The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1892-05-30

He almost instantly located the sosnd
which he had heard, and gained tho door
upon which some one who occupied the
apartment to which it led was pounding.
The detective tried this door, but as
he had expected, he found 1t looked.
He habitually carried q bunch of keys
in anticipation of such emergencies as
this, and with the aid of a key Of this
bunch, he was not long in opening the
door.
Quickly he stepped inside, closed the
door, and placed his back against it.
Paxton found himself in small win
dowless room, face to face with Marion
Oakburn.
In the character Of Ajax Crawley the
detective was not calculated to inspire
confidence.
OF course Marion did not penetrate
his disguise.
At his appearance she retreated with
an exclamation Of fear.
Her face was deathly pale, and her
features wore an expression Of fright
Hush" cried Paxton, and then In q
low voice he told Marion who he was.
She uttered glad exclamation as she
recognized his natural tone Of voice.
oh, how thankful am that you have
come. I prayed for deliverance, for
am a prisoner, held captive here by
sordid wretches. You must save me. I
am ready to explain all you wish to
know. will correct terrible mistake.
will save Stuart Harland's life, said
Marion, in intense tones that thrilled
her hearer.
It seemed that in the excitement Of
the moment the words rushed from her
lips unbidden, and that she scarcely re-
allied their import.
She trembled from head TO foot.
Paxton answered her hastily:
You may depend upon me to save you
if I can. You can repay me by lifting
the veil Of mystery which has shrouded
your conduct. Come, we will attempt
to escape from this house without delay,
while its inmates are at table.
He cautiously opened the door and
listened.
Still the sound Of loud voices, laughter
and the merry clink of glasses was
waited to his ears from the dining hall,
where the revelry was still going on.
Paxton took Marion's hand, saying:
We must not make a sound.
They stole from the room, and gained
the second story
Here they paused for a moment, and
then descended the stairs leading to the
front door.
But fortune declared against them.
As they gained the foot Of the stairs, q
negro came out Of the dining-roOm and
saw them. The servant turned back to
the dining-room door and shouted an
alarm.
Instantly Malvin and his guests came
rushing into the hall.
Marion and the detective had gained
the street door, but it was doubly locked
and bOlted.
There was no time to open it, for the
key had been removed.
What is this! q traitor in camp!
shouted Malvin, and he and Levi Kredge
rushed at Paxton.
The odds were more than three to one
against the detective, including the serv-
ants.
If seem to desert you now, it is that
may live to save you, whispered Pax
ton to Marion.
Then he wade leap through door in
the side Of the hall leading to the front
parlor, Just as his foes were about to
close in upon him.
The detective at that moment Of peril
thought rapidly, and he had resolved
upon desperate attempt at escape.
Closing the door Of the parlor the in
slant he had passed through 1t, he over
turned a table against it with q crash
and sprang to window, which heopened
as Malvin and his confederates burst
into the room.
But the way of escape was not yet
open to Paxton.
A pair of heavy shutters barred his
flight through the window.