The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-04-16
CRU Ell
THE CRAVE,
The Secret Of DunraYen
Castle.
BY ANNIE ASHMORE,
Author Of Faithful Margaret" ETC.. REQ
CHAPTER x-(Continued.,

ton CELL, murmured he "He has found
1t after all +"
A sudden panic seized him; he bound
ed up the bank, leaning his hand upon
the bowluer as he passed-ths bowlder
rocked upon its pivot He did not stop
until he was deep In the thicket, out OF
sight OF the horrible place; there he
threw himself upon the ground and
buried his head in his hands, his pu SEES
laundering and his breath laboring.
ale Is dead by this time." he groaned;
cit must have been q shaft, he disap-
peared so quickly-no cry, no groan. He
is gone; my enemy Is gone!" He grow
eled still lower on the ground, and
pressed his hands closer over his ears.
A struggle ragged in his soul.
The man who could ruin him, the man
who meant to win Ulva, was dead, or
dying. He had only to let him alone,
and he would be as secure In his place
Ulva would be as much the delight OF
his life as before the fatal stranger came
to Dunraven.
But stay! what demon-dream is this?
Is he about to become murderer? Has
he not endured enough remorse and self
disgust for his past treachery, that he
should plunge into deeper crime?
And yet-why cal it murder? What
had he to do with it? The man stepped
back of himself-he did not so much as
lay a finger on him. Ee must be dead
long ere this; and II not?
Thus thu powers of light and darkness
war-ed within him; but John Sircombe
could not live for five long years in sight
of the innocent woman he had helped to
betray, without deteriorating SO far
that evil was stronger than good In his
soul.
He crouched in the thicket In murder
Gus inaction, knowing all the time that
Edgar might still be alive, and only
wanting help to come forth; perhaps
unhurt.
AS that idea struck him he sprang up
in guilty fear and ran back to the place.
As he came in sight of the boulder he
remem bered how it had oscillated on Its
pivot under his hand.
He's stole near the matted screen OF
honey-suckle and wild brier; he listened
breathlessly-he heard neither moan
nor cry. Leaf by leaf, turf by turf he
parted the tangled net work and peered
into the orifice. 1t was natural cleft
In the rock, and cunning bra ms had
taken advantage of 1t to make the out
let to the dungeon of the southern bas-
tion. He saw the ruins OF winding
stairway, which seemed to lead into the
bowels of the earth. A vault-like breath
came up from unknown depths.
! Sircombe drew back trembling, and
stumbled up the bank behind the boulder
which had oscilated. He examined 1t
on every side, and measured its weight
and poise with his eye. 1t rested upon
the apex of smaller rock which was
firmly imbedded In the earth, at GER
tain olav a tiop from the OrffiCa
al believe they used this boulder to
block the entrance!" muttered Sircombe.
He glided back to the pathway and
looked and listened intently Nothing
but the low sigh of the rising wind
through the trees, and the rising muir
muir of the waves.
Back he sped to his evil task then.
He laid his hands upon the boulder ant
with all his gathered strength pushed
against It, 1t yielded-it rolled from 1t!
pivot. swayed moment on the verge
then plunged down with hollow rever
berations, and socketed itself In thu
orifice as IL it had been created for thu
purpose. A few crushed pebbles rount
the rock,.a ploughed up ira In tn
moss, that was all the trace that wa
left of the demoniac deed. Sircomb
anxiously went about restoring every
thing to It's normal appearances; gath
cred up the fur wraps which had beef
dropped in the heat OF the argument
and fed from the accursed spot
His whole care was now to protec
himself from suspicion by providin
reasonable evidence that Edgar had LEI
the isle. He therefore sped down to tn
shorc, to the secluded little rocky have
where Ulya's skiff was moored; tn, ev
the furs into the boat and CAREFUL
guided it to the entrance OF the haven
Here he arranged tho oars in the row
locks. then he gave the toat one power
ful drive with hand and foot which sen
A. fying among the small, chopin
coast waves, and of 1t drifted on tn
current and out OF sight !.
Then ne fastened up the rockpatf
and met Kenmore half way.
A bitter and morose man was ker
more At that moment for he was Oh
gazing In plot that his own clean col
science called nefarious; and though tc
stubborn to 6raw back, he liked M
Sircombe, hts abettor In the schem'
less than ever for his cooperation.
He was laden with the boat cushion
and other comforts, some OF them mol
suggestive OF q voyage to Scotland tina
a row round the island. MI. Sircomi
sad Qufotly. lneIe Ho uuAiy q
slowly that may catch you; l am goir
baek for something he forgot. He
down by the boat and willing to go Il
an extended row; but your gloomy Ia
might suggest mischief and | do N
wish him to be startled. Besides,
these traps look very unlike an hour
row.
Kenmore eyed the ground sourly;
was troubled and angry; he had fanci'
that he would be glad OF any chance
get rid OF fair 90 ava's fatal guest In
quiet way; and had eagerly Jumped
sircombe's proposition to do 1t tn
afternoon; but now that he was actual
engaged In this clandestine bushes
with the much depised director for
accomplice he felt like sneak.
II dinna like it. Mr. Sircombe
rrowled he with a look askance. Il
rather kill the man than cheat him.
Gamma bide cheateric And he thre
down his lead on the ground ana look
Sircombe straight in the face.
Sircomte's stiff features attempted
3rown, but they we're not under biz 60