Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-12

ferred. The young lady was, in all proba-
bllity, lying where the seizure had taken
fer In that case, it had a serious aspect
Half way across the courtyard, toward
the one Well-preserved block of the old
abbey buildings, whittier Railway marched
rapidly, they both heard cry.
Er-Whats that?' exclaimed Mr. Thorn
ing. He stopped and raised a hand to his
ear
Railways fright diminished when he saw
the Gentlemans attitude of uncertainty
meant. -
Only one of them owls, SIR he said.
Ihey re always hooting, night and day.
After America, sir, this place is pretty
to last me- -
He had kept his tongue going loudly to
the very door. Now he stealthily chose the
right Key on the bunch. The browning
move was at hand, and SO dangerous did il
seem TO MIN that he trembled right down
to his boots.
We'll. mother" he exclaimed cheerfully
on the threshold of a room in corridor,
having stepped into 1t ahead of his COM
panion Then he stood aside for Mr.. Thorn
ing to enter. And Mr.. Thorning did enter
There was stone screen by the door. half
hiding the interior of the chamber, which
was, IN fact, known as THE Penitents'
Cell Mr.. Thorning pushed past the
screen, with plain eagerness and alarm on
his large, impressive face. Before he could
turn on his heel and demand what the
the door was shut. The key creaked in
the lock, declined at first to do its dutv and
then shot the bolt.
Railway moved out into the courtyard and
wiped his face under the blue, frosty sky.
His relief was extreme. He reckoned he
could afford to smile from sheer comfort of
soul, Just for about ten seconds
Railway" cried Mr.. Thorning, do YOU
know what you are doing, sir? This is an
indignity for which you shall pay dearly.
sirT'
But Railway let him cry and shout lust
for about half a minute. Almost mecha nj
cally ne cooked his ear to try and catch the
sound of other Shouting. There seemed how
ever. to be no more of that. They were get
ting misunderstanding down to their fate
| no doubt-those other two.
And now the rascal pulled himself to-
gether. smoothed his collar and put on airs.
He re-entered the abbey and slid away a
small panel, about eighteen inches by nine.
which overlapped the plaster of the wall.
An orllce OF that size was disclosed in The
Penitents Cell beyond 1t had served
the penitents, or rather the penance suffer-
ers of old as sort of mouthpiece for their
daily meals, which were thus pushed to
them IN silence. 1t now served Railway and
Mr. morning as hole for conversation
What is the meaning of this?" demanded
Mr. Thorning, with a flaming face on his
side of the aperture.
bly,.
You'll tell me. I desire you to open this
door immediately-immeda understand
mel cried Mr.. Thorning.
Hear me first, sir. that's ALL" said Rad
way. My mother won't be back till Tues
day or SO. and I reckon there's nobody
| knows you and Miss Thorning and-nobody
| knows you're here, that is. Here's the let
| ter you wrote for Mrs. Thorning. Fact Is.
| sir, you may as well have it straight, I'm
| in tight corner for money, and you and
| Miss Thorning are just held up'-if YOU
know what mean
| He paused and viewed Mr., Thornfne's
| face This was worth viewing. 1t was live
| ly with feeling.
| DO you see, sir?" he ventured
Go on, said Mr.. Thorning hoarselv
| Have you anything more to say? But
| where is my daughter"
In another part of the building. sir
/ where 1t would take good man to find
her. 1 expect. sir, she has had enough OF
| 1t already -
| Mr.. Thorning stepped away and paced
about little, with clenched fists.
| You dastardly, Infamous scoundrelr'
he said. turning suddenly to the orifice.
| Railway shrugged.
I'm not denying anything" he said
| when bloke's hard up all ways he don't
| remember his Ten Commandments quite SO
] plain az maybe you can afford to do