Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-12-25

de SHOOK the door and called upon
Lafarge to let him In. There was mo
response. but he could hear murmur
OF voices. q
Suddenly the door was aung open,
and q tall youth the same whose head
had been visible before dashed out so
hastily that he almost overturned Hale.
He was clothed In q long overcoat that
reached almost to his heels and was
literally supplied with trimmings of
fine fur; but there were indications
that he had not very much on beneath
It.
well, upon my wordt" he exclaimed.
Il think Donald has good nerve. he
says he wants to soak an internal ma.
chine In my bathtub, and was just go.
| Ing to get into 1t myself say, we'd
better not stay here"
Meanwhile Hale had tried the door,
expecting to find It locked, for he had
heard Lafarge turn the key behind
Jack. The bolt of the lock had not
caught. Hale entered the room, and
Grace got In after him, despite his ef.
forts to keep her out. Once In, she
closed the door and locked It securely.
Keep the children awayp she called
to Jack through the door. "But don't
tell what has happened"
1t was a large and elegantly appoint.
ed chamber, with windows opening on
q broad court at the rear of the build
Ing, In an alcoye. to the left stood a
great porcelain tub, half full of water,
and beside 1t stood Lafarge, with q par.
Gel done up In brown paper In his hand.
On the floor was the big bundle, open.
hope you've got the right one this
time," said Hale.
No doubt of that" replied Lafarge.
Its the one with no name on It Grace,
viii you please go away"
AS he spoke he stopped down to I'm.
merse the box In the tub.
"Wait--wait, Lafarge, till / can get
her out of herep exclaimed Hale. 'Tf
that's one Of those sulphuric acid ma.
chimes. It may go of when It touches
the water"
His words came too late. The box
was already under the surface. La
farge, somewhat pale, looked around at
them, while he gently moved the box
back and forth In the water.
II guess It's all right" he said at
last, withdrawing 1t and taking off the
wrapper. "Its cigar box. That's
what they commonly use. don't see
any trick about the cover putting a
knife under 1t glngerly. "Therel It's
open. Why, upon my soull What's
this2 The confounded thing is full of
cigarsP
He lifted some of them, soaked and
sodden. Hale stepped quickly forward
"The very Old Nick himself Is in this
thingV he cried. 1--WE haven't got 1t
yet. That Is my box of cigars-my
Christmas present to you"
He turned and pounced upon the pile
of packages that lay beside him. This
time there was no mistake. His hand
was upon the one that Wallace had
brought. Kneeling beside 1t, he waved
Lafarge back.
I'm the midst of all these absurdi-
ties" he said, 1--WE must not forget the
real danger, Donald. believe in my
heart-something seems to tell me-
that there is death In this little box.
Let me face It alone. Please, Donald, I
beg of your
Il can't" said Lafarge. my soul
won't let me. Grace
he pointed to the door, but the girl
would not obey. She stood wrnglng
her hands. Her face was perfectly
white. but its expression. was resolute
and In strange contrast with. her at
titude of abject terror.
II will not go while you stay here"
she said, looking at Donald. III want
to be with you, whatever happens"
Hale looked Mt her steadily as he
kneeled beside the package. His face
was haggard and drawn.
Suddenly he seized Donalds wrist
and dragged him down, SO that, still
kneeiing, he could whisper in the 9TH
er's ear.
III love herr he said. "I always have,
ever since ] FIRST saw her. And she
loves you. Now, Is there any doubt
which one OF us can best afford to take
this chance? She won't 90 without
you, and she mustn't stay. Listenl
This Internal thing is ticking again.
The clockwork that was somehow In.
ssrraptcc u the o:acs has begun &c &C,
and you know what that means. Get
awayl Get away, and take her with
you"
Lafarge Strengthened up.
Grace" said he. "Dr. Hale has lust
told me something which makes 1t alb.
solutely necessary that you should
leave this room and that should
stay"
He stepped up to E and took her
hand. 4.
IF you love me-" he said, "go."
81 do, do" she sobbed, clinging to
him. That's why can't leave you.
want to run-I'm frightened to DEATH
but I'd rather stay with you. Oh, can't
you throw this terrible thing out of the
window2"
"ListenP' said Lafarge.
There was moment Of silence, In
which the sound of children's voices
rose from the court beneath the win
dow. The voices ceased, and the tick
ing OF the Internal mechanism seemed
as loud as a drum.
Suddenly the measured clicking be-
came whir. Hale crouched down,
placing his body directly over the box
between 1t and his friends Lafarge
pushed the almost fainting girl toward
the door, shielding her behind himself.
And then a strange sound rose from
the box--a queer, cracked melody, fa-
miliar and trivial.
con, I don't know; you're not 80
warmP 1t sang in weird, uncanny
key.