Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-01


station and gave me the news. He made me
write note to the butler saying Francne was
with me at Dover and he took the note to my
house himself and explained matters; he was
very kind"
Cressingham whispered back: "who is Peri.
CORD, Coonel?"
| The old man shook his head. "I don't know,
although have known him for these ten years
past. He's right good fellow though, and has
done me many services Francine is awfully
fond Of him"
What! Fran--your daughter knows him."
"Yesl" Here was more food for Cressinghams
mental consumption, but he was not given time
to digest it just then.
Perigord had led them to the very end Of the
building and now pausing before a ponderous
iron nbound door, was fitting a huge key into It's
massive lock. The bolt shot back with sharp
snap, and through the open door entrance was
disclosed wide and stately chamber, which,
though lighted with waxen tapers manifold, was
nevertheless so spacious that IL scarcely seemed
illumined, and its corners faded into actual
gloom. The room extended from one side of the
building to the other; three of its walls were
slashed with windows, now, however
closely shuttered and barred, and the fourth
through which they had entered, was hidden al
together behind long dropping sheets of rich en-
brodered arras, centuries old and much the
worse for wear
Two rows of stiff armor-plated warriors kept
watch and ward, drawn up erect, visors down.
their mailed hands threateningly grasping sword
mace or battleaxe forming as they stood wide
and splendid avenue to dais at the farthest end
of the apartment.
Memory woke in Cressingham when he recog
nized the figures, and vaguely he recalled half.
fearful hour of his boyhood spent in gazing at
/ nFtahIa Af Hxrrr0 H.
age.
| More vaguely still he remembered that his
cousin, Lord Sedgewick, had once possessed the
craze of collecting arms, and the dreadful
implements of torture used by old Norman bar
ons and other feudal lords; his glance sought and
found quite at hand skeleton rack repos-
ing between two redcross knights; farther on
two rusty, hateful-looking boots and scattered
here and there among the mail, pincers, thumb
screws, leaden Uranium caskets and ugly little
beds of death.
With shudder he turned from these grim OBJ
jects to contemplate the living tenants of the
room. On the das seated on chair
between two standing backclad figures.
Approaching, he saw that the chair was Of iron
and the man securely fastened there by bands of
stained and rusted steel. His mouth was tightly
bandaged, but his black eyes sparkled with an
eager and venomous briliancy. He was thick
set, middle-aged and bald, and his face was of
a low and vulgar type, with its receding forehead,
jaw ponderous and brutal.
| Perigord, last to enter the apartment, softly
closed the door, then strobe down the avenue
without pause until he had reached the dais
There he stopped while the others gathered
round him, his eyes fired steadily upon the pris-
oner.
Rupert Klein" he said, his slow, sonorous ac-
cents strangely suggestive of calm and well-re-
solved determination; twelve months ago |
saved you from Siberia because you once res
cued child from the barbarism of drunken ruff
fan I thought for that reason there must be
some good in you. Since then Baron Lavalovski
has paid for my mistaken judgment with his
life I have reason to believe that his is not the
only murder to your credit. have better rea-
son to know that on account of your peculiar
talents you have been recently chosen by your
society as instrument for the perpetration Of
certain crime-ha! see I am not mistaken"
! (The man had writhed in his chair.) However,
am not here to judge you now-only to seek
from you some information which is in your pow
| er to give. / require you to tell me the name
and whereabouts of the island whereon the chief
of your society sometimes resides. / already
know something-enough to prevent your deciv-
ing me- Will you speak? If so, nod your head,
and the bandage shall be removed"
The man remained still marble, staring
straight before him.
Perigord' made a sign to the guards. They
stooped down and fastened something to the
"One!" said Pergord slowly, and paused
"Two" another pause "Three!" Klein's
face turned suddenly purple.
'Four" intoned Perigord, his voice utterly
unmoved.
Cressingham, who watched the prisoner intent
w. saw his eyes roll in their sockets and the
whites gradually fill with blood. Feeling un-
manned and sick, he turned away. Oeltjen was
staring horrorstruck his face white as death;
Colonel Elliott trembled in every limb; Captain
Fagerholm was livid with emotion But no one
spoke or seemed to think of interference.
"Five!" said Pergord. Klein uttered groan
so fierce and prolonged that it penetrated the
muffings of the gag and distinctly audible.
The horrid sound broke down Cressingham's
control "I cannot stand this!" he cried. "Mr.
Perirord. you must stop this fendish work:
what are you thinking Of? Gentlemen, appeal
to vou-Oeltien, Colonel ElliottP'
For answer Perigord stamped his foot, and al
il by magic five men issued from shadows where
thew had previously lurked unseen. In the hand
Of each rested a revolver. You see" said Peri
CORD with icy immobility.
'My God" cried the young do you
mean
"I mean that shall brook no interference,
STRIP At a nod two of the men approached, and
before Cressingham had recovered his surprise
his wrist and arms were grasped and he was
belpless. Perigord coldly returned to business.
"Sixl" he said
Klein's eyes. which had shone with a light of
hone during the alteration, grew dull with des
neration He nodded his head. second time
was the bandage removed
"Naterl" he gasped A cup was put to his
Inns which he drained at a draught.
''Nowl" said Perigord.
'The Island of Gotska," he muttered family