The Cook County herald., 1905-07-22
CHAPTER XVI.
The Struggle in the Passage.


Ing the voice of Helen Beauclair, was
aghast with terror
He nearly lost his hold on the rocks,
down which he was about to climb
cautiously. His hair stood on end for
a moment, while a chill of horror
shook his powerful frame.
"Oh, heaven!" thought Clarence
Darrell, also dismayed for an instant,
alarmed by my long absence, Helen
has ventured to, seek for me, and the
shouting of this wretch has terrified
her. All may be lost now. If sucA
ceed in killing this ruffian, the Osreds
will know it, and doubtless seek for
us and find u.s."
These thoughts flashed through the
mind of Clarence the moment he heard
voice of Helen, who had succeeded in
traversing the windings of the passage
till she was not many feet distant
from her lOver-her slow and cautious
movements, and his attention toward
Bashfort, having prevented Clarence
from hearing her approach until it was
too late to warn her Eof their peril.
"'Sfames! the voice of the LADY,"
gasped Bashfort, shaking off his mo-
mentary terror, as Helen again cried
out, from the darkness of the passage:
"Clarence! Clarence! come to me,
Clarence, for can crawl no further!"
With great difficulty from the mar
rowness Of the passage, Clarence turn
ed about where he was and hastened
on his hands and knees to where Helen
lay PROSTATE, overcome with terror.
"Silence!" he whispered, as he
Eeared her: II am we'll! silence!
Danger is near us! Bashfort is at the
mouth Of this passage! Retreat! All
may yet De well if he does not tell the
Osreds! Can you turn?"
"Yes," whispered Helen, in a faint
voice. "So-now obey you. God help
u.s."
"And now I must see if the ruftian
speaks of his discovery to those above.
He has not yet, or should have heard
him." thought Clarence, turning again
with difficulty and crawling back to-
ward the mouth of the cave.
Bashfort had not shouted to the Os-
reds that he had heard anything-in-
Heed his sudden and great fright
though very brief, had for time de-
prived him of the power to shout.
He had just collected his wits
Enough to enter into the cave a little
tnd listen, when Clarence, returning
from warning Helen, reached a place
from which the startled ruffian could
be seen crouching near the center of
the small cave.
Bashfirt, however, though he faced
l!arence, could not see the young man,
so narrow was the passage and so
black the gloom around Helen's lover.
"Ha!" muttered Bashfort, after lis
tening a moment, ''I imagine how 1t is,
though I cannot imagine how it came
about Delirious people are in fact,
for the time, crazy people-lunatics-
and lunatics are often very cunning,
and sometimes do the most incredible
things. She wanted to deceive us
to make us believe that she had fall
en- over the cliff. Then she contrived
Il cannot see how-to descend, and
found hiding place here. How? Who
can tell? Yet she is here, somewhere
within this passage, which l now can
see in the rear OF the cave, delirious-
crazy-yet, and hunting for her lover,
whom she dotes upon. I'll seek Tor
her. She cannot be far away-ot
course not. Her voice sounded not
/ is very still now
He listened; then ne spoke his
thoughts aloud again-as was his fre-
uuent hatit, when he believed no ear
was near-in a low growl, which was
clearly heard by Clarence.
"She heard me shouting, and 1t rous-
ed her from a. nap in there, perhaps,
and now she is alarmed and cunning
and keeps as still as a scared mouse
I must catch her myself-neither my
lord nor the captain can get down
here to help me. But need no help
I'll catch her and tie her, and then let
nv lord know of it. Good! 1t will be
grand surprise for him and the cap
tain.
"Helen-Miss Helen!" he said. in
louder voice, and in a coaxing tone.
"Whist! am Clarence!-your own
dear, sweet, Clarence Daredevil-no.
that's not the name-Clarence Darrell!
"Ha! 1 thought that would make her
stir little," he added to himself, as a
slight sound came to him from the
passage "She's there-not far off,"
He nov began to creep on his hands
and knees toward the end of the pas
sage, whispering in a loud and whee-
ding tone:
Helen, my own-are you there, my
love? I am your own true Clarence!
Don't you remember how you held
your sweet arms out to me last night,
and called me your own dear Clarence