Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-03-02
BERENICE ST.CYR.
A Story Of Love, Intrigue,
and Crime.
By DWIGHT BALDWIN.
CHAPTER XVI.
FAILURE.

No selessly cole winters SHueu'lOAstV
the door of the room where he had over
heard the brief conversation between
Borenice st. Cyr and her cruel prosecutor.
Instinctively lie few TO the closet.
Once there, however, he realized that 1t
was q foolish hiding place, since II de-
tected he would have absolu' ely no chance
for escaping.
He was atout to withdraw when he re-
membered the haven of refuge be had
found earlier in the night, when the Of
fcers were after him.
With this thought, hope revived, and he
began cropping about TO set an idea OF his
surround ngs.
The closet, which was quite deep, had
o clothes rress with swinging doors on
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 be supposed to be the topmost one'
AS he crept back, to be as secure as pos
sible from observation, what he had sup,
posed TO be the ceiling above him moved
at his touch.
A hssty examination showed him that
it was in reality another shelf similar to
the one on which he was lying.
By a very slight exertion he raised 1t
higher. and was enabled a moment later
to creep past it up into an open space
above.
Marvel ng at this, he returned the
board to its former position and raised
his hand. At height of, perhaps, four
feet from the floor it came In contact
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
m ltch. of which he found quite a supply
in the pockets of his borrowed disguise.
The faint light thus obtained not only
verified his prev ously formed judgment,
but revealed something that caused him
to ut er an exclamation of pleasure.
On a 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
the room where Berenice was confined.
In an instant he was planning for the
future. He could now communicate with
her, and little later would be able to
secure her release.
Having reached this encouraging con.
clusion, he bent forward and listened
intently.
He heard first a confused noise. then
the sound of tramping feet, and lastly
well-deined voices.
In another moment the speakers had
entered the room ole had just left, and
he h ID no trouble in recognizing them
by their voices.
'"I tell you he's escaredl" cried Morris:
Don't see how he could" replied
Sears. Have we searched every place."
This is the very last room, sir" an
swered the servant, Luke, and be ain t
mere" -,
@It's stringel" muttered Morris, with
an oath.
He must have slipped out the front
door, sir, suggt sted Luke.
He didn't have time, and besides we'd
h We heard him.
He may have stayed in the yestibule,
and unlocked the door after you had run
up the st ,ir. and before l got there.
That's it! That's the way it was done!
Run down, Luke, and see if there's any
thing to indicate it..
Cole heard the servant leaving the
room.
Now. who is this party who comes
here dressed in one of your disguisesY
"Ohl That never occurred to me. He's
reporter.
For what paper?"
Il didn't notice, though saw his star.
You're a chump, Al Searsl
Il don't see -.
And I'm another, so / won't upbraid
you. never once doubted but what
was talking with you. I'm bigger doll
than you, for l ought to know your voics
better than you do his.
"Wly. never saw him beforeE
where did he get that ontht?"
AT my place that is. IT it's really
niue.
And that's where we left Mr.. Cole
Winters"
Confusion"
That's the size of it, He's bearded us
in our den. begin to feel little shaky
There no telling what that fellow
may dc.
Hes afraid to go to the police, and
will try to work the case up on his owl
account Tho next time we get him IN
our power WE'LL"
'Well?" urged Morris.
Kill himl Come TO the library where
we can talk matters over and determine
what to do"
When the sound Of their footsteps had
GlPU away, NOiC btAuNh 0hONhOA
l,v tho light OF which he located and en-
t,r the other aperture.
"Berenicel" called he, in intense though
modified tones.
He heard a murmured response, but
could distinguish no words.
By this time he found that the top ol
the c'oset, like the one by way of whici
he had assembled, was not ceiled, but only
oioced nv q loose board
Whether this had been the result of al
oversight on the part of the builder o.
design in the scheming Max Morris, ou
hero did not stop to consider.
In q moment he reached the floor an'
was cropping for the fastening OF tn
door. To his JOY it yieldel to bis toucl
and opened readi y.
"Merciful heaven!
In atfright-our heroine cove ed her fac
with her hands and staggered back.
in his excitement, Cole had forgottel
all abcpt his Disguise,