The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-04

MIA WIN lH6 dlmOst Utlp VI Hfo
slavlsh scientist he had combined this mar
Vicious photography with machine, ini-
proved upon comparatively crude one
originated by Pepper, in such way as to
make a duplication of the prima donna
stepping forth on the platform and going
through with the attitudes, motions and
visual expression of the song which the
phon ograph had simultaneously yocalzed.
CHAPTER XVII.
Then StilIa was dead! That was the
next thought that came to Franz de Teiek.
| 1t was indeed her ghost-a scientific appar-
ltion. an optical and aural deception-that
he had seen and heard.
What next2 The answer followed the
| question in his mind as quickly as thunder
ensues upon the lightning Baron Rodophe
| had LETT him In the dark room and hastened
| off TO blow the castle of the Carpathians in
| TO fragments. Now 10 follow him and pre-
vent the explosion. but which way? Franz
| did not even know his way back to
the crypt in which he had been a pris-
| oner, and from which he had wandered,
still dazed. after. recovering from the all bnt
| killing stroke of electricity which Ortanik
| had bestowed on him. The chamber in
| which he now stood. seemingly helpless,
was black rs ink. He CROPPED his way down
the steps of the platform and stumbled
| against the chair in which his enemy had
sat. Ii was emity.
''ViIlain! murderer! coward" he cried.
"where are you?
There was no answer. The silence aug
| mented his despair. In frenzy he pulled
| down the draperies, when his outstretched
! hands touched them, and flung aside the
| furniture with the strength Of maniac.
| Then. raising his arms aloft. he prayed for
| divine guidance. That Gained him. at least.
| and he realized that time was lost-not
galned-by unreasonable turbulence. He
| pressed his palms to his forehead and tried
| to think collectedly. Was il not likely that
the point at which the explosive train
| whatever its nature might be-was in or
near the ruined chapel, in which he had
| overheard the dialogue between the con-
| sDiratOrs? Yes; that seemed probable.
| Now for rapid action.
1t seemed to Franz. self-controlled though
| he had now become. that il was ten minutes
| before he made his egress from that apart
| ment. but it was really no more than one,
| SO fas. did he feel his way around the
| walls until he discovered the door by which
| he had entered.
Forcing upon himself a resoute GOODNESS,
| and endeavorlng TO waste not second in
uncertain or false moves, he set out to re-
| trace his steps to The chapel. He found
| the ladder by which he had mounted, de-
scended rapidly, and so reached the
staircase leading TO the terrace. That
| brought him into the open air. and he
| looked eagerly in the direction where. not
| long before, he had seen the figures of the
| police agents whom RoZko had summoned
from Harrisburg. His first impulse, natur-
ally, was to shout with all his might to
these men. and so try 10 bring them in haste
to the castle. A second thought convinced
him OF both the inhumanity and inutilty Of
such course. He could hardly hope, as
they were not less than mile away. that
they could reach the castle in time
to prevent the explosion. Why sacri-
fee their lives needlessly? Having de-
cided that question promptly, he hurried on
past the loopholes through which the moon
light shOne sufficiently 10 guide his way.
But he came upon darkness again when he
darted into a easement under the level of
the bastion, and had to trust to tie sense of
memory and feeling in retraeing his route,
with its many turnings. until lie reached
the door behind the broken altar of the
chapel. This rOofless portion of the old
structure seemed empty at his first sweeping
| glance; but, after a moment OF scrutiny, he
thought lie detected movement Of some
| object in far corner.
Franz started 10 cross the broken floor at
| run. bis feet crunching and kicking the
bits OF debris. and SO making noise. The
| figure in the corner turned abruptly, and
| the young man was face TO face with the
| Baron ROd0lphe.
For an instant they stood motionless
| glazing at each other. Then Franz darted
| forward, with the instructive purpose of
| throttling him. But the Baron was no less
| quick OF action. Turning to the spot over
which he had been bending when Franz
| OF stone, placed his hand on a small bar of
| iron and turned il half round deliberately
| Having done this, he plunged away and
was three yards off before Franz could
| realize what had happened.
The Baron bad set going the clock work
which in its turn would fire the store of ex-
| plosiYes under the castle. He meant 10
escape, leaving the other man TO be de-
| stroyed.
Franz was the nimbler of the two. how
m IA arah MI
| tor before he could reach the concealed
| point OF exit for which he had started
| There was a scuffie, a desperate though
brief struggle. at the end OF which the
| Baron lay conquered at the feet of his lusty
| adversary. Seeing that he was defeated in
| bis murderous purpose he was now eeger TO
| escape from sharing the fate to which he
| had hoped TO cons sign his antagonist.
Franz de Teiek," he cried. "you have
beaten me. But listen. in five minutes an
| explosion will rend the castle Of the Car
| pathians into a million pieces. Do you
| doubt me2 | swear"
Don't waste breath In oaths," Franz
broke In. Il overheard your plot, You fisnd,
and 1 know you have set the internal ma
chine TO work"
1.-THE earthquake will come in exactly ten
| minutes from the instant moved that lever.
| Let me 60 aud will conduct you out of the
| castle in time. Keep me here and you will
! perish, for you can't find your way to safety
| alone"
mo, no." Franz responded al will give
my own life to punish you with your own
diabolical device. What have | to live for
when my beloved Stllla is dead? You shall
| die with me here"
.Fooll iOcll stilla is not dead"
Not dead? ALI, then il was her own
| face that i saw in the panel-it was she her.
| self who sang to us after all. She is a
| prisoner In the room where saw the evil
| dences OF her recent presence. Rescue her
| from this impending fate and you may es-
cape with. Not otherwise"
''She is not here. / swear by my soul she is
not She never has been here. ALI the con-
trivances OF Orfanik TO simulate her pres
ence were TO crafty my insane longing for
her-to give my love kind of triumph over
her hatred. L am telling you the truth.
Here. in the presence of death, there's no
time for falsehood or deception"
"Then where is she?"
"In madhouse. No, she is not insane.
But placed her there whan she refused TO
be mine. It's a private institutional place
where money will buy the mprisonment of
anybody"
II don't believe you"
"Here, here" and the Baron fumbled
nervOusly in a pocket. bringing out n iet-
ter. THAT is report from the keeper of
the asylum. Lock. look. but lose no time"
Franz ran his eyes over the letter. 1t was
exactly what the Baron had saba formal
monthly report on patient" declaring
her TO be in good physical health, and
acknowledging the receipt OF regular pay
meDt for her maintenance.
you see it Is So" the wretch went on,
breaihlessly. II would not force her 10 my
will brutality, but i was determined to bring
her to a compliance. For five years-eyen
since the mock death and burial which de.
ceved you and others-she has obstinately
refused to be my wife. Now | give her
back to you in payment for my own life."
Frank thrust the letter into his pocket
and said:
sit Is a bargain. IL you conduct me
safely from the castle and find Stila alive
and unframed. you may take yourself away
from our sight without other punishment