The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-05-17
BBRENICE ST.CYR
A Story Of L00e, Intrigue,
and Crime.
BY DWIGHT BALDWIN.
CHAPTER XVI.
FAILURE.

CHAPTER XVI
Noiselessly Cole Winters glided on TO
The door Of the room where he had over
heard the brief conversation between
Berenice st. Cyr and her cruel persecutor.
Instinctively he few to the closet.
Once there, however, he realized that it
was foolish hiding place, since II de-
tected he would have absolutely 10 chance
for escaping.
he was about to withdraw when he re-
membeYed the haven Of refuge he had
found earlier in the night, when the Of
fcers were after him.
With this thought. hope revived, and he
began cropping about to get an idea OF his
surroundings.
The closet, which was quite deep, had
Z clothes-press with swinging doors or
one side, while the other was fitted up
with shelves.
Coles plan was instantly formed; he
would initiate his former proceeding.
In q moment he had climbed up to
what he supposed to be the topmost ono,
As he crept back, to be as secure IS pos
sible from observ alton, what he had sup.
posed to be the ceiling above him moved
ct his touch.
A hasty examination showed him that
It was in reality another shelf similar to
the one on which he was lying.
By Q very slight e1ertion he raised 1t
higher. and was enabled moment later
to creep past it up into an open space
above.
Marvelinp at this, he returned the
board to its former position and raised
his hand. At height of, perhaps, four
Honf 1~n,, &ba Aonr II coroa IN, c0ptacf
with the roof Of the house. He was in
shallow attic between the ceiling Of the
upper floor and the states above.
Satisfied on this point he produced o
match, Of which he found quite supply
In the pockets of his borrowed disguise.
The faint light thus obtained not only
verified his previously formed judgment,
but revealed something that caused him
to utter an exclamation Of pleasure.
On line with the open space by
which he had made his escape, and only
. few feet away, was similar opening.
This, our hero reasoned, communicated
In similar manner with the closet In
tho room where Berenice was confined.
In An instant he was planning for the
future. He could now communicate With
her, and q little later would be able to
secure her release.
Having reached this encouraging con.
clusion, he bent forward and listened
intently.
He heard first . confused noise, then
the sound Of tranping feet, and lastly
well-defned voices.
In another moment the speakers had
entered the room cole had just left, and
he had no trouble in recognizing them
by their voices.
II tell you he's escaped" cried Morris.
Don't see how he could" replied
Sears. Have we searched every placer
This 10 the very last room, sir" an
yvered tho servant, Luke, and he amt
here"
'1t's strange!' muttersd Morris, with
an oath.
He must have slipped out the front
door, sir, suggested Luke.
He didn't have time, and besides we'd
have heard him."
He may have stayed in the vestibule,
and unlocked the door after you had run
up the stair. and before I got there.
That's It'll That's the way 1t was donel
Run down, Luke, and see il there's any.
thing to indicate it."
Cole heard the servant leaving the
room.
Nov, who is this party who comes
here dressed in one Of your disguises?"
'Ohl That never occurred to me. Hes
. reporter"
'For what paper7"
Il didn't notice, though saw his star.
You're . chump, Al Searsl"
Il don't see-
And I'm another, so won't upbrsid
you. never once doubted but what ]
was talking with you. I'm q bigger dolt
than you, for 1 ought to know your voice
better than you do his"
why, never saw him beforel"
Where did he get that OUTFIT"
AT my plsce-thst is, if it's really
And that's where We left Mr.. Cole
Winters"
"Cenfusionl"
"That's the size Of it! He's bearded us
in our den. begin to feel little shaky.
There's no telling what that fellow
may do. . - a.. o,;,,
will try to work the case up on his own
account. Tho next time We get him in
our power we'll"
-Well2" urged Morris.
Kill him! Come to the library where
Ne can talk matters over and determine
what to do"
When the sound of their footsteps had
died away, Cole struck another match,
BY the light of which he located and en-
tered tho other aperture.
-Berenice!" called he, in intense though
modified tones.
He heard = murmured response, but
could distinguish no words.
By this time he found that the top OF
tho closet, like the one by way OF which
be had assembled, was not ceilsd, but only
closed by loose board.
Whether this had been the result OF an
oversight on the part Of tho builder or
design in the scheming Max Morris, our
hero did not stop to consider. :,
In q moment he reached the hoor and
was cropping for the fastening OF the
door. To his joy it yielded to his touch
and opened readily.
"Merciful heaven!'
In alright our heroine covered her face
with her hands and staggered back.
In his excitement, Cole had forgotten
ell about his disguise.
sI-Cole Winters!" cried he. ress.
suripgly. c g.
AS words reached her, Berenice st:
Cyr sprang forward and threw herseif
into tho arms Of her would-be rescuef.
No word of love had passed between
the twain, yet each knew the heart OF the
other. Under ordinary circumstances
such . demonstration would nave oeen
utterly foreign to her nature, out now,
bere .vad, rersecuted, imnrisoned, she
saw In our nero ner only rfiehd, and
gave full rein to the natural impulses OF
her heart.