The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-05-20
CHAPTER XXX.-(Continued.)


dor, In a chamber more SENDER ana
gloomy than any we have visited, was
Judith. She is lying back listlessly, IN
an easy chair, with her red rair loosely
falling around her pallid. worn face
The tears roll down her cheeks. at In
tervals, in large. heavy drops. She IL
weeping over the ashes Of love, over
wrecked hopes. and lost life. Heavily
over her broods the spirit Of the night
boding Of death.
As the night advances, the clouds
have it ell their own way, yelling the
sky with profound darkness; and the
winds wax fiercer The air is filled with
the alternate shrieks, and sobs OF terri
fed nature. There is heavy rain, with
which the monster sports. dashing 1t. ana
whlrling it, and scattering it III gusts,
and eddies, 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 it, moves
large, dark, numbering object. 1t is a
man, bearing another, seemingly sense
less, upon his back. Slowly, staggering
and swaying at times under the weight
and the wind, he advances to the hall
door, There he lays down his burden,
and seems to ponder for a moment. Then
he walks cautiously round the house,
looking up at all the windows. There
Is faint light in two, but seemingly
emitted only by night tapers. All seem
to be sleeping.
He cautiously tries the windows upon
the ground floor. All were securely fast
ened. In a corner of the building there
was smaller window, like that Of a
pantry. With his diamond ring he cut
out one Of the panes Of glass, put his
arm through the cavity and with some
difficulty succeeded in reaching the fast
ening that secured the sash. He raised
the window and crept through. He took
a lantern and some matches from his
pocket and struck light.
1t 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 off his boots and crept noise
lessly along the passage. until he reached
the corridor. He halted at Silas Cars
tons door and listened, with his ear
to the keyhole. All seemed quiet.
He assembled the stairs. As he reach
ed the first corridor he became sensible
OF strong, pungent odor and a misti-
ness in the air, like smoke. He looked
about him for some cause and crept fur
Their along the corridor. Beneath the
door, and through the keyhole of one
OF the rooms. shone red glow.
Great heavens! had accident anticipat-
ed his intention? 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 flames!
Hanging across the arm of chair was
the body Of a 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
ly able to see yard before him, gallops
the horses.
Look Iookw cries a policeman, sud-
denly pointing ahead.
There is a 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
head out of the window to see what
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 thatY' 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 no,
head and face: but still she holds On
never ceasing her wild cries for helm
Other cries begin to mingle with hers
and the sounds of battering at doors
Tho prisoners are aroused to a sense ri
their danger. as well as the servants h.
low. He will be detected, after all. and
through this wild cat of a woman. Snd-
denly there il a dull thud-her voice :.
silenced-he has hurled her over RI.
balusteu. e
Down the stairs he springs. In III.
nan No meets tho two terrified servants