Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1885-07-25

the victim of treacherous man.
81 must make an effort to escape, y
he groaned to himself. "Oh, were /
but free from these terrible irons, then
there might be a chance. Oh, Marion
Marion, what must you think of my
long absence from your"
To the outside of the door came
familiar footsteps. The key grated in
the lock, and the jailor's lantern threw
its Pickering candle light into the room
and on the prisoners form, lying on
the straw tick.
"You see,' said Ralph Langly, as he
entered, 81 have come as | promised,
for your last and decisive answer TO
my proposition"
"You have received it often enough
my usual refusal. That's enough.
Now 90 away from me"
ado you know that you will starve
to death here p
"Will I2'
"Yes you will !"
Langly's passion was stirring at his
prisoners GOODNESS.
"These walls are thick, the room
lies in the very heart of The house,
your loudest cry cannot penetrate
scarcely beyond this room. People
think this house uninhabited-quite
right that they should think thus
nothing could suit me better"
GO from my sight you murderer.
coward! 1t is my chained condition
that emboldens you to speak thus. Oh,
for moments liberty! | should
avenge all the months of suffering |
have experienced at your hands"
Indeed p and Langly came near
his prisoner "But it is not likely you
shall be granted a moments freedom
| no. my dear fellow" He took out hi
watch now. after eleven. gettin
| late. Well, suppose have receive
my final answer. You must give u
| Marion Mandrake. You won't leave
| New York until after the wedding, viii
you ?"
"No, thousand times no; neither
will Marion Mandrake ever become
your wife.
"You would rather stay here and
starve and die, eh ?" The williams man
ner would have aggravated an angel
to anger and rage as it did the prisoner
"And still, for all that, Miss Mandrake
shall become my wife.
Maddened, aggravated, almost tren'
zied, by the words and manner of the
sneering Langly, Robert GRAVITY leap
ed to his feet, and forgetting for the
moment that he was chained, rushed
at his foe with the intention of strang-
ling him on the spot.
As he got out as far as the chain
would allow him there was strange
sound from the wall, near the bed tick
followed by glad cry from the pris-
oner, Robert GRAVITY,
By the lantern light behind the pris-
oner, Ralph Langly saw him rush to.
ward him, 90 to the length of his chain
and then come to sudden pause, then
he heard the sound from the wall, look
ing, saw the part of the wood in the
wall which held the chain give way,
and the heavy chain dropped to the
floor telling him that his prisoner was
free.
With sudden cry of fear the william
turned to flee.
But Robert Grantly was upon him
in an instant, and bore him down on
his back on the floor, then with one
knee on his breast and one hand grasp
ing his throat he exclaimed
"Now you coward who is master =
The wretch on the floor made an
effort to rise, but the late prisoner
grip was one of iron.
''Give me the keys to unlock the
shackles on my ankles-quick | say y
was Roberts command.
"It's in my pocket" Kissed the fear
stricken man.
Searching with one hand in the
wretchs pocket, Robert GRAVITY
brought forth the keys to the shackles
of the secret room, and also Of the front
door, which he dropped into his pocket.
SHOW then I've got to lock you in
here till return With a couple of off
GERS. You shall pay for all this misery
| have suffered, or | am mistaken"
Saying which he grasped him still
tighter around the throat, raised him
to his feet and hurled him against the
wall of the room, where he fell, partly
unconscious.
Casting look of hate and triumph
at his fallen enemy, Robert Grant!
passed out of the chamber and un
locked the shackles from his ankles
gained the open street and breatiie'
the fresh air for the first time in
year.
Ralph Langly gained consciousness
looked around for some opening t
escape ere his late victim returned
with the officers, as he had threatens
to do. The tables were now turned Of
him.
A small air opening just above tn
bed tick presented itself, and he wen
to gain it by standing the stiff tic
against the wall and then getting upo
it that he might reach the air opening
He had got to the top of the tick an
had grasped the edge Of the openin
above, when the straw tick fell over o
, the large lantern where the candle wa
burning, and he losing his hold of tn
edge of the opening fell back into til
, secret room with a curse.
4 His first act was to drag the stra
tick from the lantern, but he was L