The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-01-26
CHAPTER xxx.-tConunued.D

81. ta a chamber more somber and
GaDsmy than any We have visited. was
Ju61th. She 70 lying back listisssly. In
saay chair. with her rcd rair loosely
lnniag arsuud her pallid. worn face.
Ne tears roll down her cheeks, st In
1asvalas In large. heavy drops. She u
Uueptng over the ashes OF love. over
wroched hopes. and . lost life. Heavily
ever her broods the spirit Of the night
tsding Of death.
A the night advances. the clouds
oavs u all their own way. yelling the
~ with profound darkness; aud the
wisda wax 6erccr. The air In hlled with
- alternate shrieks, and sobs OF terri
- nature. There In heavy rain. With
Which the monster sports. dashing L. aud
Wtlriing u, and scattering u Ia gusts.
cd eddics. and masses.
Heavy footsteps upon the carriage
Arive; hut the tempest absorbs every
GssnA into Itself. Over the gravel.
Which stands out lightly from the black
0sss that encompasses II. moves q
lasys. DARK. numbering object. IL 10 q
Qan. bearing another. seemingly sense
1sas. upon his back. Slowly. staggering
cd swaying at times under the weight
anA the wind. he advances to the hall
Asoe. There no iays down his burden.
aaA scsms to ponder for a moment Then
- walks cautiously round the house.
essking up ut all the windows. There
. Q faint light In two. but seemingly
emitted only by night tapers. AL seem
- b. sieeping.
He cautiously tries the windows upon
<Aa ground floor. AL were securely fast.
~nea. In q corner OF the building there
vas q smallcr window. like that OF O
oantry. With his diamond ring he cut
Sat one of the pancs OF glass. put his
arm through the cavity and with some
simcuity succeeded In rachins the fast
yaing that secured the sash. He raised
eAs window and crcpt through. He took
. lantern and some matches from his
socket aud struck n light.
Il WAS not a pantry he was in. but q
email bedroom. Passing out nj the door.
Ae found himself In the servants Offices.
He took on his boots and crcpt noise
tessly sions the passage. until he reached
che corridor. lie halted at Silas Cars
tons door and listened. with his enr
% the k.yboic. All seemed quiet.
He assembled the stairs. As he reach.
ID the first corridor he became sensible
- q strong. pungcnt odor aud n misti-
moss In the dir. like smoke. He looked
about him for some cause and crept fur
cher along tho corridor. Beneath the
door. and through the kcyhole OF one
of the rooms. shoue a red glow.
Great heavens! had accident anticipnt'
Cd his intentioni Was this FIRE? lie
eurued the handle OF the door--it was
uoe locked. His doubts were solved In
On Instant. a body OF hot. binding
~moke rushed into his face. nearly over
covering him. The room was In flames
Hanging acrcss the arm OF q chair wa,
che body OF a man. either dead or In
sensible. Lost and awe-stricken. Rod
well stood helpless and transhxed. gax'
eng upon the awful sight.
At that moment Judith. hurrying out
OF her room. appeared upon the scene.
Miles away. n carriage containing IN
old gentleman In speeding furiously alonl
che Essex road. Upon the box are tive
policcmcn.
On through the pelting rain and IN,
cushing wind. beneath the shadows oi
overhsnging trees and along the oper
road. tho soaked, blinded driver. scarce
" able 10 see q yard before him. gallop'
che horses.
Look. look" cries a policeman. sud
denly pointing ahead.
There IL q glare rising up la the blacl
sky-s wavering. red glare. that bright
ens and fades. fades and brightens.
The old gentleman within, who. spit
OF tho storm. il continually putting hi
head out Of the window 10 see VIVA
progress Is being made. sees II, too.
"Fastcr. faster, for heavens sake h,
cries. "Do you not see that fret 4
must bc the Manor House: there Ia NJ
other house near"
What Is that dark object advancinl
% swiftly towards themf A horse. sal
lioping furiously. darts past like an NJ
ssw. aud Ii lost in the darkness.
what In thatT' cries the old gentle
saan, looking out OF the window again
hut only tho wind hears his voice.
The glare In the sky grows stronger
NEARER Up rise showers OF sparks. nm,
Iup rolls the red smoke. and faster an
faster speed the horses. until they seer
running a race with the wind. match
ing themselves against the tempest.
ludith and Rodwcll face one ano;ae
hut only for nm instant. With n CT
OF agony. abe rushes towards her faith
er. The hre surrounds him now. screen
ing him from all human help. The fame
and smoke drive her back with ihci
scorching breath. With Wild fury, m
turns upon RodwclL Recovered fror
mis- %momcntary panic. he Il fyiug: hu
lns he reaches the head 81 the stairs, sh
Is upon him. with the grip OF a tIsrcss
and calling wildly for help.
lie struggles ~ierccly. twineS his Cir
gers la her knE hair. aud with "a
oliver hand rains heavy blowa upon he
head and face: but still she holds on
never ccaSing her wild cries for hell
Other cries begin 10 mlnrle with h, n
aud The sounds of batiering NJ door
Tho prisoners are aroused TO n sense q
their danger. ms well ~ the seryrnts D.
low. lie will be detected. after all. an
Niruugh this wild cat 81 n woman. Sut
denly there is q dull ihud-hcr voic.
.~iieneci --hc has hurled her over I'll
NksiustcrS.
Down the stairs he springs. In IN
hal he meets the two terrified servant
= In their night dresses. who scream mn
y rsE hack. Quick ~ lightning he shoot
, back the ponderous bolts Of the doc
and uhs Next moment Is flying along N