Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1905-06-24
CHAPTER XxX.-tContinued)

aar la a chamber more somber and
gas4g than any we have visited, was
5uaitA- She il lying back listlessly, In
an easy chair. with her red rair loosely
falling around her pallid. worn face.
TIE tears rou down her cheeks. at in
teri ais Ia large. heavy drops. She is
weeping over the ashes Of love, over
wrecke1 hopes. ard lost life. Heavily
ever her broois the spirit OF the night,
hol.4g - death.
A. tie night advances, the clouds
have Il al their own way, yelling the
SAY with profound darkness: and the
winds wax tercer. The air is flled with
tie alternate shrieks, and sobs of terri
hvt nature There Is heavy rain, with
vaich the monster sports, dashing it and
uhirl4ug L. and scattering it in gusts,
and elties, and Masses
Heavy footsteps upon the carriage
drive. but the tempest absorbs every
sound into itself over the gravel,
which stands out lightly from the black
ness that encompasses il, moves q
large dark. numbering object 1t is a
man. bearing another, seemingly sense
less, upon his back. Slowly, staggering
and swaying al times under the weight
AID the wind, he advances to the hall
door. There he lays down his burden,
and seems 20 ponder for q moment. Then
BE- walks cautiously round the house,
looking NJ al all the windows There
Is a faint light In two, but seemingly
emitted only by night taperS, All seem
o 10 sleeping.
He cautiously tries the windows upon
the ground foor. All were securely fust-
eued. In a corner Of the building there
was a smaller window, like that OF q
pnntry. With his diamond ring he cut
out one Of the panes OF glass, put his
arm through the cavity and with some
dialculg succeeded in reaching the fast
ening that secured the sash. He raised
the window and crept through. He took
lantern and some matches from his
pocket and struck q light
Il was not q pantry he was in, but a
small bedroom Passing out at the door,
he found himself In the servants Offices
He took of his boots and crept noise
lessly along the passage until he reached
the corridor. He halted at Silas Ours
tons door and listened, with his ear
70 the keyhole. All seemed quiet.
He assembled the stairs, As he reach
os a strong, pungent odor and a mlsti-
ness In the air, Hike smoke. He looked
about ham for some cause and crept fur
Their along the corridor. Reneath the
door. and through the keyhole Of one
OF the rooms, shone red glow.
Great heavens, had accident anticipat-
ed his intentionI Was this fire? He
turned the handle OF the door-it was
not locked His doubts were solved in
an instant. A body OF hot, binding
smoke rushed into his face, nearly over
powering him. The room was In fames
Hanging acress the arm Of a chair was
the body of q man, either dead or In
sensible Lost and awe-stricken. Rod
well stood helpless and transfxed, gaz-
ing upon the awful sight
At that moment Judith. hurrying out
Of her room, appeared upon the scene
Miles away. a carriage containing an
old gentleman Is speeding furiously along
the Essex road Upon the box are two
policemen.
On through the pelting rain and the
rushing wind, beneath the shadows Of
overhanging trees and along the open
road. the soaked, blinded driver, scarce
ly able to see a yard before him, gallops
the horses
Look, loOkr' cries a policeman, sud
denly pointing ahead.
There is glare rising up In the black
sky-a wavering, red glare, that bright
ems and fades, fades and brightens.
The old gentleman within, who spite
OF the storm, is continually putting his
h,p st H. H. L
progress is being made, sees it, too.
Faster, faster, for heavens sake" he
cries. do you not see that fire? 1t
must be the Manor House; there is no
other house near"
What is that dark object advancing
so swiftly towards them? A horse, gal
Looping furiously, darts past like an ar
row, and is lost in the darkness.
What Is thatW cries the old gentle
man, looking out of the window again.
But only the wind hears his voice.
The glare In the sky grows stronger,
nearer. Up rise showers Of sparks, and
up rolls the red smoke, and faster and
faster speed the horses, until they seem
running a race with the wind, match
ing themselves against the tempest.
Judith and Rodwell face one another
but only for an instant. With a cry
of agony, she rushes towards her faith
er. The fire surrounds him now, screen
Ing him from all human help. The flames
and smoke drive her back with their
scorching breath. With wild fury, she
turns upon Rodwell Recovered from
his momentary panic, he Is flying; but
as he reaches the head of the stairs, she
Is upon him, with the grip of a tigress,
and calling wildly for help.
He struggles fercely, twines his fin
gers In her long hair, and with the
other hand rains heavy blows upon her
head and face; but still she holds on,
never ceasing her wild cries for help.
Other cries begin to mingle with hers,
and the sounds of battering at doors.
The prisoners are aroused to a sense of
their danger, as well as the servants be-