Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-10
CHAPTER XXI. THE DEATH CHAMBER.

steps a rating sound reached thelr . ears from the direction of the sky light. They looked up and saw slid ing steel shutters slowly and ponder ously close, like grim jaws; and sud denly they felt themselves cut off from the outside worE.
 Sturs:s. taking up his lighted can dle. made his way to the door of the suDterranean passage and tried in vain to open it; the heavy iron bolt remained immovable in its socket. Inch by inch he scrutinized the door with growing anxiety At last he abandoned the search and returned in the direction of the square chamber.
 "That explains why he wanted to shut me in here when I was in his office" he muttered under his breath. What is the matter?" asked Sprague.
 eve are caught like rats in trap" replied Sturgis. Then with feeling he added: II do not know how this will end old man. I have bungled, and 1 fear the game is lost. If our lives are l the forfeit, you will owe your death to Ay stupidity Sprague looked at his friend, as if surprised to hear him apparently abandon the fight.
 Don't worry about me-" he said, kindly; q came here of my own free 1 will But,'' he added, as a vision of Agnes Murdock flashed upon his mind, II have no intention to die just yet, | if 1 can help it. Are we not both able bodied men and armed? What can one man do against twoT'
 Tt is not an open fight" said Stur- gis, but am glad to see your spirit. I do not give up; but l want you to realize that we are in critical situa- ton, with the odds enormously against us''
 | "Why, what can Murdock do?"
 "Perhaps what he did to Chatham. It will probably not be long before we discover what that was"
 But there must be some way of opening that door from the inside '' said Sprague.
 There evidently is none," replied Sturgis; 'he probably controls these doors from the outside by electrical | connection"
 The men were back in the square chamber. Sturgis' eyes were rowing restlessly over the walls, ceiling and floor in search of a loophole of escape.
 "There is no chance 0 reach the sky light without ladder; and even if we could reach it, we should be no fur | ther advanced, as it would be impOs- sible to make any impression on the steel shutters. That leaves the regis ter and the speaking tube. While examine the register, suppose you try | the tube. If it connects with the Man hattan Chemical company's office, there is a bare chance that we may at- tract the attention of the detectives whom we left there."
 AS we were saying, Mir. Sturgis-" The words came in Murdock's mock ing tones.
 Sturgis quickly held the lighted can- dle above his head and peered in the direction whence came the sound. A panel of the door at the head of the stairs had been pushed up, revealing a small opening, covered by strong and closelywoven wire netting.
 ''As we were saying, murder will out!' Nevertheless, it is sometimes easier to weld chain, even of circum- stantial evidence, than it is to pre- dict who will be bound in it.''
 Sturgis and Sprague stood in the glimmering light of the candle, silent. ly watching the glowing eyes behind the screen.
 ''Mr. Sturgis, you are a clever man, continued Murdock, ''an uncommonly clever man. I frankly admit that had underrated your ability. But then we are all fallible, after all. made my share of blunders, as you seem to have IiScnvare1- hI1t yyi11 concede that your own course has not been entirely free from errors. Ano now that we have reached the conclu sion of this interesting game, I have the honor to announce: Mate in one novel, Perhaps you are surprised that I should take the trouble to explain the situation to you so clearly. do so 1T recognition of your superior intelli gence. l see in you peer. If matter: could have been so arranged, l should have been proud to work in harmony with such a man as you; and indeed when a short time ago 1 invited you tt my laboratory, it was my intention tt offer you a compromise which l hoped l might be able to persuade you to ac cept. I felt that you would prove al ally who could be trusted. But, alas that is impossible now, on account O. your friends presence. With all du respect to MT. Sprague, as an amiab man of the world and a prince of goot fellows, it may be said that he is no one of us. Much to my sorrow, there fore, l am left no alternative to thu course l am about to adopt. The fault if anybody's, is your own after all, Mir Sprague. There is hoInely but ex pressive adage concerning the dange If 'monkeying' with buzz saw. Why my dear friend, did you monkey, witt Mir. Sturgis' buzz saw, instead of stick ing to your palette and maulstick?
 "But l fear I am growing garrulous gentlemen. If I had time, should lile to explain to MT. Sturgis the detail of some of the more important. and, il my humble opinion, more brilliant schemes of which 1 have been tke-a the promoter; for I dislike to b judged by the bungling operation which have so nearly caused me to los this latest little game. But this can not be. I shall have to continue tocon , fide to the pages of my journal, as