The Washington herald., 1906-11-13

can be saved.
their homes, printers, telegraphers. engi-
neers. perhaps OF special ability. who
had been stolen into such vile slavery.
and thencef0rth compelled 10 serve their
inhuman taskmasters bitterly against
their will The slaves did not IN any
way resent his action: they were too
sullen. too Indifferent to care. not one
showed even trace Of curiosity on
seeing so many strange faces so sud
denly about him.
The young man was however. soon dis
abused Of his imag.nings. and his kind
ly intention 10 Immediately release them
peTished almost as soon as IL was born.
They possessed, without exception
coUntenances Enthusiastically vicious and
criminal. and It needed no physiognomist
TO discern as desperate and abandoned a
set Of rogues and scOundreIs as the jans
Of Europe could readily produce in
rivalry.
Ten minutes Of vigorous and systeuatic
search failed to discover any means of
egress from the cavern except the door
by which they had entered. Crossing
ham then gave the word To depart. and
leaving for the time the slaves 10 their
own devices
There he held a short council Of war.
and IL was arranged that the force
should be divided. six should go and
reinforce the counts guard, two should
proceed 10 the lookout which command
ed "A complete prospect Of the island, four
should guard the main entrance 10 the
castle. and the remaining four. includ-
ing CTessingham himself. should care
fully re-eXamine the ground floor. with
the view 10 discover an opening which
might lead tc some secret tunnel into
which the counts remaining servants had
probably retreated in order to conceal
themselves.
The disposition was Immediately ef-
fected, and ali proceeded 10 their al
lotted tasks. Cressingham first visited
the counts bedroom, but everything there
was IN the same condition that he had
left IT, The old man lay quietly on his
side, trussed up ike a fowl, and breath
ing heavily. Orsiui stood beside him
with olvercocked. Vicenzo guarded the
door. and the bounden PROSTATE negroes.
alert and anxious as fox Neither had
been disturbed, nor heard a single alarm
ing sound.
Cressingham tapped heavily upon every
panel OF the bedroom and library walls
but with the single exception Of the door
which had admitted his comrades and
himself 10 the apartment, all appeared
solid, and resounded duly TO his knock
ing. Leaving the library, he investigat-
ed IN similar fashion the other sixteen
rooms Of that floor Of the chateau, but
no sign Of hollow wall or hidden door
rewarded his careful search.
RU this ffTna he had bp0OrT7n hnrrfbIx
anxious for his sweetheart's safety. and
commenced to despair Of finding her
alive He was on the point Of ascend
ing 10 retest sthe upper floor. when the
two men whom he had dispatched 10 the
lookout suddenly returned. their eager
faces showing they brought news.
'Well?" said CTessinghsm, excitedly.
One replied: There are a dozen negroes
on the beach, and scattered round the
bay, my lord, all hard at work engaged
in collecting and burning wreckage.
Like a flash there occurred to the young
man the true reason he had been unable
to discover the remainder Of the counts
attendants They were no doubt cover
ing up the traces Of last nights de-
structive work.
But that did not explain the disappear
ance Of Miss Elliott and Nine. Viyella He
at once ordered his whole force to await
the arrival OF the negroes, cOncealing
themselves, as well as they could, in the
main hall. and secure them Immediately
on entrance. Then with renewed anxiety
he betOok himself 20 the upper floor and
resumed his work In ten minutes he was
interrupted by a messenger with the in
formation that one negro had returned as
II On an errand to the castle. and been
captured.
Cressingham had by that time seen the
hopelessness Of further search in that part
Of the castle. for the walls on the upper
story were all above ground. and only
one stone thick. 1t was ridiculous to sup
pose the existence Of any secret passage
possible He suddenly determined TO qUes-
tion this negro. and accompanied his
comrade to the great hall. where he found
the fellow covering, bound. upon the floor,
displaying the most craven terror. Cres-
singham ordered his gag to be removed,
ana standing over him with cooked re-
volver, demanded in Italian: Where are
the two ladies who were in this house
last night?"
The negro answered with chattering
teeth: Pardon, excellency; l do not
know
when did you see them last?"
"Excellency. last night at dinner; they
6ined with my master. the prince.
''The prince,"
Yes, exceIIency. the Prince Of Attala. =
You are lying 10 me. You know where
they are Speak. or 1 shall kill you.
The fellows black face became gray
with fear. Good, kind excellency," he