Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-08
CHAPTER XVII-Continued.

like anything she had ever known before,
that Lorelie began to wonder whether the
whole scene was not a dream. 1t was diff
fcult to believe that the earl, so smiling
and courteous. could really entertain the
black design of which she suspected him.
At the end of the picture gallery they
reached that little lumber room which Cod
frey Rothwcli had SO long hesitated to enter
on that memorable night when tracking
War to the vault. Making his way to the
hearth the earl stood in the wide space be-
meath the mantel, and lifting his hand with
in the chimney he touched what Lorelie
judged was hidden spring, for his action
was immediately followed by a faint creak-
ing of pulleyS and ropes, and then the per-
pendcular slab forming side of the
fireplace began slowly to descend, revealing
behind it an empty space
The secret way to our crypt, remarked
the earl
He passed through the entrance. Ivar,
who had not spoken one word since leav-
ing the dining hall, followed Lorele went
last.
She looked about her The light carried
by War family ilumined the place She
was standing in a narrow passage, paved,
walled and rooted with stone. Its length
could not be aScertaned by the eye, for 1t
stretched away indefinitely in the gloom.
The earl began to manipulate the ma
chinery, and the stone slab slowly assembled
till its lower end rested upon the hearth
again. Lorelie, attentive to his action,
gIasped with quick eye the principle of the
mechanism. Such knowledge would be use
full in the event of her having to return
alone.
All communication with the outer world
was now cut off. She was completely at
the mercy of the two men, and though this
was only what she had foreseen, yet none
the less the sudden realization of the fact
caused a certain chilling of her high cour-
age.
The order of their march was now chang
edo they walked abreast; Lorele in the CEN
ter, the earl on her right, War, still silent,
on her left.
Though apparently staring about with in
terest and curiosity Lorelie in reality never
took her eyes from the earl. 1t might have
been simply the effect of the Pickering
light, but in her opinion his face had an
exultant and sinister expression She be-
came more than ever on her guard, and
any sudden movement his part caused
her right hand to seek her dress pocket in
which a loaded revolver lay concealed.
A steep descent of stone steps now yawned
in front of them. With her left hand Lore
lie drew her dainty skirts around her, and
glanced in disgust at the black Shiny ooze
and the patches of fungous growth.
Ihese stairs look slippery" she murmur
"A former lord of Ormsby broke his neck
down these very steps" remarked the earl.
1 nave no wish to initiate his feat" said
Lorehe, drawing back a little. DO you go
nrSt II slip | shall be but light weight
whereas If you should fall upon me- she
added. with a shrug of her shoulders.
there is no knowing what might happen"
ne earl gave her suspicious look as If
detecting hidden meaning in her words;
then, compliant with her wish he led the
way down the steps. Lorelie came last feel
lng more at ease in being at the rear.
The stairs terminated in the tagged floor
ing OF another long passage, at the end of
Which was the crypt.
AS Lorelie entered She could not repress
Shlver, the atmosphere of the place
writ 11y, obi
feet.
War, by aid of the light he had carried.
proceeded to kindle the lamp pendent from
the roof, and every object in the chamher
became clearly visible.
Al glance Loreiie took in the whole
sceqe-the octagonal crypt the black velvet
curtains draping the alcoves the massive
oak table and the four antique carved
chairs: everything just as Godfrey had de-
scribed it, ~
AS her eye fell upon the silver lace edging
the lower end of a curtain adjacent to the
door, her face expressed satisfaction a
satisfaction that became instantly lost in a
very different feeling: for there on the
hoor by one of the alcoves, was a chest of
cypress c wood, an object she readily identi-
ned as the reliquary that had figured so
consplcuously in Godfrey's narration The
I'D stood erect and she noticed that tie con-
tents consisted of a whitish powder.
Quicklimer' she murmured with n cold
thrill.
Becoming doubly vigilant she sat down in
one of the chairs and prepared herself for
emergencies.
with wine, and beside it some glasses OBJ
servant of everything, Lorelie saw that
though the smooth surface of the table was
overlald with coating of dust, the dis
play of glass exhibited not a trace of it;
evidently the wine was of recent introduce
ton-perhaps placed there specially for her
use.
What! you have wine here? Pour me
out glass, WAR"
Speaking in the tone of a woman who
suspects nothing, she reclined in her seat in
a graceful attitude, extending glass to-
ward Ivar and watching him keenIy from
beneath the lashes of her half-closed eyes.
Her husband, his face as white as a
ghosts, nlled her glass. and. setting down
the decanter, breathed hard. The earl
looked on with seeming Indifference
With steady motion Lorelie lifted the
glass, taking a longer time over the &C
ton than was necessary, If even the
foretaste of drinking were pleasure not to
be curtailed. War was watching her with
an expression the like of which she had
never before seen on his face.
Her lips touched the edge of the glass
and there rested a moment: and them with
out having tasted the wine, she raised the
glass and held 1t between her half-closed
eyes and the lamp above, an action that
displayed to the tull the beauty of her
rounded arm and bust
How bright and clear it isi' she muir
INJURED, in a softly modulated voice. by
the way" she added. suddenly opening her
eyes wide, what wine do you call this?"
"A choice vintage. Malvazia, one of the
rarest of the Madeiras,'' replied the earl.
Lorelie lowered the glass quickly, in real
or feigned disappointment
''O-ohr she murmured, poutng. "A
pity-that, l cannot bear Malvazia: 1t al
ways gives me the headache. / must re-
frain from drinking. And yet" she added
inhaling the fragrance, 1.-The bouquet is
tempting"
She toyed a moment or two with the
glass as If about to drink. but finally set 1t
down upon the table, CHANGING at the two
men with silvery laugh. Her radiant ar
contrasted strangely with the somber spirit
which seemed to enwrap both of them.
This is a very pretty chamber, she said.
poising her head upon her hands and affect
ing to survey the crypt with interest.
Nothing very terrible about It, after all.
might have spared myself the letter TO DIR.
Rothwell."
"What is that?' said the earl, with
quick nervous start.
.Peccavi, 1 have done very wrong, ad-
nit" said Lorelie. with sweet smile
II have yentured to disobey your command
that l should tell nobody of this, our mid
night adventure; for, as one never knows
what may happen when visiting the haunts
of the dead l could not refrain from COM
municating with DIR. Rothwell on the mat