The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1904-01-14
CHAPTER xxx.
A Face in the Tower,

| - dec inc tOwSFs
'Tn the eastern tower!"
Through the souls of two women
thrilled the words, freighted with mys-
| ferrous dread.
"Impossiblei" Eustace Earle shout
| ed. 1T cannot have originated there!
| The place has been unused and de-
serted for years!"
"It is there-look!"
And now they were all crowded to-
gether ON the ayenue-a dense, shud-
dering group. The snow no longer
fell. Above, In the purple arch. the
| stars were glittering out in frosty
splendor. And staining and clouding
the pure air, out OF the huge, round
summit of the eastern tower, gushed
smoke, smoke, smoke-black bnlow on
black billow.
Quick! mcn!" rolled forth Cyril
| Carrington's voice in resonant COM
mand. ITO the stablesl Mount and
ride! Ride for your lives! Rouse the
town! Bring out tho engines! We
must save Blackeastls! Ride like the
wind! The fire Is spreadingi"
And the Ere was spreading, for now
the roof.
My lady stosd like a woman turned
to stone. Not a muscle. not a feature
moved, but on her face slowly grew
| and deepened a great horror. She did
not stir when Cynthia hurried across
| the lawn and stood beside her.
How shall we get in?" she cried, in
rapid, passionate anxiety. Some one
is there! 1t does not matter whomI
know it feel it! We must get in
we must save him! How-howg The
| door is locked-the door leading from
the corridor! II is impossible to burst
It! Is there any other entrancef Oh,
| II there is, you know It! Quick, I tell
you! The flames will not wait!"
She was quivering In every limb
VITA excitement; but she held her
| emotions in stern control
And now with a fierce roar, the fre
| streamed upward, and flung out to the
midnight sky defiant banners OF scar.
let and gold.
Quick, or It will be too late!" she
whispered. Quick"
Once, twice, the trembling lips
| obAN'S W opOdh anu ldliCds
"The only - other entrance-is
through my room!" she gasped, faint
ly. "The panel at the north side Of
tho fireplace Press-the lions
head"
Cynthia dashed away In frantic haste
She rushed up to where Cyril Caring
ton, strong, eager, energetic, was work
ing, aiding, directing. She caught his
arm, and held 1t with grip Of steel.
Cyril"
He wheeled round, and started as he
saw her. He noticed how keenly she
was shivering. She wore only loose
| wrapper and the cold was intense.
| Without a word he tore of his great
coat and folded 1t around her.
| "Oh, ne no, mol" she began, In angry
protest.
"You must!" he said. quietly.
| And she resisted no longer.
| Cyril she painted, II came to tell
you there is some one in the tower!"
He fell back and stared ut her with
blanching face.
"Yes, yes! and we must save him.
Come with me! The only way lies
through my lady's room. Comet"
'How did he get there? Who Is he!
In the tower!"
Don't ask mel" she cried wildly.
81 don't know! Some one is there
some one is in danger; that Is enough
for me. Comet"
Together they sped across the snow.
clad ground, up tho widesteps, through
the great hall and along the upper cor
ridor to my lady's room.
"The panel at the north side Of the
fireplace" she kept repeating. hoarse-
ly. Press the lions head"
They found 1t.
Cyril Darlington struck match, and
STOPPING down began to search among
the raised and carven figures of beast,
and FISH. and bird, for the head of O
lion.
Here 4 is!- came at last, exultant-
ly.
She sprang forward. She would be
lrst to enter. She always was first in
cause of humanity.
He leaned heavily on the black oak
panel. It slid back. But even as the
aperture beyond was revealed, forth
surged dense. dark. binding cloud
of smoke and flame.
Miss Lennox was standing nearest
the opening. II engulfed, suffocated,
stunned her. Ths shock. the intense
cold she had endured, aided that fiery
blast In It's attack upon q strength
lately weakened and impoverished.
She rssaed. strovs 10 steady hesself,