The Indianapolis journal., 1904-06-04
rcHAPrER xvII-con,inned from Yesterday ]

she consents TO go.
EcHAPTER xvII-Continued from Yesterday
When she awoke she found herself shiv-
ering with cold and in total darkness. For
few moments she lay dreamlly conscious
that some ordeal awaited her, but unable
at first to recall what 1t was Ihen
memory revived. The visit TO the vault!
YesI that was 1t; and the thought made
she rose. procured light, and found that
1t was close upon midnight.
so latel They will begin to think that
am not coming"
Fastening the velvet bow TO the neck
band OF her dress she unlocked the chamber
door and walked out into the corridor. A
deep silence reigned throughout the man
sion. silence that TO her imagination had
something awesome in IL. IT seemed like
the prelude TO a tragedy. With firm step
she descended the staircase and made her
way 10 the dining hall. where murmur OF
voices told her that the earl and IVar were
awaiting her.
Their conversation ceased upon her
trance. and both looked up. War seeming
somewhat perturbed in spirit. the earl smil-
Ing and evidently pleased that she had
come
We were just discussing the probability
of your appearing" said he. "lvar was
confident that you would cry off from the
business. And certainly, coffin-vault is
not very cheerful place.
1T is not the dead has to fear re-
piled Lorelie. but the living
''Your wife has more courage than you
earl approvingIy ''If you will carry the
lamp. / will give her my arm"
Thank YOU" replied Lorelie, declining
the proffered arm, "but l can walk with
They set forward from the dining hail.
the earl going frst; Iyar a model 90: OF III.
speak. but glanced curiousy at her from
time TO time
The expedition was so strange. so unlike
anything she had ever known before. that
Lorelfe began to wonder whether the whole
scene was not dream. II was difficult TO
believe that the earl. so smiling and cour-
teous. could really entertain the black de-
sign OF which she suspected him.
At the end of the picture gallery they
Godfrey Rothweil had long hesitated 10
enter on the memorable night when track
ing Ivar to the vault Making his way TO
beneath the mantel and lifting his hand
within the chimney he touched what Lorelie
was Immediately followed by faint creak-
Ing Of pulleys and ropes. and then the per-
pendicular slab forming one side of the
fireplace began slowly to descend, revealing
behind II 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 leaving
the diaing hall. followed 1orelie went last:
She looked about her. The light carried
by Ivar family illumined the place. She
was standing in narrow passage. paved.
walled and rooted with stone. Its length
III
stretched away indefinitely In the gloom.
The earl began TO manipulate the ma
chinery. and the stone slab slowly ascended
till its lower end rested upon the hearth
again Loreiie. attentive TO his action,
grasped with quick eye the principle of the
mechanism. Such knowledge would be
useful In the event of her having TO return
alone.
All communication with the outer world
was now cut off She completely at
the mercy OF the two men, and though this
was only what she had foreseen, yet none
the less the suddea realization of the fact
caused certain chilling of her high cour-
age
The order of their march was now
changed; they walked abreast: Lorelie in
the center, the earl on her right, Ivar, still
silent. on her left.
Though apparently staring about with
interest and curiosity Lorelie in reality
never took her eyes from the earl 1t might
have been simply the effect of the flicker
ing 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 on his part caused
her right hand 10 seek her dress pocket in
which a loaded revolver lay concealed
steep descent of stone steps now
yawned in front of them. With her left
hand Lorelie drew her dainty skirts around
her. and glanced in disgust at the black
shiny ooze and the patches of fungous
growth.
These stairs look slippery she MUIR
| INJURED.
"A former Lord of ormsby broke his neck
down these very steps" remarked the
II have no wish. 10 initiate his feat" said
Lorelie. drawing back little. do you
60 first If / slip l shall be but n slight
weight, whereas IL you should fall upon
me-" she added with a shrug of her shoul-
ders. there is no knowing what might
The earl gave her a suspicious look as if
detecting a hidden meaning I'm her words:
then. compliant with her wish. he led the
way down the steps Lorelie came last,
feeling more at ease in being at the rear
The stairs terminated I'm the tagged floor
ing or another long passage. at the end OF
which was the crypt.
As LoreIie entered she could not repress
shiver. the atmosphere OF the place strik-
Ing her senses with damp chilling effect.
War, By aid of the light ne had carried.
proceeded 10 kindle the lamp pendent from
the roof. and every object In the chamber
became clearly visible.
At glance Lorelie took in the whole
scene-the octagonal crypt, the black vel
sive oak table. and the four antique carved
scribed it
AS her eye fell upon the silver lace edging
the lower end OF curtain adjacent 10 the
door. her face expressed satisfaction sat
fsfactlon that became instantly lost in a
very different feeling: for there. the floor
by one OF the alcoves. was chest of cy-
press wood. an object she readily identified
as the rsliquary that had figured SO con-
spienously in Godfreys narration. The lid
stood erect and she noticed that the con-
tents consisted OF whitish powder.
thrill. me '"' ''''''''''su WI" d eo''
Becoming doubly vigilant she sat down in
one OF the chairs and prepared herself for
emergencies.
Ca the table stood decanter partly filled
with wine. and beside il some glasses
Observant of everything Lorelie saw that
though tTe smooth surface OF the table was
overlaid with coating OF dust. the display
OF glass exhibited not a trace OF IL; evi-
IDENTIFY the wine was OF recent introduction
perhaps placed there specially for her
What you have wine here? Pour me out
glass. Ivar"
Speaking in the tone OF woman who sus-
poets nothing she reclined i'm her seat I'm q
graceful attitude. extending "A glass to-
wards Ivar. and watching him keenly from
beneath she iashes OF her half-ciosed eyes
Her husband his face as white as a ghost s
filed her glass. and setting down the de-
eanter. b-eathed hard. The earl looked on
With seeming indifference.