The Irish standard., 1900-11-10
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: TIE SIURGlS- WAGER :
] A DETECTIVE STORY. =
. BY EDGAR MORETTE. r
4 Copyright, 1890 BY Frederick a. Stokes Co. u
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CHAPTER Ny1.-CoSr5N1rrD.

The two men listened in breathless
silence for an answering call.
"Well, gentlemen, what can do for
you?"
The words came in Murdock's voice.
Sprague's eyes met those of the re-
porter and saw that the last faint glim-
mer of hope was gone. In that swift
and silent interchange of thought
there was resignation to the inevitable
doom and the final farewell of two
brave hearts.
The spluttering candle gave it's last
flicker and went out, leaving the pris-
oners in utter darkness.
The room was rapidly filing with
gas and they were beginning to feel it's
effects.
''We can at least complete our task
before we die said Sturgis, with grim
determination.
sOur task!"
Eyes, and insure Murdocll's convfc-
ton for our murder"
"What chance is there that anyone
will ever discover our bodies, since they
are destined for Nurdock's oblivion
tank?"
''Give me your hand" Sturgis re-
piled; "thcre is box of matches.
place it here, between us. within easy
reach. l want to write few words
to the superintendent of police to ex-
plain matters. BY that time there
will be enough gas in the room to
produce terrific explosion, when we
strike match. We can thus succeed
in wrecking this place and calling at
tention to it. If I should succumb
before you do, do not fail to light
the match"
While he was speaking the reporter
had taken from his pocket pad and
a pencil and had begun to write as
rapidly as he could in the darkness
Sprague's head was beginning to
swim and his ears were ringing, but
the thought of Agnes Murdoch was
uppermost in his mind.
"An cNplosion!" he exclaimed; mo,
no; that. must not be. What of
Agnes? She may be hurt?''
Sturgis continued writing.
cit is the only chance there is of
bringing Murdoch to JUSTICE he said,
firmly.
"But Agnes is innocent of his
crimes" urged the artist, in thick
voice. His tongue Glove to his palate;
he felt his consciousness ebbing.
"Wby should she suffer? I am go
ing, old mani cannot hold out any
longer-Promise me that you-that
you will not-striie-thc match"
He staggered and fell against the
reporter. who caught him in his
arms His osvn senses were reeling.
"Promisc-' pleaded the half-uncon.
scious man.
II promise. answered Sturgis, after
an instant's hesitation.
1t struck chill to his heart to see
his friend dying in the prime of youth
strength and happiness.
Suddenly { thought flashed upon
him.
Brace up, old fellow. All is not
yet over. The spenking-tube leads to
fresh air. Here, put your lips to ii
and breathe through your mouth"
The artist heard the words and
made an effort to obey these direc.
tions. With Sturgis' assistance he
managed to place his lips to the
mouth-piccr of the spealling-tube A
few whitfs Of comparatively fresh air
sent the sluggish blood coursing
through his veins and gave him new
hold on life. With renewed vigor
came the animal instinct to fight TIC
the last for existence.
As the shadows of death which had
been closing in upon him receded, ho
became conscious of Sturgis' voice
beating upon his ears in broken and
scarcely audible tones.
at is-the last chuncc-Stick--tc
the tube-Whcn he comes--surprise
him-your rcvolver-shoot-~b
The reporter was c.inging unstcadi
ly to his friends shoulder. Sprague
suddenly realized that Sturgs in his
turn was succumbing to the effects oil
the gas. He sprang back in time to
catcl, the staggering man in his
arms.
Selfish brute that i ami" he ex
claimed. "uere; il is your turn te
breathc!" And lie pushed the report
er toward the tube.
mo, no." said Sturgis, struggling
family; lit cannot be both-and 20,
-have-cverything- live for"
But the artist was now the stronger
and he succeeded in forcing his frient
to inhale enough fresh air to restore
his departing consciousness.
At length Sturgis, with returning
strength, was about to renew the gen
erous struggle with Sprague, whel
suddenly the place was ublaze with thu
glow of an electric light.
Gle wants to see if his work is done,
whispered Sturgis, to his companion.
Then, observing that Sturgis wa
again on the verge of asphyxiation, HI
continued hurriedly:
''Fill up your lungs with air, quick
quick, l tell you. Now drop ant
feign death. DO as do"
Suiting the action to the word, Stur
gis threw himself upon the stone floor
face downward, and lay motionless
his right hand grasping revolver con
cealed beneath his body. Sprague
after short breathing spell ut tn
tube, followed his companions exam
pie.
After short interval there came
s metallic click, which Sturgis recog
nized as the sound made by the open