The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-05-20
CHAPTFR XXX.-lContinnedl

Judith. She Is lying back Hstlessly. in
an easy chair, with her red rair loosely
falling around her pallid. worn face.
uhe tears roll down her cheeks, at in
tervals, In large. heavy drops- She Is
weeping over the ashes Of love, over
wrecked hopes, and a lost life. Heavily
over her brOods the spirit Of the night.
boiling of death.
As the night advances. the clouds
have Il all their own way. yelling the
sky with profound darkness; and the
winds wax hercer. The air Is filed with
the alternate shrieks, and sobs Of terri
led nature. There Is heavy rain. with
which the monster sports, dashing it. and
whirling 1t. and scattering it in 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 a
large. dark. numbering object. 1t is q
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
ne walks cautiously round the house.
looking MP at all the windows. There
IL q 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
Sned. In q corner Of the building there
was a smaller window, like that OF a
pantry. With his diamond ring he cut
cut 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 erept through. He took
lantern and some matches from his
pocket and struck light.
It was not q pantry be was in, but a
small bedroom. Passing out at the door,
he found himself In the servants oflces.
He took OF 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 q 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, shoBe a red glow.
Great heaVsnsl had accident antScipat-
ed his intentiOni Was this fre? He
turned the handle Of the deor-lt 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 acrsss the arm Of a chair was
the body Of q man, either dead or in
sensible Lost and awe-stricken, Rod |
well stood helpless and tranzfxed, gar
lag upon the awful sight
At that moment Judith. hurryinR out |
OF her room, appeared upon the scene.
Miles away. a carriage containing an
old gentleman 10 speeding furiously along |
the Essex road. Upon the box are two |
policemen.
On through the pslting rain and the
rushing wind, beneath the shadows of J
overhanging trees and along the open
road. the soaked. blinded driver. scarce
y able TO see a yard before him, gallops |
the horses
Look, lock- cries a policeman, SGD
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 ont 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
30 swiftly towards theml A horse, Ral-
Looping furiously. darts past like an mr.
row, and is lost in the darkness.
What Is thatT' 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, aud 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 crV
Of agony. she PUSHES towards her faith
eF. The fire surrounds him now, screen
Ing him from all human help The flames
and smoke drive her back with their
breath. With wild fury, she
turns upon Rodwell Recovered from
his momentary panic. he Is flying; hut
~ he reaches the head Of the Stair. abe
e upon him, with the grip of a tiRreaa.
and calling wildly for help.
He struggles hercely. twines his I'm
gers In her long hair, and with the
,theF hand rains heavy blows upon her
read and face; but still she holds on.
never ceasing her wild cries for helm.
Other cries begin TO mingls with hers,
Ind the sounds Of batterinz at doors
The prisoners are aroused to a sense Of
heir danger. as well as the servants be-
ow. He will be detected, after all. and
through this Wild cat Of woman. Sud
lenly there II a dull thud-her voice Is
has hurled her over the
'nlusters.
Down the stairs he springs. In the
all he meets the two terrified servants
q their night dresses, who scream and
- haatg ntF,b f,k Z