The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1885-11-12

o0bnce, gsntlsmen; but that W. IL
message she gave 70 me"
..Al right" I said, and jumping In.
waved q goodbye to Shaw, and was
driven OF at round pace towards
Hanover Lodge.
There were no signs Of day when the
cab stopped, ~ well - | could judge,
ut the entrance to the lane.
IL was to stop here" said the man
mot to disturb the folks ct the gate
was my orders"
..Then you will wait herep' said !,
standing on the footboard.
IL was to wait here till you came
back" said the ancient driver, who
seemed model Of discipline.
"And then2' asked.
"Then was to drive back where l
brought you from"
This seemed convincing enough.
under the circumstances. jumped
down. and made my way along the
lane. Keeping well on the grass-grown
sidewalk. soon reached the gates of
Hanover Lodge. 1t was very dark,
but could dimly make out the outline
of the gate-house and the bars Of the
big gate. crcpt mp to it. The little
side-gate was ajar! 1t yielded noise
lessly to my pressure. was within
the grounds!
Swiftly and silently, with the revolver
ready for instant use. sped along the
turf-border till well beyond the cottage.
The turf continued to mufie my
footsteps, the darkness and the thick
shrubbery effectually concealed my
form. Soon was crossing the bridge
from which, but few hours before, l
had taken my desperate leap for life.
crouched beneath the parapet as /
crossed it. lest haply some eye might
see my form against the sky, % ! had
seen the figures Of my baf1lod pursueEs
while ago. But there was little fear
Of that now. The moon had long sunk,
and the darkness-the darkness Of the
autumn morning-was intense.
reached the end Of the avenue, and
with heart beating more and more
eagerly as neared the goal. picturing
the delight, even in the danger, ofmeet-
ing Mary at the side-door, and bring
ing her of in safety to the haven of St.
Bartimeus's. made out the dim shape
Of the house. dark, lifeless, menancing.
grit by whispering masses Of sere-leav-
ed trees across the looming lawn.
There. in that dark, heartless shadow,
my loves warm heart was beating
eagerly in the midst Of its fear. its sus-
pensc. love was keeping vigil for'me,
l knew. Aud with strength and
resolve which made all dangers seem
small. and death. If needs be, for her
sake delight, / prepared to skirt the
grass and reach the gate Of promise.
A stumble over trce-roots in the
darkness gave me warning that eau
ton was necessary as well as speed,
and. with all the visual power could
muster, sought once moro to pierce
the darkness and to make safe course
for the side-door. Then, rs looked In
to the thickcst gloom, the darkness,
with dull roar. opened into a blind
ing gush of light; the windows blazed
moment into shape. and then fell
shapelcss into an abyss Of lire and
smoke, the earth sheok beneath my
feet. and fell PROSTATE. while fierce
rain Of shattered brickwork crushed
among the branches Of the surrounding
trees. Now / understood why the
Basilisk was roaming about the streets
Of London ut two o. clock in the NOR
ming. Hanover Lodge. with all its
| guilty secrets, was blown up, and
was destined to have persisted in tho
rrins!
FRO re CONTINUED