Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-11-28
CHAPTER XNIII.
THE SPEAKING TtBE.

top to the bottom of the scale,
the strongest of all instincts
that Of sclf-proservation. AS Sturgis
fell forward and clutchcd wildly at the
air. his hand struck the stone wall of
he square chamber. No conscious i'm
preston was made upon his brain by
The contact; but, automatically, his
fingers frightened as they slipped over
tie smooth surface. His right hand
struck an obstacle and closed upon it,
in the convulaive grip of dying man.
Then Il sudden CLEAN OF consciousness
swept across his sluggish brain.
Ii was the speaking-tube
lie clung TO it with the remnant Of
his strength and eagerly placed his
lips TO the mouthpiece. For few min
utes he drank in with ayidity the re-
vivirying drauGhts of air which grad
ually brought him back from the brinl,
of death.
With returning consciousness. the
thought of his dying friend REQUIRED to
him in all its viyidncss. He tried to
70 to his assistance; but lie was sick
and faint. and his limbs were powcrlcSs
to respond to his will. Then. at last,
he was seized with utter despair and
gave up the struggle.
He had sunk dcjcctedly upon the
hair when faint and indistinct muir
mdr, as of distant voices. beat upon his
EARS, whose natural acuity seemed cX-
traordiuagily increased by the long
nervous tension under which he had
been. The ruling passion is strong IN
death; without knowing just why he
did SO, Sturgis found himself again at
the spoaking-t tube, endcavOrng to hear
the conversation, the sound Of which
evidently came from Murdocks office.
lie could barely distinguish word
here and there; but he recognized the
timber of one Of the voices. it was the
chemists, and his interlocutor was a
woman perhaps his daughter. If only
he could reach Agnes Murdoch with
some word or signal.
In suspense he held his ear TO the
mouthpiccc, occasionally taking
breath of fresh air to renew his
strength.
Should he take the chances and shout
in the hope Of catching the young
Firl's attention? If lie WhistIed. Muir
hock would answer himself, and the
last chance would be lost. But would
She heara shout ? And. if she did. would
not her father prevent her from render
ing any assistance? Vet what other
chance was there? Poor Spraguc was
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