The Cook County herald., 1905-07-15
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The S0rCerer
Of St. Giles
By PROF. WILLIAM HI. PECK.


The wild shouts of Bashfort did not
receive any reply, but as he. su rushed
to the door of that room in which Mar
tha was their roar filled the great and
hollow building, and was heard by the
startled Osreds.
Martha! Martial" shouted Bash
fort, beating at the door furiously,
**are you there?-dead or alive, are
you there?'
But no reply was made, and the Os-
reds soon came running to the spot,
partially clad, as they had sprung from
their beds, and with their drawn weap-
ons in their hands.
"Ha, Bashfort!' cried Lord Genlis,
as he rushed into the long corridoro,
shave you another fit? What is the
matter?'
"The matter, my lord" replied
Bashfort, almost breathless, "is that
fear that the young lady has escaped
during-''
"Ha, escaped" cried Lord Genlis
and his son with one voice; and in
stantly they both began to beat and
swordhilts and their heels, and to
shout, Martha! devil! woman! Open
the door!"
But only silence in that room, and
the echo of their shouting throughout
the house replied to their voices.
The hole l cut through the room
above, my lord!" said Bashfort, sud-
denly remembering it. 81 can enter
the room by that, and open the door by
taking off the lock, if do not find the
key"
away with you, thon!" replied Lord
Genlis, fiercely.
And Bashfort darted away.
The sorcerer, hidden in some cum
ming recess, heard all this uproar, and
knowing it's cause, enjoyed it amaz-
ingly. He, too, had been taking a
good long nap, after his many xexer-
tions and explorations, and the Shout
ing of Bashfort had aroused him.
"a very nice trick, indeed!' Thought
the sorcerer, as he listened in his con-
cealment. "A very prettily-devised
trick has my former pupil played upon
these beef-witted fools. 1t shall be
played out to the end, and after that I
shall play very nice trick, indeed,
upon Chavalier Clarence DARRELL"
Bashfort was soon at the opening;
he halted there onl to cast one sweep
ing glance into the interior of Helen's
late prison.
That glance told him that Helen
was not there. Indeed, he had had no
hope of seeing here there, for his be-
lief was already firm tnat she had es-
capped thence and fallen over the cliff.
The same sweeping glance showed
him the PROSTATE and motionless form
of Martha, clearly visible in the day
light that streamed in through the
grated window, and from dimly burn
ing lamp, Pickering into it's few re-
naming drops of oil.
Down into the room dropped Bash
fort. with the agility of an ape, and his
first act was to bound to Martha's
side.
The muscles of her jaw had relaxed;
the key, however still remained cross
wise in her mouth.
Bashfort lost no time in attempting
to resuscitate the unconscious woman,
though he gave her a rough shake, to
which she replied only with a groan.
He snatched the key from her
mouth, and instantly unlocked and
opened the door.
"Gone, my lord! She's gone!" he
exclaimed, as he threw open the door.
GONE! Where? How?"
"She must have escaped by climbing
up that grated window and through
that hole, my lord. can imagine no
other way; and yet it seems scarcely
possible that she could have done that
without help:
"Help? Who was near to help her?"
roared Lord Genlis, in a whirlwind of
rage and vexation. Is Martha dead?
Did Helen Beauclair kill the woman?"
Here Martha sat up and stared won
deringly at those about her. She made
an effort to rise, and did rise to her
feet after some aid from Bashfort.
"The young lady! Where is she?"
demanded Lord Genlis, shaking the
poor woman. in her fierce grasp.
"Aye! where is Miss Helen Beau
clair?" cried Capt. Osred, also shaking
her.
"Speak, stupid" roared Bashfort,
giving her a thrust with his fist. "How
did it chance? How did it all happen?
Why did you lie there as if dead, with
the key in your jaws?"
"Don't tear me to bits!" screamed
Martha, fully aroused to her senses by
this furious hauling and pushing and
thrusting "She got up in the night,
delirious, to steal the key. I put it in
my bosom just after heard some pis-
tol firing"
"That was your husband! He had a
fit. Go on!" roared Lord, Genlis,
stamping with rage and impatience.