Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-01-14
CHAPTER xxx.
A Face in the Tower.

a Face In the Tower.
"In the eastern tower!"
Through the souls of two women
thrilled the words, freighted with mys-
terious dread.
'Impossible!" Eustace Earle shout
ed. at cannot have originated there!
The place has been unused and de-
serted for years!"
ut Is there-look!"
And now they were all crowded to-
| gether on the 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.
"Quicki men!" rolled forth Cyril
C~arrington'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 B~lackcastle! Ride like the
wind! The fire is spreading!"
Anu tho hi0 was oPiSduiuS, lOE INV
the roof.
My lady stood 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 whom!
I 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
1t! Is there any other entrance? Oh,
II there is, you know It! Quick, / tell
you! The flames will not wait!"
She was quivering in every limb
win excitement; but she held her
emotions in stern control.
And now with a fierce roar, the fire
streamed upward, and flung out to the
midnight sky defiant banners of scar.
let and gold.
"Quick. Of 1t will be too late!" she
whispered. "Quick!"
Once, twice, the trembling lips
strove to s~peak-strove and failed.
"The only other entrance-is
through my room!" she gasped, faint
ly. "The panel at the north side of
the 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 q grip of steel.
Cyril"
He wheeled round, and started as he
saw her. He noticed how keenly she
was shivering. She wore only a loose
wrapper and the cold was intense.
Without a word he tore of his great
coat and folded 1t around her.
"Oh, no. no., mol" she began, in angry
protest.
"You must!" he said. quietly.
And she resisted no longer.
Cyril" che painted, 81 came to tell
you there is some one in the tower!"
He fell back and stared at her with
a blanching face.
Eyes, 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.
II don't knowl Some one Is there
some one is in danger; that is enough
for me. Comet"
Together they sped across the snow.
clad ground, up the wide steps, 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 headl"
They found 1t.
Cyril Darlington struck a match, and
STOPPING down began to sec-ch among
the raised and carver figures of beast,
and FISH. and bird, for the head of a
lion.
Here I isl" came at last. exultant-
ly.
She sprang forward. She would be
irst to enter. She always was first In
q cause Of humanity.
He leaned heavily on the black oak
panel II slid back. But even as the
aperture beyond was revealed, forth
surged Q dense, dark. binding cloud
Of smoke and flame.
Miss Lennon was standing nearest
the opening. It engulfed, s~uffocated,
stunned her. The shock. the intense
cold she had endured, aided that fery
blast In Its attack upon q strength
lately weakened and impoverished.
She reeasd. strove to steady herself.
and fall