Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-04
Copyright. 1901. by g r. Croekett.)
CHAPTER XXII-Continued.

CAAAh 1880
Again after a space 1 came to myself, as
out Of the clang and hammer stroke Of some
great foundry, where for infinite years l
had been confined, while the unresting
workmen day and night kept up their
multitudinous din.
"Open-openl" 1 could discern a con-
fused clamor Of voices outside the door.
I felt to make sure that l was completely
dressed. l was quickly assured. Discom-
fort and itching ill-humor we're In the very
clinging OF my clothes. There was also a
curious chill In the apartment. rose and
made my way as best / could to the door.
l did not, however, succeed in reaching It,
for most persistently l kept Dumping
against the angles OF the furniture.
"Open, or we will break down the doorl"
The voice was that OF Mr.. Gregory
Giendonwyn.
This was too much for me. So I babe
them break down fifty doors, but, instantly
recollecting that Kate and the child might
be frightened, l asked them to stay a mo-
ment. Mr.. Glendonwyn had given us a few
boxes Of lucifer matches, which were then
thought q curious and wonderful invention.
BY orienting the position Of the window
managed to scramble back to the bed
side and presently struck a match, which
burned with a blue fame with much odor
Of an evil sort. l looked about. Hates
bed had not been slept in.
Both she and the babe had vanished.
hardly know how 1 managed to remove
the heavy chest of drawers. My head was
still dizzy and drowsy with my sleeping
draught and the room reeled about me
when I strove to push the obstruction
aside. At last I could unbolt the door and
turn the key.
Mr.. Glendonwyn came in hastily without
any greeting. He had a tin lantern in his
hand, OF the common stable pattern then
in use. He turned it about the room
where is your sister 2" he demanded,
with an oath, unusual upon his lips.
Warner. l believe the Jade has given us
the slip"
/ could only tell him that l had been
sound asleep and knew nothing OF the mat
ter. / could not help adding that Surgeon
Warner could probably explain to him why
l had been asleep.
But he never answered me. I think now
that he never even took my meaning. for
at that moment he espled the little door
which led out upon the platform of the
tower. 1t was open, and l understood in a
moment why 1t was that the room had felt
so damp and cold when / awoke. Kate
had escaped that way. driven on by her
fears for the safety Of her child.
She had escaped. But how-hampered
with a baby as she was and but recently
recovered herself from the deadly weakness
Of childbed.
l went out on the tower top, following
Mr.. Glendonwyn. AS we stood on the little
platform the laird swung his lantern this
way and that.
A great black cartwheel of shadow rayed
about us. The wind blew keen and chill
over the water. Beneath the wall was
sheer. No foothold or swinging rope told
a tale Of possible exit. Yet my sister was
gone. leaving the bed impressed. the door
bolted and barred. Only her cloak of dark
blue and ZONE few OF the babes wrappings
had been taken.
/ caught up my own cloak and followed
the man out. Mr.. Glendonwyn took his
way straight down to the pier. As We
passed the door Of the boathouse l saw
that II was open. There was a light ahead
Of us az we stumbled on, my heart beating
wildly with the fear Of l knew not what
We reached the little sheltered bay wher'
the landing stage was. There was OLE
Hamish McColl, busy with a boat l haC
never seen before. That in which Mr.
Glendonwyn and the surgeon had crosses
was gone. The rope by which 1t had beel
tied had been cut with a knife and nov
tapped a little in the wind as It droopeI
from the post.
SO much was certain, Kate and her bah
were out on the waste Of waters. The
had fed as soon as I was asleep, the blanl
darkness of a November night Instant,
swallowing them up.
'Get in and help us hnd heri" So sal
Mr.. Glendonwyp roughly. "It will ruin al
II she appears with her child at Castl
Covert Or even" the muttered the hna
words In a lower tone, as II to himself
..if she meets Ruperti"