Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-11-22

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"Now we can work without molesta-
ticn," said Olga
She tried several keys In the lock of
an iron door that formed part Of the
rear wall, but without success. FL
nally she found one that turned the
! rusty bolt, and the door swung open.
This door led into a small passage, IN
which there were various articles-lan-
terms, whips, chains and weapons. Olga
quickly chose lantern which showed
it had been recently used and lighted
It. At the end of the passage was an
iron grating forming door, and this,
too, she unlocked with Jansky's keys.
Beyond this was fight of stone
steps leading downward. and then all
was darkness. Olga, holding the
lantern above her head, led the way
down the steps. The stones were cold
end damp and slippery as she neared
the bottom. The dark atmosphere sent
q chill through her, but the brave girl
did not falter. Iherese came creeping
after her, shivering with fear. They
did not count the number Of steps, but
knew there were many. At last they
stood on a cold stone floor.
"Now, which wayT she asked, hold.
Ing the lantern to flash It's light as far
as possible around her.
She could see that they were In q
large chamber from which various
passages broke away in every direction
"We must not linger-to lose time
would be to lose the game" she said.
CHOOSE this passage and follow 1t to
the end"
She turned into the nearest passage,
and the CLEANS Of the lantern were re-
hected from slippery walls. As she
walked she examined these walls for
doors. There were arches that led to
other passages and smaller ones that
opened into chambers that had evi.
IDENTIFY been once used for prison cells,
for chains were hanging on the walls.
The lantern in Olga's hand flashed It's
light into every nook and Granny until
at last she reached the end Of that
passage. Making sure Therese was
close behind, she turned her steps Into
another passage, running apparently
at right angles with the other. This
she traversed in the same way until
the very bigness Of the place and Its
silence began to awe her.
The first courage that had led her to
the desperate act gradually gave way
to the awful gloom and mystery Of the
place. But in Its stead there came o
determination not to relinquish the
search until she had found the unfortu.
nate victims of Neslerov's hate or prov
ed that they were not there. She walk
ed on, gradually increasing her pace. A
door at last greeted her vision-a real
door that swung on hinges.
"At last, perhaps she said.
She tried her strength against the
door, and, though it was not locked,
vet she could not open 1t sufficiently to
enter.
"Therese. help me-" she said, setting
the lantern down upon the floor.
The two placed their shoulders against
the door and pushed, and it suddenly
opened. Therese was precipitated head
long into the chamber. A rush Of foul
air almost 'stifed Olga. There was a
peculiar sound, as II Therese had fall
en- upon heap Of something. She was
whimpering in her terror.
Olga seized the lantern and dashed
into the chamber. A cry Of horror es-
capped her. She was in what seemed
to be an old tomb. At least, there
were heaps Of bones scattered about,
and into one of these poor Therese had
pitched headlong.
Olga swung the lantern and. near to
the spot where Therese lay, two skele-
tons hung in chains. One had lost Its
head. but the other. by reason Of being
fastened in peculiar way. had retain
ed Its grinning top piece.
Therese was In dead faint.
Olga was now In terrible difficulty.
She knelt by the side Of Therese.
"Oh," she said. "if l had but some
water! She will never recover In this
place."
Setting the lantern down. she
dragged the woman from the place OF
horrors and laid her down on the cold
floor Of the passage. Then she swung
the door shut.
Again she began working over The
rese. Olga saw that she was suffering
q severe nervous shock, and the only
hope of restoration Of her senses was
immediate removal from the place.
Swinging her lantern upon her arm,
she seized hold Of Therese and began
dragging her along the passage. going
backward In order to exert greater
pull on the unconscious woman.
In some way-she never knew how
she lost her bearings and came sud-
denly against great stone pillar
which stood In the center of sort OF
court from which passages ran like
the spokes of wheel.
For q moment she stood there half
unwilling to believe the truth. Then.
as the horrible fact was borne In upon
her, she let the shoulders Of Therese lie
neglected on the floor while she stared
helplessly around her. She could not
discover the one through which she
had come.
She was lost!
TO BE CONTINUED.
NOT A GRAMMARIAN.-Sena John