight, she protruded her
head within the line of light and looked.
Her gaze went down the stone staircase and
INTO the cellar. The iron door at the foot of
she stairs had been forced open, and the thieves
we're now busy with the great safe itself Va
ions house breaking implements were scat
erred about the floor. One of the men was
busy with q crowbar, swathed in flannel |
which he was using a lever to force open |
,ne of the doors of the safe. The second man I
was busy drilling holes in another door, with |
strange-looking implement, the like of which
Martha had never seen before. The woman |
vas lighting these operations with a lamp,
leld -aloft in one of her bands. All three were
tanding with their backs to the staircase.
Martha's eye took in the entire picture at a
glance.
There was one thing besides which they took
ITO wit, the bunch of keys with which she
lad opened the door at the top of the stairs.
This bunch of keys was now lying on the land
ng at the bottom of the stairs, close TO the
ron door. Could she but obtain possession of
t she saw not only a way of escape for herself,
nut a way by which the thieves might be
aught in their own trap. But to obtain pos
ession of the keys without disturbing the
hieves was the one difficult thing to do. There
vas only one mode of obtaining them, and
hat was to fetch them. But to do this unseen
md unheard seemed at the first glance utterly
impossible. At the second glance il seemed q
title more feasible, but still q dangerous thing
o do. Nevertheless, she at once made mp her
mind that it must be attempted. Fortunately
he broken door ct the foot of the stairs had r