The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-11-08

Ef1N9tTTfL-- -TTEz fTz realized the
INV 1WlIl % dreadful nature
17i!...s=eS 1755..szI of their situation.
The great gate
was locked, and Jack had failed to find
the key. Then there had come that
mocking laugh, and, turning, they had
beheld the mad-house doctor close behind
them, his evil face wreathed with demo-
mac smile Of triumph. as they could read
lily understand, and, to cap the climax,
the alarm bell had commenced to ring out
its brazen notes of warning.
Here was indeed climax.
What was to be done?
The poor girl had suffered so much of
late that her spirits'were readily quenched
and she believed that all was at once
lost.
All she could do was to cling to the arm
of her lover, who would soon be so pow
erless to save her, and look as if horribly
fascinated at the flcndish doctor.
Fortunately fer her. she had in Jack a
master mind, one quick to act and ready
to perceive.
He saw at once that there was only
one chance left for them. In less thar
five minutes tho minions of tho demon
doctor would be swooping down upon the
spot, and unless they had managed to
quit it, all would be indeed lost.
"The key-search for 1t"
These words fell quickly from his lips
IN hoarse whisper, and, of course, were
intended for the girl. His thoughts were
bent upon other subjects, and suddenly,
like tiger, he sprang at the doctor.
Nora Warner saw them clinch and fall
heavily upon the earth, and then, with
mental prayer for her lover, she turned
to hunt for the missing key.
That Jack had the best of the fight SO
far she readily believed, for the doctor
had been taken rather by surprise, and
she did not fancy that he was able to
cope with her lover, for whose prowcss
she seemed to have great admiration.
Besides, it was quite certain that the
mad-house doctor would have made an
outcry so as to have drawn some of his
keepers to the spot, had he been allowed
the liberty of doing so, and the fact that
he did not gave Nora hope.
She stood before the gate for few
seconds lost in thought.
She had an indistlnct recollection Of
having from the grated window of her
cell seen some one place the key on
several occasions in different hole from
that which usually contained it, and dur
ing that short space Of time her thoughts
were very busy as she endeavored to
remember where this receptacle was.
All at once it seemed to flash across
her mind like an inspiration.
She uttered a low cry of delight and
hope. mingled with fear least the key
should not be there, and, springing for
ward, inserted her hand in the oritice.
1t was a time to shiver in suspense,
for should she fail to find that which she
sought, then all indeed would be lost.
Thank Heaven, the key was there!
Eagerly she drew it out. All, then,
was not yet lost.
She lost not a second in inserting it in
the lock. 1t was ponderous key for her
hands to turn, but excitement had lent
her new strength, and she was giant
for the time being.
The key turned, the gate was open.
When she realized this fact the young
woman uttered cry of Joy, and hastily
taking out the key inserted it in the lock
outside, so that they could place bar
rier in the way Of pursuit by locking the
gate after them, which it must be ad-
mitted was very wise move on the part
of the girl
Meanwhile, how progressed affairs
between Jack and the mad-house doctor?
The latter was a wiry individual and
no mean antagonist for even an athlete;
but his opponent, besides being inordi-
nately strong and supple, was urged for
ward by the combined powers of love and
hate, and this rendered him a giant in
deed.
He had leaped upon DR.. Grim so sud-
denly that the latter was not even en-
abled to cry out ere he felt his throat
seized in a grip of iron and himself borne
to the ground.
OF course he struggled desperately.
for he believed his life to be in danger,
and what will not man do for his life?
Thus, for the space of a minute, it was
nip and tuck between the two. although
it was soon made manifest that the
young man had the doctor in his hands.
1t would not have taken very much to
have caused Jack to choke the life out of
the wretch while he had his hands upon
him, such was his hatred Of the man,
and his bitter memory of the wrong Nora
had sufff red at his hands.
AS it was, after he had gotten him fully
in his power. he took great delight in
choking him until he was black in the
face, and otherwise treating him as he
had treated many patient before then.
Remembering all the cruclties he had
heard of and witnessed, Jack was visit
ing his just indignation upon the mad
house doctor, and that this species Of
chastisement was not very agreeable to
the party on whom it fell can be readily
imagined.