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

He had Just about finished his work
when q cry Of alarm from Nora reached
his ear, and looking up he saw in tho
moonlight three of the keepers rapidly
bearing down upon them from the direc-
ton of the house.
To act with Jack was the work of an in
slant.
Casting the limp and apparently lifeless
form Of the sadiy-demoralized doctor from
him, he sprang to his feet.
The keepers were only a dozen yards
away as he bounded through the opening,
while Nora held the gate open for him,
and no sooner did she see that he was
safe than, with all her strength, she
closed the pOnderous structure.
Jack was quickly at her side, and, seeing
the key in the lock, comprehended her
strategy.
Just as he turned this the three keepers
on the inside hurled themselves against
the covered gate, but they had been few
seconds too late.
With a laugh, Jack hurled the heavy
key far away among the bushes. Then,
holding his revolver in one hand, and as
sisting Nora with the other, ne rapidly
left the spot.
1t would be some time at least before
regularly organized pursuit could be
started. for they would have to first re-
suscitate the doctor; and Jack chrckled
to think what q sweet task they would
have before them, as he remembered
how black the mad house doctor had be-
come in the face before he was done with
him.
Before this time came it might be ex-
pected that the two fugitive5 would be
quite distance away, for they would be
given q little start, which, of course,
would be improved.
Would they hunt them at all ?
Knowing the implacable hatred of the
mad-houso doctor for any one who had
injured him, they could we'll believe that
if he was soon brought back to conscious
ness he would at once institute hot
pursuit, which would be kept up as long
as a chance remained.
Jack did not fear this, however. for he
was man brave as a lion, and, besides,
did he not have under his protecting care
the woman whom he loved better than
life! Under the circumstances he would
taken back, knowing what her fate
would be.
Along through the dense underground
they made their way leaving the mad
house further behind them all the while;
but, although for time all seemed going
well, danger was not far away.
The night was clear, and the moon,
fair mistress of the night, rode in the
heavens like wheel of molten silver.
Suddenly Nora laid her hand upon the
arm Of her companion and bro2ght him
to full pause.
"Listen!' she said hoarsely.
They stood like statues for half min
ute, their ears on the alert for sounds,
but the silence of the grave seemed to
rest upon all nature, except for the slight
noise of the insects, which were not very
numerous.
It was strangely solemn, standing there
and waiting for repetition of the sound
that had first alarmed Nora.
What was it?
Had 1t been human shout or cry Of
distress? The very silence seemed sug-
gestive Of evil and shiver crept over
him as he allowed his thoughts to take
this turn.
Hark there it was again.
Clearly it reached their ears this time,
and Jack recognized the sound as one he
had often heard among the swamps of
the South. 1t was the long drawn bay Of
a bloodhound.
The doctor had set loose his dogs.