Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-03-03

prison GOWN Lnere, UneTe WAS DIT uoSL
poor enough ventilation, and with no
means OF escape and no air to breathe,
their death would be one which even
a brave man could scarcely contemplate
with calmness. Yet there seemed
nothing for it but to go back.
Already they had begun to cough
with the smoke here, and further away
they would at least have time to think.
Maynard spoke quietly to his COM
panion, now that the first shock of sur
prise was over. 1T would be all right,
he said. There was nothing to be
alarmed about as yet.
Meanwhile, he was we'll aware that
had he been alone, he would at least
have made a dash for liberty through
the smoke and fame. But such an ex-
pertinent would near certain death for
this weak invalid, and whatever fate
was in store for him, that Maynard
meant to share.
For the first time in hours he
thought of Anne, and his heart smote
him with a pang at the memory of her
white beauty. Neither of us will
have her." he said to himself. But
should like her to know that after all
/ died like a man, trying to do my
best-for him."
He drew Maurice gently back along
the passage. At the top of the stairs
the small box Of carved wood, retrieved
from the escritoire, fell to the floor,
and in answer to a regretful cry from
the other, he stopped and picked it up.
AS he did SO, his heart gave a great
throb. The lantern showed another
door, black as the walls themselves,
and so closely evened with them, that
on his entrance it had passed unob-
served. Perhaps there was hope for
life even yet.
The door was a low, squat one, and
half way up was a ring of metal. May
nard pulled it, and saw beyond another
flight of steps. Eureka" he ejacu-
lated, cheerily, Were saved! This
must lead somewhere, and we shall do
the trick yeti"
1t was a task for a man of strength
and courage to bring such a compan-
ion up a stairway far narrower, sleeper
and longer than the first; but Jack
Maynard was both, and he accomplish
ed it. At the top he paused, painting,
then searched the blank wall which
faced him for the means Of exit. Not
a sign of a button or spring could be
found.
Maynard came down with a sledge
hammer fist on the fiat surface, and a
hollow sound as of thin wood rang out.
"Ah!" he said, grimly. Il won't be
lone by a wooden door! If the thing
can't be managed one way, it can an
other, I'll be bound"
He gave a second tremendous blow,
that went echoing through the house.
Outside, EXPLANATIONS answered it.
Maynard could hear a noise as of some
heavy article of furniture being moved
across the floor. IT'S the servants"
he thought. They've found out that
the house is on fire down below there.
Anyhow, there's no smell of smoke
here, or if there is, it is but faint, after
the reek that we've come through"
Where this newly-discovered door (f
door it was) opened, he could pot guess
feeling assured only that it was near
some inhabitable part of the house.
Let me out!" he shouted, pounding
again. There came no answer, though
he heard the mutterings as before, and
anger rose in his breast. Let me
outi" he repeated. There's a man
dying here!" And, indeed, the prison.
err showed signs of finding a speedy re-
lease in more ways than one. He was
CHASTITY, breathing the purer air with
painful heavings of the chest. and he
hung upon Maynard, almost wholly
supported by his arm.
Maynard grew desperate. and anger
against the stupidity of those outside
surged in his breast. Lean against
the wall a moment" he said to Maur-
ice; then, having steadied him, he set
his teeth together and flung himself
with all his force against the door or
partition, again and again. At first
there was no result. A second time,
there came a loud splitting OF wood.
A third. and with a great rending and
splintering he stumbled forward, car
rying the broken panel with him, into
the drawing-room.
He fell on his knees, half stunned
and dazed for the moment Lights
flashed before his eyes; in the fraction
of a second he recognized the room,
and saw that two men ran toward him
-Randal and Blandon Palgrave, with
fear and fenocity on their pale faces.
The sight of them brought him to
himself on the instant. He staggered
~ his faat uctircfivo1v trying IN