The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-14
PRIZE DETECTIVE STORIES, NO. ~.

ran for shelter, shutting the uoor Oh Nho
magazine behind US.
all those tons OF powder, with the knowl-
edge that If the flames OF the explosion
should penetrate through one thin door
our blackened limbs would be shot hlgher
than the castle keep Who could nave
believed that half-inch OF candle coulo
take so long 10 burn? My ears were strain
ing all the time for the thudding OF the
hoofs OF the Cossacks who were coming
10 destroy US. / had almost made up my
mind that the candle must have gone out
when there was a smack like bursting
bomb. Our door few TO bits, ana pieces
of cheese with shower of turnlps, apples
and splinters OF cases were shot in among
US. AS we rushed out we had TO stagger
through an impenetrable smoke, with all
sorts of debris beneath our feet, but there
was a glimmering square where the DARK
door had been. The petard had done lts
work.
In fact. il had done more for us than
we had ventured to hope. 1t had shat-
tered iailers as well as jail. The nrst
thing that saw as i came out was man
with a butchers axe in his hand, lying
flat on mis- back with gaping wound
across his forehead. The second was
huge dogwith two OF his legs broken twist-
ing in agony upon the foor. AS IL reared
itself saw the broken ends tapping IKE
fails. At the same instant / heard a cry,
and there was Duroc thrown against the
wall with the other hounds teeth IN his
throat. He pushed II of with his lett
hand, while again and again he passed
his sabre through its body but II was
not until / blew out its brains with my
pistol that the iron jaws relaxed and the
| fierce, bloodshot eyes were glazed in death.
There was no time for us TO pause. A
woman q scream from in front-a scream
| OF mortal terror that told US even now
| we might be too late.
There were two other men in tho hall,
| but they covered away from our Drawn
| swords and furious faces.
The blood was streaming from Duroc' 3
reck and dyeing the gray fur OF his pei
| isse Such was the lads fire, however,
| that he shot in fr ont of me, aud IL was
only over his shoulder that Icaught a
| glimpse of the scene as we rushed into
| the chamber in which we had first seen
| the master OF the Castle OF Gloom.
The Baron was standing in the middle
| OF the room, with his tangled name
bristling like angry lion. He was, as
| have said, a huge man, with enormous
| shoulders, and as he stood there with hls
| face flushed with rage and his sword ad-
vanced, could not but think ina, 10
spite of all his villanies he had proper
figure for grenadier. the lady lay
| covering in a chair behind him. veal
across one of her white arms and dog
whip upon the floor were enough TO show
| that our escape had hardly been in time
to save her from his brutality. He gave
a howl like wolf as we broke in, and
was upon US in an instant, hacking ane
driving with a curse at every blow.
/ have already said that the room gav'
no space for workmanship. My younl
companion was in front OF me In tn
narrow passage between the table ant
the wall. so that ] could only lock oi
without being able to aid him. The Lac
knew something OF his weapon and wa
as fierce and active as wildcat, but II
SO narrow space the weight and strength
of the giant gave him the advantage
Besides, he was an admirable swordsman
His parade and and reposte were as quicl
as lightning. Twice he touched Duro
upon the shoulder and then as the lat
slipped on lunge he whirled up hi
sword to finish him before he could re
cover his feet. 1 was quicker tnan he
however, and took the cut upon the pom
mel of my sabre.
"Excuse me-" said I, "but you still
have TO deal with Etienne Gerard.
He drew back and leaned against th
tapestry covered wall, breathing in littl
hoarse gasps, for his foul living wa
against him. =.
SsTake your breath,n said / 81 will
await your convenience.
You have no cause Of quarrel agains
me, +" he painted.
~ owe you some little attention." sal,
/, "for having shut me up in your store
room. Besides If all Others were wanting
see cause enough upon that lady's arm.
"Have your way, then, he snarled
and leaped at me like madman. For
minute saw only the blazing blue eyes