Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1904-01-14
CHAPTER xxx.

CHAPTER xxx.
A Face in the Tower.
'In the eastern tower!"
Through the souls of two women
! thrilled the words, freighted with mys-
I terioust dread.
"1mpossible!" 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 avenue-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 billow on
black billow.
Quick! men!" rolled forth Cyril
Carrington's voice in resonant COM
mand. ''To the stables! Mount and
ride! Ride for your lives! Rouse the
town! Bring out the engines! We
must save Blackcastle! Ride like the
wind! The fire is spreading!",
And the fire was spreading, for now
the roof
My lady stood like a woman turned
to stone. Not muscle. not 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.
| HTIayU shall wa IN che ,r;o,1 a..
rapid, passionate anxiety. "Some one
is there! 1t does not matter whom!
know it feel it! We must get in
we must save him! How-how? The
door is locked-the door leading from
the corridor! 1t is impossible to burst
it! Is there any other entrance? Oh,
| il there is, you know it! Quick, tell
you! The flames will not wait!"
| She was quivering in every limb
witn excitement; but she held her
| emotions in stern control.
And now with fierce roar, the fire
streamed upward, and flung out to the
let and gold.
"Quick, or it will be too late!" she
whispered. "Quick!"
Once, twice, the trembling lips
stroye to speak-strove and failed.
"The only - other entrances
through my room!" she gasped, faint
ly. "The panel at the north side Of
the fireplace. Press--the lions
4 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 it 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 word he tore off his great
coat and folded it around her.
"oh, no, no, mol" she began, in angry
protest
You must!" he said. quietly.
And she resisted no longer.
Cyril, she painted, 81 came to tell
you there is some one in the tower!"
He fell back and stared at her with
i a blanching face.
Yes, yes! and we must save him.
Come with mel The only way lies
through my lady's room. Come!"
How did he get there? Who is he?
In the tower!"
i Don't ask mel" she cried wildly.
II don't know! Some one is there
some one is In danger; that Is enough
for NE. Comet"
\ Together they sped across the snow.
4 clad ground. up the wide steps, through
| the great hall and along the upper cor.
/ ridor to my lady's room.
1.-THE panel at the north side OF the
i fireplace, she kept repeating, hoarse.
II. Press the lions head!"
i They found It.
Cyril Darlington struck a match, and
STOPPING down began to search among
the raised and carven figures Of beast,
and flsn. and bird, for the head OF a
Il lion. Fl s$s q.
Here Il isln came at last, exultant.
iy. s.,
She sprang forward. She would be
4 arst to enter. She always was first In
y q cause OF humanity.
He Leaned heavily on the black oak
il panel. It slid back. But even as the
4 $aperture beyond was revealed, forth
snrged dense. dark. binding cloud
& OF smoke and flame.
Miss Lennox was standing nearest
the opening. II engulfed, suffocated
q stunned her. The shock, the intense
cold she had endured, aided that fiery
4 blast ia its attack upon q .stfength
4 lately weakeled and npoyerish -
She reeled. q tto STEADY herself,
and ten 3ss.i "a - ~. &