Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-05-18


md moonlight flowed in silently; the way
Of escape was clear. Bahl He would %
back for the treasure.
lie had reached the passage when the
door he had just opened was suddenly
darkcned. Turning rapidly, he was con.
scious of Il gaunt figure, grotcsque, silent,
and erect. looming on the threshold be-
tween him and the sky. Hidden in the
shadow. he made n stcalthy step towards
it, with an iron wrench in his uplftcd
hand. But the next moment his eyes di-
lated with supersttious horror; the iron
fell from his hand, and with II scream,
like n frightened animal, he turned and
fled into the passage. In the first access
of his blind terror he tried to reach the
deck above through the forehatch, but
was stopped by the sound of Il heavy tread
overhead. The immediate fear of detec-
ton now overcame his superstition; he
would have even faced the appariton
again to escape through the loft; but. bc-
fore he could return there, other foot
steps approached rapidly from the end
of the passage he would have to tray
erSc There was but one chance of escape
left now-thc forchold he had just quit
ted. lie might hide there until the alarm
was over He ulidrd back to the hatch.
lifted it, and il closed softly over his head
rs the upper hatch was simultaneously
raised, and the small round eyes of Abncr
Mott pecrcd down upon it. The other
footsteps proved TO be Rcnshaw's. but,
attracted by the open door of the loft. he
turned aside and entered. As soon rs he
disappeared Mr.. Mott cautiously dropped
through the opening to the deck below.
and. going to the other hatch through
which the La~car had vanished dclibcr-
atcly reiastcned it, In few moments
Rcnshaw sGurncd with light and found
the old man sitting ON the hatch
"The loft door wa, open" said Rem
shaw "Therc'~ little doubt whoever was
here escaped that way"
surely" said Mott There was pc
culiar look of MachiaNrllian sngacity in
his face which ilritattd ltcnohaw
Then You re- sure If was Ferrierr, Won
SAW pass by your window before you called
me-" he asked.
Mott nodded his head with an express
sion of infinite prorundity
But you say he was going from the
ship. Then il could not have been he
ic ,'',','' ''," u ~ ~
Mott, cautiously
It'll. ..,,...I.
r,
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