Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-05-12

he overlook me. On the other hand,
| to disengage himself from the folds OF
the curtain, and recover the start
had OF him.
The chances were pretty equal, and
I determined to save myself by flight
| rather than risk the fatal result OF
the unequal encounter.
made my way noiseles in a
straight line down the roof shntil l
got opposite the door; then Imade a
rush for it, across the open space. l
got to the door, and, with furious
haste, CROPPED about for the key. 1t
was gone!
grasped the handle, in thehope that
l might be able to tear the lock off;
the screw had been taken out, and
the knob slid off the spindle in my
hand. was lost.
1t astonishes me, now, to think
with what celebrity and adroitness
these precautions against my escape
had been made.
The man had not rushed after me;
there was no desperate pursuit OF
that kind; he knew 1 was trapped.
Only, as turned my eyes back TO the
place where he stood, perceived that
the light was dying out.
in which Edith lay. In an instant l
opened the door and ran through the
corridor. The doors in the picture
gallery were open. AS | drew aside
the curtains which closed in the
staircase corridor of the left wing,
saw Sir Edmund come from his room
with q lamp. The door OF Edith's
room exactly faced his; it was wide
open; all was dark within.
"What is it, my dear, what is it,"
he called as he entered the room.
There was no answer.
l followed to the door. Sir Ed
mund was standing by the empty bed
looking around him in blank dismay.
"She is gone,' he gasped "tTle door
was wide open
The bed stood away from the wall.
I babe Sir Edmund look on the further
side.
There was scarcely room for him to
pass between the foot OF the bed and
the wall; but, as he lowered the light,
he said, in quick ALARM
"She is here-unconscious,- ring the
bell for the women
ran to the bell and rang it violent
| ly; then from the stairs cross the gal
lery called to the servants to come
down. In the meanwhile Sir Edmund
had raised Edith, and placed her on
the bed, where shelav like one dead.
From his room got q spirit case;
but we knew not how to apply the
remedies at our hand, and it was an
intense relief to us when the house
keeper hustled in, followed by Edith's
maid, for we were as helpless as child
rem in this emergency.
The housekeeper told me to leave
the ROOM | went to the door, and
stood there trembling from head to
foot.
had taken Edith's hand, and the
icy GOODNESS OF the lifeless fingers that
| had only known quick with warm
blood: chilled my very heart with
fear.
There was a long period OF ter
rible suspense, and then l heard
the dear voice murmur. and
my heart bounded with joy, l ventur-
ed forward that might see the life
once more in her beautiful face. Sir
Edmund stopped me on the TIRES
hold.
"Thank God" he said iervently,
''she has come back to us; but the
women said she must be kept quiet.
Go back TO your room, my dear fell
low, and we will talk it over at break
fast time. Goodnight, good night"
Returned reluctantly to my room.
AS | passed his chamber, | heard the
Judge snoring loud and long
1t needed something more than such
trifles to wake him when he had a bed
to sleep in.
What already puzzled me was how
Edith's door came to be wide open,
when she had tainted in a quiteremote
part of the room.
| TO BE CONTTNUED)