The Washington herald., 1906-10-26


boatside peering keenly into the dark
waters. She marked Desire now perched
on the roof of the boathouse glancing
eagerly about him. But Cressingham did
not appear again, and after half hour
infinitely dreadful TO the girl the search
was abandoned and she was taken 10 the
landing place and subsequently to the
chateau, no one apparently having con-
ceived an idea so mad as that Crossing
ham might have performed the apparently
impossible feat of swimming under water
for SO great a distance to take refuge in
the boathouse.
As for Cressingham, when he took the
dive he entertained no illusions. lie was
desperately conscious that the slender
chance he grasped az was his last and
only hope OF salvation, and he
swan for dear life itself The
swim was long and fun Of fearful effort,
for before he had tTaveTsed haif the dis
lance his breath was almost used, and he
conlbatted two forms Of death instead %
one But with bursting heart and swollen
lungs he struggled madly on, fortunately
in the right direction. but he never gave
d thought TO that He ceased struggling
at last. unable to move another muscle
without taking breath, and his only idea
lat FIRST was failure He had done his best
I
failed, and must pay the penalty. His
mind was filled with a vague pity for
Francine-he had not kept his promise 20
her; nc now would never have the op-
portunity. lie wondered dimly If she
would have the courage to take her own
life; and then, forgetting her, there
came into his brain a thousand mind
pictures Of the past. vivid. real, and flash
ing pictures that fitted past his mental
eyes with Dhantasmagoric Tapidity. Long,
forgotten Incidents OF his childhood re-
Cured 10 him, events buried in the deep
oblivion of years. He remembered 10
have heard that such sensations preluded
death. but q strange lassitude held his
limbs: he experienced no pain. but rather
blissfui aud reposcful dreaminess.
Suddenly all this went from him He
was really dying now. and natures strug-
gle with its old arch enemy set in in spite
OF him. HIS hands unconsci0usly beat
the waters, uplifting him. and finally ne
reached the surface. The anguish Of the
fight with death restored him to his senses.
his aching lungs discharged the long-held
poisonous breath, and a deep draught OF
sweet air took its place; but the transition
was accomplished with a torture so keen
that only weakness kept him from scream
ing out
he wondered vaguely in "a moment why
he was not already seized and why he
heard no shouts Of triumph At his APP
/ pearance. Then he opened his eyes, that
/ had closed in his late Uncousciousness,
and they were dazed with brilliant glare
7 OF artificial light. with . gasp OF rapture,
/ hope returned, and he realized that after
all he had succeeded. one of his hands
[ in his drowning struggle had unconscious
/ ly clutchcd q stake driven into the water.
/ This had STAYED and saved him. Slowly
strength returned and he looked curious
IS about him. The boathouse was single
apartment. long ana narrow; one half
composed OF a stone platform wherein
( repOsed long wooden Work-tablcs and "a
score Of strange, bright, many wheeled
engines. covered with crystal frames, and
other implements; the other half was all
water TO the iron poTtcullis at TIA farther
end behind him. Above his head was a
I platform Of plauks running from the
stone floor right 10 the pOTtCullis. and
above this platform swung n narrow Skel-
eton-like boat. whose sides shone like
FURNISHED silver in the fierce electric
/ light
/ CressinEham discovered that he could
completely conceal himself from observa-
/ ton by remaining beneath tho plank plat
form. he had no desire 20 land just then,
/ fearing that the Count Attala might
/ accompany Desire back 20 the boathousc.
I Nor was he mistaken. After half an hour
/ of waiting be heard voices, and the lad
entered the building, his grandfather "a
/ his heels.
DO you think his body viii soon come
/ us. SIR" asked the hoy in Italian. rs
voice was soft and liquid IS that of a
girl
i don't" answered the count; "he must
have been dead before he touched the
water, for he sank Ike stone. The bay
+ is full of currents. and his body will be
probably carried out to sea-that is. il
+ the sharks let Il alone I can't U&eF-
stand how he got that dagger though
( Perhaps Miss Elliott gave it TO him.
All, boy, YOU are right. I missed a
knife from my room some days since;
T thought YOU had taken IL. and intended %
ask YOU
NO. sir; I touched no dagger
/ Well. how goes the work, iad?'
/ Smoothly, sir. 7 have completed the
alloy. and am now shaping ii into plates.
/ It's hard work, though
Bah, YOU arc Young
I am not grumbling. erandfathe.
please don't think I'm grumbling.
wouldn't shirk anything 10 earn VIVA;
sou have promised. sir.
We'll. well; don't waste time. 7 shall
expect 10 hear from you this afternoon
[ that half the plates at least are finished D
1 III do my best, sir."
The Count d'Attala STROBE cut showing
! DO signs OF weakness although deprived
Of the assistance OF his slaves. lie
slammed the door behind him violently
/ CressIngham, from his humid lair.
watched the boy take up a large sheet OF
white metal and place it in q frame, then
bring 10 bear on it an appliance from
one Of the strange machines. which he
set 10 motion by pressing on lever.
1 There followed d sharp and deafcniue
| hiss, and he could see now a tiny saw
I was cutting through the plate as fast as
I though IL were a board OF deal. This
operation was often repeated; then came
a fling process. exercised with marvellous
care and attention 90 detail, aud the d.
vided plates gradually assumed uniform
/ proportions. CresSingham watched the
work. completely fascinated for Il time.
but the water, which had long ere this
penetrated his bandages. commenced 60
pain and smart his bruised body, and he
only awaited an opportunity to declare
his presence.
TO BIZ CONTINUED TOMORROW,
RufFHfBw nov,,ss Tssuaa