The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-10-31


But looking ont under the window blind
discovered him standing on the embank
ment over against the bridge nearly oppo
site the house What did that meanf A
solution Of the mystery began to dawn
upon me as soon as / perceived that the
man had been posted here to watch my
movements and quickly took the definite
form of conviction. An attack was to be
made, not on me, as I had foolishly imag-
ined in my fright, but upon Taras. He
was to be waylaid on his return by the
gang, who had detached Drigo to prevent
me communicating any suspicion Of their
design to him. But week before had
watched outside Grandson chambers and
followed Taras home. That fact might
very well be known to the secret enemy,
who seemed to be acquainted with every
movement of Taras and clearly explained
the object In setting an outpost to watch
me. As recalled this incident the figure
of the man who drove Kavanagh's brough
am came before my mind, and l saw
again the furtive glance of suspicion with
which he regarded me. Might he not be a
spy obtaining information by some covert
means from Kavanaghi
Mere Lucas came to the door and bade
me good night. When she was gone, went
to the window and peeped again behind the
blind. Drigo had not stirred from his place
at the foot Of the bridge. His presence
served to confirm my suspicious, and saw
that Taras. to be saved must be warned OF
the danger. But how was to reach him 7
l saw clearly enough that it would not do
to expose myself to a personal encounter
with Drigo. That would not save Taras.
Yet how could get to Taras without that
riskf
In seeking an answer to this question it
presently occurred to me that workmen
had been doing something to the wall
which separated the yard from Gordon's
pottery, and recollected hearing that an
opening was to be made to facilitate the
transport of the group to the kiln, where it
was to be burned. II could get into the
pottery, might flnd an exit in the street
at the back, and SO get away unseen and
unsupported by Drigo.
Leaving tho light burning in my room, /
ran down to the kitchen, provided myself
with candle and silently went out into the
yard. A heap of bricks and rubbish showed
where the men had been working, and on
lighting the candle found to my inex.
pressible Joy that a break had been made
In the wall and roughly closed for the night
with a couple of boards. pushed one aside
and found that l could easily get into the
cellar beyond, where saw the square blocks
Of clay piled up from floor to ceiling.
With some little difficulty made my
way through the cellar into the warehouse
and thence through an Office into the shop,
and here thought had nothing to do but
unboft the door and walk out. But when
came to examine the fastenings discov.
cred a fact which l might have foreseen,
knowing that no one inhabited the pottery
the door was locked on the outside MY
heart fell, and stood looking at the solid
lock stupidity for some moments, quite over
come by the hopelessness of my position
In the silence that followed my ear caught
the sound of a distant footstep and then the
heavy scrape Of nailed boot on ladder
and the rustic of straw on the warehouse
floor. With unreasoning terror l figured
Drigo pursuing me hither, and my heart
stood still with the consciousness that
was utterly at his mercy.
A glimmer Of light appeared. 1t grew
stronger, and then part Of rough corduroys
appeared at the head of tho steps with a
lantern on one side and a crowbar on the
other, but the next minute Ibreathed again
as man came into sight whom l recog
nized as q hand employed in the pottery
He could say nothing for astonishment on
finding me there, nor was his amazement
lessened when made him understand that
wanted to leave the pottery without going
back through the yard.
"Well, miss" said he, there's only one
way you can go out IL SO be you don't want
to go back the way you come, and that's
the way come In when I've got my fires to
look after, as tho case is tonight. It's a
longer way round and sight dirtier, for
you'll have to go through the coalyard and
out into Ferry street, where the roads all
up for the drains,n
The eagerness with which agreed to take
this roundabout and unpleasant route
must have led him to doubt whether on the
whole was quite In my right mind, and
indeed my exultation and joy were little
short Of madness when l got out into Ferry
street. where knew was quite safe from
nripo