Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-02-12

1utcry SO as to have drawn some Of HI.
keepers to the spot, had he been allowed
.ne liberty of doing so, and the fact that
ne did not gave Nora hope.
n had an indistinct recollection ~
having from the grated window of her
zen seen some one place the KEY on sew
erai occasions in a different hole from
'nal Whlch usually contained It. and her
thoughts were very busy as she endeovor.
Gu TO remember where this Gle
was. eep'"|ie
All at once it seemed to fash ocros.
ner mind like an inspiration. She uttered
u low cry of delight and hope, mingled
with fear lest the key should not be
mere and, s~pringing forward, inserted
her hand in the orifce. u
lhdnk heaven, the key was therel
Eagerly she drew it out. All then was
not yet lost. She lost not a second in
inserting it in the lock. 1t was a ponder-
Gus key for her hands to turn, but excite
ment had lent her new strength and she
was a giant for the time being. The key
turned, the gate was open.
when she realized this fact the yourg
woman uttered a cry Of joy, and hastily
taking out the key inserted il in the lock
outside so that they could place a bar
rier IN the way of pursuit by locking the
gate after them, which it must be admit
ted was a very wise move on the part of
the girl. ~
Meanwhile, how progressed affairs with
Jack! Remembering all the cruelties he
had heard Of and witnesserd. Jack was
visiting his just indignation upon the
mad-house doctor. He had Just about
nnlshed his work when a cry Of alarm
from Nora reached his ear, and looking
up he saw in the moonlight three of the
Keepers rapidly bearing down Upon them
from the direction of the house.
Casting the limp and apparently lifelcss
form Of the sadly demoralized doctor
from him, he sprang to his feet. Two
keepers were only a dozen yards away rs
he bounded through the opening while
Nora held the gate open for him, and no
sooner did she see that he was safe than
with all her strength she closed the pom
derous structure,
Jack was quickly at her side and see
ing the key in the lock comprehended her
strategy. Just as he turned this the three
Keepers on the inside hurled themselves
against the covered gate, but they had
been a few seconds too late.
With a laugh Jack hurled the heavy KEY
far AWAY among the bushes. Then, hold
ing his revolver in one hand and assist
ing Nora with the other, he rapidly left
the spot.
1t would be some time at least before
a regularly organized pursuit could be
started, for they would have to first re-
suscitate the doctor, and Jack chuckled
to think what a sweet task they would
have before them, as he remembered how
black the mad-house doctor had become
in the face before he was done with him.
The neighborhood of the mad house
was singularly lonely, not a house being
in sight either up or down the river, but
Jack knew where he was aiming for, hav-
ing studied the country we'll when he
CANE and before applying for the situa-
ton.
Along through the dense underground
they made. their way, leaving the mad
house further behind them all the while,
but although for a time all seemed going
well, danger was not far away.
Suddenly Nora laid her hand upon the
arm Of her companion and brought him
to a full pause.
"Listen!" she said, hoarsely.
They stood like statues for halt a min
ute, their ears on the alert for sounds.
Then Jack recognized a cry as one he
had often heard among the swamps of the
South. 1t was the long-drawn bay Of a
bloodhound.
The doctor had set loose his dogs.
Come" said Jack, hastily, 'let us fly.
The doctor himself must be with those
who are in our rear, and, should they
come up with us, they would just as soon
let the brutes attack us. Can you run,
Nora?"
She showed him that she could, but the
thickets barred their progress consider
ably. They had the satisfaction of know
ing, however, that their pursuers were no
better off, for they could hear the impa-
tient noises given vent to by the hounds
as they struggled in leash.
Jack still had his arm around his com
panion, but had long since replaced the
revolver, as he needed his good right hand
to assist him in his passage through the
thickets, and, besides, he would probably
have plenty of warning ere the pursuers
came upon them.
Ito be continued.J