Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-06-24
CHAPTER XXX.-(Continued.)

al
A few doors farther down the corri-
dor, In a chamber more somber and
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
teryals, In large, heavy drops. She is
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 1t all their own way, yelling the
sky with profound darkness; and the
winds wax fercer. The air is filed with
the alternate shrieks and sobs of terri
fed nature. There Is heavy rain, with
which the monster sports, dashing it, and
whirling it, and scattering it i'll 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 1t, moves a
large, dark, numbering object. 1t is a
man, bearing another, seemingly sense
less, upon his back. Slowly, staggering
anu sWdyllB Ut llIues uuucr eho NciSh'
and the wind, he advances to the hall
door. There he lays down his burden,
and seems to ponder for 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
A rNlx f,,5f
ened. In corner of the building there
was a smaller window, like that Of O
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
lantern and some matches from his
pocket and struck a light.
1t was not a pantry he was in, but c
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 eal
to the keyhole. All seemed quiet.
He assembled the stairs. AS he reach
ed the first corridor he became sensibl,
OF a strong, pungent odor and a mlsti
ness in the air. like smoke. He looked
about him for some cause and crept fur
Their along the corridor. Beneath tn,
door, and through the keyhole of on
of the rooms, shone a red glow.
Great heavens! had accident anticipat
ed his intention? Was this fire? HI
turned the handle Of the door-it wa!
not locked. His doubts were solved il
an instant. A body of hot, binding
smoke rushed into his face, nearly over
towering him. The room was In flames
Hanging acress the arm of a chair wa
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 GU
of her room, appeared upon the scene.
Miles away, a carriage containing al
old gentleman is speeding furiously alon
the Essex road. Upon the box are tw
policemen.
On through the pelting rain and tn
rushing wind beneath the shadows o
overhanging trees and along the ope
road, the soaked, blinded driver, scarce
ly able to see a yard before him, gallop
the horses.
Look, look!v cries policeman, sud
denly pointing ahead.
There is a glare rising up In the blac
sky-a wavering, red glare, that bright
ems and fades, fades and brightens.
The old gentleman within, who, spit
OF the storm, is continually putting hi
head out of the window to see wha
progress is being made, sees it, too.
Faster, faster, for heavens sake"' h
cries. do you not see that fire?
must be the Manor House; there is n
other house near"
What is that dark object advancin
so swiftly towards them? A horse, ga
Looping furiously, darts past like an a
row, and is lost in the darkness.
what Is that?" cries the old gent
man, looking out of the window agail
But only the wind hears his voice.
The glare in the sky grows stronge
nearer. Up rise showers of sparks, an
up rolls the red smoke, and faster al
faster speed the horses, until they see
running a race with the wind, matcl
ing themselves against the tempest.
Judith and Rodwell face one anoth
but only for an instant. With a CT
of agony, she rushes towards her fat
err. The fire surrounds him now, scree
ing him from all human help. The fam
and smoke drive her back with the
scorching breath. With wild fury, 81
turns upon Rodwell. Recovered fro
his momentary panic, he is flying; b
as he reaches the head of the stairs, 81
is upon him, with the grip of a tigres
and calling wildly for help.
He struggles fercely, twines his Fl
gers in her long hair, and with L
otbar hand rains heavy blows upon h