Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-03-26

"Know him! Well, T dol Fas
Langston told you the story-why we
left San Francisco"
eyes"
"And all about the visit made to
The house and saw Annie Ralston in
, the arms of Chinaman?"
eyes, yes"
"Well, this is the Chinaman."
"Good Casar' exclaimed Lang
stoa, nearly falling In his surprise.
"When will the mysteries into which
we have plunged have an end?"
every soon," replied. "We are
nearing the end of them now.' Then,
turning again to the Chinaman, said:
"Look here! I know you, and you
will do we'll to obey me-"
He shook his head to indicate that
he did not understand me.
iabbed the point of my sword into
his arm. "I am the doctor who swal-
lowed your lies in San Francisco. Do
you remember"
Again he shook his head.
And again he received my compli-
ments at the end of my sword.
"You spoke good enough English
then; you would better speak it now,
or I'll kill you"
He yelled with pain.
"Ah, you have tongue, at least:
Well, your name is--or was-Sid kee,
and you left Vancouver on the ketoto.
Eh?"
"No. Me no Sid Kee. Me no be
Vancouver, me no leave it."
"Aha! / can tell that gentle voice.
But never mind Vancouver now. Tell
me where are the keys of the dam
geons under the north tower.
"No. Me no hab keys"
"You are liar" yelled Langston,
strong again in his wrath. He
grasped Sid keo by the throat, and
nearly choked the life out of him.
''Now tell me where they are"
"Less, Less" squealed Sid Kee,
gasping for breath. "No kill! Mo
glood Chinaman. No did harm to
anybody"
"My experience hasn't proved it,
but never mind that. Hurry up with
those keys" ordered Langston.
"Kleys lunder table i'll glubnors
Room. Me see um there"
"And where is the Governors
room?" growled Langston, turning to
me.
"I suppose he means gorgeous af-
fair in the south tower" l said. I'VE
use it for q sitting-room, but never
saw any keys then"
"Lunder table, lunder table, 1"
howled Sid Kee, as Langston made as
if to choke him again.
"Well, let's SO and search there.
We may have overlooked them" 1
said. "Garu -Saak, keep this fellow
here until we return. Have oil the
other prisoners returned to their
cells"
Langston, Captain Harwood and I
sped to the south tower and went into
what Sid Kee had been pleased to term
the Governors room. Miss Arnold
and Mr.. Avery were there, sitting si-
lently, waiting to hear what had taken
place. l hurriedly introduced Lang
ston and Captain Harwood, and began
looking for the keys. found them
where Sid Kee said they were-under
q table, near the window, upon which
were piled sundry pipes and other
items of comfort to a Chinaman.
There was no time to talk much.
We said very little. When I held up
the keys, Langston started for the
door.
"Now for the dungeon, quick he
said.
We rushed back to the north tower,
and down into the stone vault. There
were three keys i'll the bunch, one for
each door there. One door was open.
There were two to try. tried the
the nearest one first. The first key l
placed in the lock failed to open it.
The second turned back the bolt, and
we pushed open the heavy door. The
dungeon was dark. We swung Ian
tern in there, aud found it to be
empty.
l went to the other door and with
nervous fingers fitted key in the
lock. Every second seemed an age,
The bolt plunged back in its socket,
and with lantern held before us, wo
oil three crowded into the cell.
The figure of a man lay on the stone
floor. I knelt beside him. 1t was
Ralston, and he breathed, but slowly
and family.
ooh, heaven help us now! Is he
alive, Crickmore?"
"Yes," Ireplied "He is alive, and
that is all. He won't be in an hour,
unless we work miracle. We must
get him out of here into the pure air
and get him back to consciousness.
He is starving to death"
Teuderly we lifted the emaciated
form, and carefully, but with as much
speed as possible, carried him out.
It was no easy task to get out of the
vault with our burden, but we accom-
plisl,ed it. The regular tramp of our
feet as we crossed the stone corridor
sounded like funeral march.
Miss Arnold aud Mr.. Avery camo
to meet us.
"Do you want anything?" asked
| Miss Arnold.
eyes. Order some Cruel made at
once. Mr.. Avery, you know that
case of drugs I made in the Sacred
Forest? 1t is in my bedroom. Will