Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-03-13
CHAPTER XIX.

All Of sudden the mad. wild desire Of
Nfc rushed over me. sprang out into
the room, rushed to the door, and madly
beat upon Il with my hands.
"Opcn the door! Open! Opcnv'
shricked. "iust I be burned alvey Open.
open. or I shall die! shall DO burned to
dcathw
hcard-oh. joy!--I heard steps on the
stairs. heard Lord Egerton's voice loud
aud clear.
up that flight! A door straight In
front Of you! You can't miss it!''
"Oh, Paul, Paul!' l screamed, II am
here! Save MOI
A heavy, rapid tread, a hand on the
handle of the door.
"Mcrciful powers. II In locked" cried a
voice should know among ten millions.
"Oh, Victor. Victor" screamed.
'break It open!'
"Hhvc patience-there Ii no danger"
called back tho guardian angel voice.
Crash! Some heavy weight came
against tho door. Tho hard oak strained
and cracked. Crash, crash, a perfect
vollcy Of blows. till tho lock yielded. tho
door few open, and Victor. Lord Egerton
aud Calhoun rushed into tho room.
"Thc treasure" ! gasped. calhoun.
quick, take It out! The box aud the pa.
pcrs! found thcm!"
"YOu found them, miss. YOu didy''
cried Calhoun. swell, you nrc tho right
sort, and no mistake. Leave mo TO bring
out the things"
As he spoke the glass In tho high win.
dow cracked and shivcred, ana a bright
red fork shot In. The tire had Travelled
along tho roof till 1t reached tho tower,
Victor lifted me bodily In his arms and
strobe from the room. "COmc, Egerton. q
he cried; 1.-THE first stair IL just to your
right"
He carried me down the winding tower
staircase-down long way. Paul follow.
ing cautiously. At tho foot of tho stair.
case. leading from the tower. was heavy
door studded with nails, which was usual.
~ kept open. This door was hidden from
Us till we turned the last curve of the
stair. When wc came In sight Of Il Victor
suddenly halted.
Decentralization! Tho door Is lock.
ed" cried he.
locked! Then We arc lost" said Paul
with tho calmness of despair.
Victor hurled himself against the door
but In vain.
calhoun" no shouted up tho stairs,
''there Is treachcry! They have locke,
us in!'
] was too weak to stand without sup
port. 80 ! put my arms up to his shout
dcrs and took hold of bis coat with both
hands. "VictOr." ! whispered, II am moi
afraid to die with y0u."
He caught me In his arms with sor,
ola sob. but he said not one word.
"Victor." ! whispered again, II have
Kept your secret"
lilo clasped me convulsively, and ben,
his head TO level with mine.
II meant to save you. meant to saw.
you, my darling!"
A crash of falling timber, somewher.
above us, made MS start. We took handl
Victor, Paul aud I. 1t was sort Of
mutc farewell. What followed happened
almost simultaneously. The staircas,
door was flung open from without, ant
Calhoun, covered with dust, made hi,
appearance In the doorway. /.
"Quick, my lord-no time to lose" b.
shouted.
At the same instant there was fall o.
some masonry above our heads, and. al
we darted out, Paul, who was furthes
from the entrance. fell, struck on the heat
by mass of stone.
"Dhey've killed him! Oh, they've dom
It," groaned Calhoun, as he lifted Paul
head. Then, with strength that seem
ed superhuman, he took him up bodily
turned, and hurried along tho corrido
and down the staircase. the blood dripping
ON the carpet and defling the white ston
stair. followed, my sollcitude for Pau
tending me strength. Victor followed me
and we gained the great hall. There wa
% danger here. The fire had begun fur