Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1902-02-14

Tor the dim moonlight that penetrated
the mullloned windows; but l knew my
way we'll enough, and marched alon.
without hesitation.
l passed through the lofty pictur.
gallery. Out into a second passage
dark, and smelling of musty tapestry.
Suddenly, as l was cropping my way
along. l saw q slight movement in from.
OF me; and there. but a few feet away,
stood a gray, silent human figure.
Felix, is that you?" 1 said. And
won't be positive that there was not the
suspicion of a CULVER in my voice.
There came no answer to the ques.
ton, and the figure commenced to glide
down the passage.
Without waiting to get thoroughly
frightened, l followed it, quickening
my pace a little. The mysterious forln
did the same.
Along and along we went, twisting
N turning among the labyrinth o!
passages, and then at last, coming
round a sharp corner. there was a shaft
Of light through Il half-open door-the
door of the library, where my husband
was.
l dQrted forward, feeling quite brave.
now that l was in the vicinity of Felix.
But l was too late. The form glided
into the room, silently closing the door,
and l heard the key turning in the lock.
tried the door. 1t was securely
locked. A few yards down the passage.
high up in the wall, was a small Win
dow looking into the library. Directly
underneath it was Il heavy oak table.
On to that table l scrambled. and glued
my eyes to the dust-dimmed pane.
Felix! Felix, turn around! Look!"
Those were the words l shrieked as l
dashed my bare hand through the Win
doW. and withdrew it, bleeding.
And my warning was not a mornen
too soon. AS my husband knelt in Il
corner e a pile of books, the tall.
white-haired figure was already close
OH him, an appraised, weighted stick in
his hand, the raging fire of insanity
cleaning in his eyes.
But l was just in time. On hearing
my voice my husband sprang around,
caught the descending stick ON his arm,
and closed with his adversary in u fear
full life and death struggle.
With n cry of encouragement to my
husband, l sprang down, punched up
my skirts, and raced back along the
passage. ran as ! never had run be-
fore. l knocked against furniture in
the darkness; l stumbled and fell, but
still, impelled by u supernatural force.
l rushed on.
l must have looked a remarkable
figure as l rushed in amongst nv
guests. My hand was bleeding, and
the blood had stained my white even
ing gown. My hair was half down, my
dress was torn. But what did appear.
ances matter to me?
"Themadman:'I gasped. painting for
breath. 1.-THE escaped mailman! He
has got into the asst wing, and Felix
my husband We must. burst the
door open. Come! Comet"
All eyes We're turned upon me, but
not Il soul offered to move.
Don't you understand me?" I cried,
wringing my hands in my impatisnce.
There is not a moment to lose. My
husband is fighting for his life! Why
don't you come? Mr.. Fleetwood you
hear me? Have pity-have PITY"
1 sprang to Charlie Fleetwood md
strove to drag him from the room by
main forces What diabolical spell pos
sessed them all that they We're indiher.
ent to my appeal? 1t all seemed like a
horrible dream-unreal. grotesque.
You will he too late" l screamed. in
Il perfect frenzy. Felix will be dead
strangled by that madman's fingers
strangled, strangled!"
i began to reel, clutching desperately
at the air. And then. of 81 sudden. 4.
strange, aforementioned sound rippled
through the room-a sound terrible to
listen to mt first, yet giving lie in the
end an inkling of the truth.
1t was the sound Of hands clapring
in applause. They thought l was act.
ingi
1 storined and raved and slriekcd us
surely no actress could or would. / EN-
treated and implored and struggled the
while with the feeling of faintness and
numbness that was stealing over me.
And then at length seeing that my
efforts to make them understand were
utterly useless. l suddenly stopped and
summoned up Il smile as l listened tc
their applause and congratulations.
Somehow or other l induced them to
follow lie from the room, telling than
the east wing-a further entertainment
which my husband and | had prepared
Their curiosity was whcttcd and the,
consented to dawdle along behind me
laughing and %chattering the while.
Only when they heard that last dc
spairing cry of Felix did Fleetwood ant
| one or two of the other men begin Il
gain q glimmer of the truth. 1t wa.
with ever-increasing alarm that the,
hurried forward and tried to force iii,
library door, and. finally. using the all
table as a ram, burst it open.
have Il vague memory of lookin:
into the room and seeing several Her
SONS there and n struggle going OH.
can recall the sight of Felix runn!n,
out, pale and limping, but smiling. en-,
of his holding out his arms to me
went to meet him, and then-I swoou
ed.-Utica Globe.
A Commonplace City.
Berlin, as compared with London ]
1 H a. M