The Cook County herald., 1905-10-07
CHAPTER xxIv-continued.

EOpe. ii 20 uOWu the passage OeQluQ
the slab. But first will prepare my oil
for Helen's lamp"
Having said this, he moved away,
and Martha, following his lamp, saw
how he entered his secret CELL.
She then hurried to the verge of the
cliff, where still were the ropes which
had been used to draw up Capt. Os-
reds body.
II will save the young lady if can,"
thought Martha, now aware of the pas
sage. under the, ledge, and quickly
using that skill in climbing of which
She was mistress, it was not long ere
she descended below the upper ledge,
and gained a footing upon the lower
one
She then crept into the cave pas
sage, and was able to see the light in
the interior cave, just as the sorcerer
entered it from behind the leaning
slab. e
Then she dared go no further, but
watched.
AS soon as she saw the sorcerer drag
away Helen in the blanket, she hast
ened to ascend the cliff by the knotted
rope, and was in the house before the
sorcerer had carried his burden to his
cell.
Martha saw him enter the cell, and
then hurried back to Helen's first pris-
on, suspecting that Sosia would again
look in upon that room.
IL I.
took quick effect upon Martha, who, it
will be remembered, sprang to her feet
and instantly fell senseless.
She was just regaining her senses
when Clarence returned from Kilro-
nan, also tossing in pastille, and ere
Martha could cry out, insensibility
again seized her.
From this last unconsciOusness she
did not recover until she awoke and
saw Sosia leading Lord Genlis from
the room. She remained motionless,
not yet able to move, and was thus un-
til Sosia returned and bore away the
body of Capt. Osred.
Horror nerved Martha to action soon
after she had seen the sorcerer bear
away the body.
His muttered exultation as he lifted
the body from the bed had told her
that he was about to place it in the
dungeon with Lord Genlis and Clar-
ence Darrell, and dreading that the
sorcerer would soon return to carry
her to the same place. she hurried to
the cliff, and in the broad light of day
again descended to the seaward cave,
and then crept into the passage that
led to the interior cave, carrying with
her lantern which she had snatched
up and lighted in the kitchen ere she
began her second descent
This lantern she left burning in the
interior cave, and then crept into the
passage which led to the stone door of
the dungeon.
She arrived at the stone door just
after Sosia had carried the body into
the dungeon, and while he was hurting
parting taunts at helpless Clarence.
She waited, half insensible for
time from inhalation of the gas of the
recently burning pastilles. But after
Clarence through the opening over the
stone door.
Then, together, he and Martha pass
ed through the outer passage to the
cave in the face of the cliff, Clarence
in advance.
In the same order they ascended the
knotted rope, Clarence going up with
the rapidity and ease Of an expert
enced acrobat.
He h@>l no weapons, however, and
waited on the cliff VERGE till Martha
joined him.
II will go frst,' she said, when he
asked where he might find weapons
Hide there, near the wall, till l. return
He must not suspect that you have
escaped. Patience!"
Martha then hurried through the diff
ferent gateways, closely followed by
Clarence, who refused to permit her to
go alone.
match for. him." he said; "and 1 think
we can enter the house without his
knowledge unless he is at the front en-
trance. Indeed, at this time Sosia was
using all his medical skill to save the
life of Helen Beauclair.
When the sorcerer entered his cell,
he was astonished to see Helen lying
as if half dead upon the floor. At a
glance he saw what she had done, and
with lightning Qu1ckness he cut the
knot of the strangling cord.
He was unable, without wounding
her throat, to cut any of the cord ex-
cept the double knot, for all of the cord
had sunk into the swollen skin and
flesh of that just now lovely neck.
With the blade of lancet he cut the
knots through and removed the cord.
This is courage, despair which I
did not imagine she possessed he
muttered, as he fastened to open his
portmanteau and take from it such ar
ticles as he desired,
AS when he pushed open the tower
wall door his eyes fell instantly upon
the PROSTATE form of Helen, he did not