Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-10-01
CHAPTER XXI.


Such was the cry that fell from the lips
of Nora Warner as she realized the
dreadful nature of their situation.
The great gate was locked, and Jack
had failed to find the key. Then there
had come that hooking laugh, and, turn
ing, they had beheld the mad-house doc
tor close behind them, his evil face
wreathed with a demoniac smile of tri-
umph, as they could readily understand,
and, to cap the climax, the alarm bell
had commenced to ring out its brazen
notes OF warning.
The poor girl had suffered so much of
late that her spirits We're readily quench-
ed, and she believed that all was lost. All
she could do was to cling to the arm of
her lover, who would soon be so power
less to save her and look as IL horribly
fascinated at the fendish doctor.
Fortunately for her She had in Jack a
master mind, one quick to act and ready
to perceive. He saw at once that there
was only one chance left for them. In
less than FIVE minutes the minions of the
demon doctor would be swooping down
upon the spot.
The key--se3rch for it
These words fell quickly from his lips
in a hoarse whisper, and of course, were
intended for the girl. His thoughts were
bent upon other subjects, and suddenly,
like tiger. he sprang at the doctor.
Nora Warner saw them cinch and fall
heavily upon the earth, and then. with a
mental prayer for her lover, she turned
to hunt for the missing key.
That Jack had the best Of the fight so
l. \.
had been taken rather by surprise, and
she did not fancy that he was able to
cope with her lover. for whose prowcss
she seemed to have a great admiration,
Besides, it was quite certain that the
mad-house doctor would have made an
cutlery SO as to have drawn some of his
keepers 10 the spot. had he been allowed
the liberty of doing so, and the fact than
he did not gave Nora hope.
She had an indistinct recollection Of
having from the grated window OF her
cell seen some one place the key on sew
eral occasions in a different hole from
that which usually contained it, and her
thoughts were very busy as she endeavor-
ed to remember where this receptacle
was,
All at once it seemed to flash across
her mind like an inspiration. She uttered
a low cry of delight and hope. mingled
with fear lest the key should not be
there. and. springing forward. inserted
her hand in the orifice.
Hank heaven. the key was there!
Eagerly she drew it out. Al then was
not yet lost. She lost not I xeco I'd in
inserting it in the lock. 1t was ponder
Gus key for her hands to turn. but excite
ment had lent her new strength and she
was a giant for the time being. The key
| turned. the gate was open.
| When she realized this fact the young
woman uttered a cry of JOY. and hastily
taking out the key inserted it in the lock
outside SO that they could place bar
ricr in the way Of pursuit by locking she
gate after them, which il must be- admit
/ ted was a very wise move on the part Of
the girl.
/ Meanwhile. how progressed affairs with
Jack? Remembering all the crueltics he
had heard OF aud wituesserd, Jack was
visiting his just indignation upon the
mad-hoUse doctor. lie had just about
finished his work when a cry OF alarm
from Nora reached his ear, and looking
up he saw in the moonlight three OF tn,
! keepers rapidly bearing down upon then
from the direction of the house.
Casting the lump and apparently litelcs.
form 81 the sadly demoralized docto
from him. he sprang TO his feet. Tw,
keepers were only dozen yards away a
be bounded through the opening whit
, Nora held the gate open for hi,,., and IA
sooner did she see that he was safe -hal
with all her strength she closed ihe pom
derous structure.
Jack was quickly at her side and see
, ing the key in the lock compreheujed he
, strategy. just as he turned this ,he tire
Keepers ON the inside hurled themscly2
against the covered ga;c. but tAey bat
5een Il few seconds too late.
With laugh Jack hurled the heavy Ike
, | far away among the bushes. Thea, hold
ing his revolver in one hand and aSsiS,
/ ing Nora with the other, he rapidly LEI
, the spot
Ii woul5 he some time at Least befor
regularly organized pursuit ooaiS b
+ started. for they would have TO FIRST Z,
> suscitate the doctor. and Jack cAuekle