Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1906-12-22
sripped the stairs still shook slightly.

gripped the stairs still shook slightly.
"Ach! but 1t is you,' he whispered up
For a moment l thought-but il was
the folly of a child. And so. Mr.. H1r-
land, you come again to trouble me. Wen,
it is for the last time-mark you that
for the very last time" fs.W
He sat himself across the cylinder Az
he did so felt a hand upon my shoulder,
and knew that Graden was awake.
"You might have spared the lad" he
said very quietly.
Marnac looked up with une of the
beast-like glances that showed the dis
ordered brain. 1t
at was a necessity" he said HE
would have prevented my act of justics
upon you-upon you who have tried so
hard to hinder me in my revenge upon
my enemies who are also the enemies OF
science. Do you understand what l am
aboutY'
Perhaps" answered my cousin grim
ly, and at the word he jerked away my
boot, letting the trap fall into its place.
ITO the door, Robert" he whispered
ITO the door and shout for help, or il
Is all over with us. He must have no
ticed the ammonia cylinder this after
noon. If he turns the tap, that stuff
will choke the life out of us. The gas
is under immense pressure and will pour
up into this den like water from fire.
hose Run. man. runw
l staggered across the heaving cabin
to the door and dropped upon my knees,
hammering with my irons and screaming
for aid. 1t seemed to me that the thuB-
ders of the storm redoubled in violence,
Notu m oh
me down. Once l looked round and saw
that the light about the trap had gone
Graden had smothered the spot with
blankets. Presently he came cropping to
me, raising his voice in hoarse below
ings.
And then it happened.
There came an acrd. piercing scent to
my nostrils, that grew and grew until
my lungs seemed to contract, so that
/ fought for very breath. My cries
ceased. l struggled to my feet, with my
head raised like bird shot through the
lungs. Brilliant lights flashed in my
eyes; there were hollow drummings in
my ears. And then it seemed that the
air left me in a vacuum. l fell, and
forgot it all.
IL was udyng1t Wnen rememDet
facts again. The motion of the ship had
ceased, and there was an English strang-
er by my side. My chest felt bruised
and battered, and my eyes still watered
freely. Also 1 was very weak and ill
my cousin?'' l faltered
I'VE have got your friend round" said
the doctor-for so felt that he must be.
''also the other man."
what manT'
1.-The man who pulled you out after
the cylinder exploded. A red-headed
fellow-Blake, l think his name is. Yos
owe your lives to him. You had both
tainted when he opened the door"
"Then he heard us, after all! Tell me
what became of Marnacr
II really don't know about him
don't think he was injured. Oh! perhaps
you mean the old gentleman who bolt
ed?"
"BoltedY'
Eyes, of course there was great excite
ment over the accident. The captain
was dreadfuly cut up over the death OK
his servant. He could not imagine how
it came about. When the ship arrived
here, Mr.. Marnac, or whatever his name
was, slipped away by shore-boat, while
everyone was fussing over you. Your
friend has gone to inquire about him,
fancy. The old man had something
against you both, hadn't he? Or was It
you against himY'
Both, doctor, BOTH" 1 whispered.
shutting my eyes.
(To be continued.)