The St. Louis Republic., 1903-09-13
CHAPTER xLIX-Continued.

But when the heavy door gave inward,
as at the pushing Of a weak or tlnd
hand. We saw our dear lady standing in
the half gloom of the ente-dungeon,
GREATNESS and trembling with excitement
'Come!" she painted; come quickly
there is not an instant to spare. The fac
tor has betrayed you; he will be here d.
rectly with the dragons"
l cut in swiftly. He has not seen Dick;
does he know We are both here?'
She had one hand on her heart to stin
its tumutuous beating, and the other held
behind her, and she could scarce speak
more for her eagerness to have US out and
away.
NO: IT was you he saw; and my father
heard Colonel Tarleton give the order.
Lieutenant Tybee is to take a file of his
troopers and hang without grace the man
he will find hiding in the wine cellar.
Those were his very words. Oh, merciful
heaven! viii you never stir"
Richard gave low whistle.
so Tybee has come alive in good time
TO square the old account with US" he
would say; but my wonder was greater on
the other head. Your father I gasped.
And he sent you to save me?"
Surely" she said. Are you not once
again his guest. Captain Ireton?" Then
she stamped her foot, and though the can
die light was Of the poorest. l could see
her eyes fash. will you squander the
last moment in silly questions?" she burst
out, Come. say"
l smiled. Give me that sword you are
hiding behind you and l will keep the door
whilst you spirit Dick away He is not to
be in tbs"
She gave me the weapon. though not,
l made sure, in any consenting to my
proposal. l could have cried out in sheer
joy when l found the sword to be my own
good blade of proof-the ancient Ferara
willed me by my father.
Sharp as the crisis was, l make no
doubt I should have asked her then and
there how she came b. the blade ! had
last seen when my Lord Cornwallis tried
to break it over his knee; but the march
OF events suddenly became too swift for
me. There was a. sound Of cautious foot
steps in the inclined passage leading from
the buffers pantry above. and our chance
for escape that way was gone
Too late said Dick: and with an arm
about Margery, he whipped behind the
great oaken door opened back against
the cellar wall whispering me TO follow
We were scarce in hiding, with the door
we'll drawn back TO screen US when the
cautious footsteps came slowly into the
out-cellar Peeping through the crack be-
hind the door We saw PenGarvin-alone.
What brought him there without his tale
Of armed men at his back no man Will
ever know; but since his ways were al
ways crooked and devious, ! guessed he
would not wish TO appear in the matter in
his own proper person. and yet could not
deny himself a ,forehand peep to see IL the
trap were still safe shut and secure.
Twas evident he was much disconnected
at finding the door open and the vine
vault apparently empty. At first ne would
start and dodge as if to run away; then
his rage got the better of his caution. and
he had one of those senseless cursing fits
I have before told you OF. raying and
swearing and promising all manner of
fiendish recomoense to Mistress Margery
when he should have her in his power.
A little longer dwelling upon this varia-
ton of the cursing theme-ravings in
which Dick learned for the first time OF
the factors design to marry my widow
and the estate-and 1 do think the lad
would have gone out to make him sing
another tune. But now the factor left
and afterwards to come tiptoeing into the
cellar, all eyes TO spy and legs to run if
q mouse should but squeak at him.
He was muttering TO himself as he
passed our hiding place.