Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-03-03

darkness put When got as FAR as the
platform. and actually walked all
round it, and yet could neither see nor
near him. horrible sense of fear-of
fear lest he. in his misery, should have
laid desperate hands upon himself--op.
pressed me.
Hall" 1 called out. loudly, and as
cheerily as I could.
But there was no answer
Hall" I called again. and re-entered
the mill by the low, narrow door and
ascended still higher in search OF him
had reached the very topmost room
and had entered IL. and was cropping
my way around. when suddenly was
startled by loud noise quite close to
me. and. turning swiftly, I saw that
the door through which I had Just en-
tered, had slammed to with quite ex-
traordiuary violence.
supposed II was the wind that had
done this, and 1 determined TO search
the mill thoroughly for Gwynne. and
then. II I did not find him, 60 walk
about outside. and wait until he came.
had no fancy for staying by myself
In that draughty old structure But.
when went to the door, got an un-
pleasant shock
could not open Il. In a moment, sus-
picions OF foul play darted in upon my
mind That motel Had IL really been
written by Gwynne, or was II a forgery
concocted by Beatrice Gramont?
II was now quite dark, but I pulled
out my matchbox, and, striking match
after match, examined the scrap of pa
per eagerly by their light Now that 1
looked at It again. felt almost certain
1t was forgery. 1t was like Sir Har-
ODDS writing, but did not believe IL
was his in reality.
rushed to the door. and banged and
hammered at 1t desperately. 1 put all
the strength I possessed into my at
tacks upon It. But IT was all OF no
use. It was only a small door; but 1:
was OF solid oak. and firmly fitted. I
could make no more impression on IL
than II 1t had been made OF iron.
From the door turned my attention
to the window. but IL was very small.
and, though I certainly might, with an
effort. have got my body through IL.
still the~ would have been no means
OF escape, so far was IT. not only from
the ground, but from the platform also.
A leap from IL would have meant
certain death, and I had no means Of
descending in any other way. The mill
had been dismautled Of its sails. There
was literally no foothold on its plain,
bare walls. Half-maddened by the
thought OF how simple the trap was.
and how blindly had stepped into Il.
i stood with folded arms, clenched
teeth, and knitted brow, awaiting an
attack of some kind, and resolved to
sell my life as dearly as possible.
That Lady Gramont had found
means OF communicating with her con-
federates. and that some OF them would
presently come to the old mill--ifindeed
-
despatch me. felt quite certain.
II once 1 were out OF her way. she
had no one else 60 fear! and a woman
who had committed one murder wi n
her own hand. would be little likely
to pause at another, which only need
ed her Indictment and instigation.
j ground my teeth in fury as / told
myself what a blind, mad dolt / had
been not to think OF this before. i was
as helpless now as a rat in a tran.
There was nothing for II but for me
to face death as well as i might, but
1t tnaddened me to reflect had walked
into trap of my own free will. and
with my eyes wide open.
The night grew darker and darker. I
evordarsT my oNnrSerer~ diI not como
IN ana dispatch me. I was unarmed
and they. doubtless. were we'll supplied
with weapons. Would they plunge a
knife Into my heart. or would they
shoot me? wondered. recklessly.
Anyway. / wished they would come,
10 that I might. at least, strike blow
at them. and, perhaps. even take one
OF their cowardly lives In exchange for
my own. No hope OF escape was In my
mind. The mill was in a peculiarly
lonely spot. and II was the most I'M
U<alX thing iv, ho
should pass after nighttan
peepdene was the nearest house, and
that more than half a mile away.
had already exhausted myself with
halloaing out OF the window, and no
returning sound had met my ear.
simply gave myself up FOR lost.
They Will certainly come before
very long" thought grimly. "I shall
be dead before Christmas Day!"
Wearied out with excitement, I
leaned against the wall. and closed my
eyes In fierce effort TO obtain compo-
sure OF mind. My heart was throbbing
madly, my blood was ting ing in my
veins. my every sense was strained to
its fullest tension.
When my eyes were opened, I kept
fancying saw shadowy forms stealing
towards me In the darkness. These IL
lusions maddened me, and so, with q
strong effort OF will, closed my eyes
again. and kept them fast shut for
what seemed to me at least five min
utes. ] opened them then with a start.
I was certain had heard a sound-a
curious faint. cracking sound, seem
ingly just outside the door. The mo-
ment opened my eyes realized what
that noise was, and my heart grew
sick and cold with horror.
The mill was on fire; the fire was
stealing on me swiftly and surely. My
enemies had exercised a fendish in
genuity in comprising their vengeance
Il was to be roasted alive!
To describe my sensations during the
next few minutes is a task beyond my
pen. I shall, therefore, wisely not at
tempt 1t, but content myself with de-
scribing the actual facts as they oc-
CURED.
Soon after I realized the horrible
truth that the mill was on fire, the
flames spread so rapidly that I could
see their reflection cast :pon the dark
ness outside.