Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-10-17
WonanAgainst Woman
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MRS. NJ. A. HOLMES.
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Frank and Godfrey bowed.
The old man and Lord Darrell moved
apart few PAGES.
Roy Darrell" said Sir Humphrey,
you have lost more than diamonds
in this robbery, have you not?''
Roy bit his lip.
eyes," he said huskily. Il have
lost my wife
cone other question, and | have
done Was that wife precious to you,
or Gid you regard her coldly?'
"When I married her, my heart was
not mine to give, but since my return
here, only one short week, love her
) with all my life. She is to me the
nuost precious jewel earth can hold. %
The old man put out his hand ST
lently, and Roy grasped it, his face
bearing witness to the heartfelt earn
estness of his words.
J, II thank you for this" said Sir
Humphrey, speaking as with Difficult
ty. "You look surprised-as, indeed,
you may. I will tell you all in full
afterwards. To be brief now, will
simply say that the girl you have
married is no low-born farmers
niece, but the child I sought for many
years ago-the child Of my dead son,
Fulke Durant. My granddaughter is
heiress to all possess
Roy passed his hand over his brow.
"Your granddaughter" he repeated
blankly. CT thought = the world
thought you had no kith or kim
GAS I have thought for many
d:eary day. But, come, we must re-
turn to the others. You shall know
ali later on. I was on my way to
Darrell castle, to make myself known
to the child of my beloved son when
I learned the sad news of her abduc-
tion-for abduction it must be-and
once again l am compelled to wait
a2d hope"
"We will work together to find her,
exclaimed Roy eagerly. "And now
tel me-you say they could find nests
here?"
Indeed they can" Sir Humphrey
answered as they joined the others
again. Beneath the ruins are vaults,
some good, large, and airy. There,
if we search we'll, we shall discover
our birds. I doubt not
Armistead motioned the detectives
on.
They produced a revolver.
"Now, remember, if we meet any
one, endeavor to seize him without
hurt. We do not want to shed blood
unnecessarily.
Sir Humphrey dismounted from his
horse.
"How many years since have
stood here?" he said musingly. "It
recalls the boyish days when I played
at nights with my cousin and broth
ers-all dead now-all dead!"
He stood still for one moment, then
led the way round till he halted at
the very spot where Frank had
picked up the sovereign.
This coin was already handed over
to the care of Mr.. Newton.
Sir Humphrey peered about, then
looked up.
''Here is a door," he said, pointing
to a piece of stone that seemingly lay
on the turf where it had fallen, sit
leads to the vaults. Come, will lead
you"
''Not you," cried Roy. 'T am young
ard he
BEG pardon, gents; but if you will
permit me, as an officer of the law,
must go first"
Mr. Newton took up his position,
and both Sir Humphrey and Lord
Darrell fell back
The two detectives, at their chiefs
orders, lifted the stone.
To their surprise they found it roll
ed over as lightly as possible, and the
way was clear.
Roy shuddered as he glanced down
the dark passage.
Was she. the woman he loved, en-
tombed there?
Frank Meredith pushed forward,
but Armistead held him back.
mot so fast, Frank. You remain
here with Sir Humphrey and Darrell"
! The detectives, headed by Mr.. New
ten, crept down the steps and CROPPED
their way.
Armistead went after them.
Remain round here" he said hur-
riedly to the others, Gin case of an
escape"
Roy flung himself off his horse, and
even as he did so, a confused sound
came from the vaults.
With wild excitement he ap-
preached the entrance. He heard Mr..
Newton's voice utter, deep and loud,
Surrender"
He heard muff1ed sounds of men
struggling, loud EXPLANATIONS, the re-
port of a revolver shot, and then a
woman's shrek.
His heart stood still, and he fled
down the steps, Sir Humphrey, with
face as white as his hair, following,
while Frank endeavored to quiet the
horses that were tethered together.
Armistead pushed Roy back.
''Out in the air!" he said excitedly.
''They are fighting hard; but we have
got them, [ think"
"But she! Good God! she screamed