Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-07-29
CHAPTER XvI.-Continued.)

"But Sir Reginald compelled me to do
It. begged and entreated him to excuse
me; told him it was sinful, but he flew
into a passion, and bade me disobey him
on the peril of his everlasting displeas-
ure. Sir. 1 was homeless, and he was
sick! What was l to 6o?
"Forgive me! You poor little girl, 1
was fast and cruel in my judgment. You
were, indeed, obliged to execute the vile
plans of the baronet. There" added he,
tenderly, as he drew her hands from her
face, and with. his handkerchief wiped
away hertears; 'weep no more; you
were not to blame. Child, give me your
hand in token of forgiveness"
''Then you do not despise me?'
"Despise you? No. no! L only" he
stopped; he was about to say ''love you"
but rememb bering his VOW, he added soft
ly. 'pity you"
'Yes, you may pity me! Oh, auntie,
auntie.. why did 1 ever promise you to
come to this wretched placer" was her
wailing cry.
Still holding her hand in his, and olso
taking from her the candle, he turned
and led her down the long, steep stairs.
" Only once did Ethel speak, then she
merely said:
"Sir Reginald will be very angry if he
hears of your entrance here! Must he
be told?"
81 will think it over and let you know
tomorrow. You must sleep tonight and
so recover from this nervousness"
They soon reached the bottom stair,
and entered the corridor. Then Ethel
remembered that her work was but half
done, and the rest could not be accom-
plished until DR.. Elfenstein had left her.
Turning to him, she said:
''Will you kindly tell me how you en-
tered this place? You must leave me
now, going silently as you came"
81 will. l came through the ruins. I
saw you open a door and reach for a
basket then 1 instantly entered"
'But surely, 1 fastened it again?"
''You were so agitated, you forgot to
do 1t. l certainly opened it, without diff
fculty. and crept after you, eager to
solve the mystery of the haunted tower,
which l then, for the first time, began
to connect with your movements. But
you are weary now, so will leave you,
and return as l came"
Giving back the candle, he took her
hand and was just saying, Good night,
Miss Nevergail," when suddenly both
stopped short in their walk; both turn
ed deadly pale, as a short, strange loud
report, close by their ears, startled and
confounded them.
Then, to their horror, something darted
towards them, a huge form swooped
past, dashing the candle to the ground,
thus extinsuishing it, leaving them in
total darkness and gloom.
'Oh, what is it? What is it?' cried
the terrified girl, as she nestled close to
her companion, while he, scarcely realiz-
ing what he did, threw his arms around
her form, to protect her from he knew
not what.
Suddenly a wild, unearthly laugh, or
yell. foated to them from the other end
of the corridor, and as it passed, DR..
Elfenstein pressed the girl he held closer
to his heart, and laid his cheek against
her frightened face.
"Oh, do not leave me! I shall die! l
shall die" gasped Ethel.
81 will not. You are not so afraid
now, and thus, close to me, are you,
dearW
mo; not so fearfully afraid as 1 was"
Gently stroking her hair, the young
man felt, even in the terror, inspired by
their dreadful position, feeling almost
of rapture steal over him, as he held
her thus close in his arms, with hers
clnging to his waist But suddenly,
calmer reflections came; he felt this thing
must be seen to; whatever presence had
been near them must be discovered, and
that he ought to follow up the sound.
"Child!' he whispered, whatever has
been near us, l know by that last cry,
has escaped into the ruins, through the
door by which L entered. That being so,
1 must in duty carry you to a place of
safety, then search around to see what it
could have been"
Instantly, then, it flashed over EtheTs
mind, that the ape, Sir Reginald's choice
concealed treasure, had escaped, and that
the knife she had so carelessly given him
had done the deed. He had cut his way
out. Oh, the terror this thought thrust
into her heart was almost unbearable!
At once. she became, as it were, a dead
weight again in the doctors arms.
Then another thought came that i'm
parted new life. Her oath had been TAX
en- never to reveal the existence of that
animal, nor of the concealed room. In
order to keep this vow, DIR. Elfenstein
must not examine the premises.
She knew well now the meaning of
that first report. The beast had knocked
down the iron shelves, burst open the
panels, and in consequence a light would
show the doctor that opening, and the
room beyond. No! he must never. exam
Inc this corridor. Nerving herself for
q new task, she said:
doctor. cannot consent to being left
a moment here alone! Nor will l con-
sent to your exposing yourself further
tonight. Take me, then, to my room,
and we will lock up this place, and you
can steal softly from the house another
way"
"But, Miss Neyergail, surely this
ought to be investigated"
''Oh. no, please do not investigate! 1
cannot allow it. cannot endure itv'
As she spoke, long, deep shudder
passed over her frame, and the doctor,
noticing it, knew at once that her nerv-
GUS system could stand no more, there
fore, felt it was best to yield.
''Shall l not, at least, light the can
dle2''
.No. mol 1 cannot bear it.' murmured