Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-07-26

yet he COui0 not drag nlmSelt away
from the charmed circle in which his
prey was sleeping. Morosc and grim
he anxlously paced to and fro in IN
obscure corner of the grounds
"What keeps the scoundiclr he said
TO himself angrily.
Presently n villainous looking man,
dressed In the uniform of the guards.
stealthily approached. Il missed him,
general but will get him The Ieyt
time" growled the man.
Course you for a foolw Kissed Mar.
lanx through his teeth AS another
hireling came Up what have yor goS
to sayr
The man reported that Baldos had
been seen on the balcony alone nv,.
IDENTIFY on watch
Marlanx ground bis teeth and his
blood stormcd his reason THE job
must be done tonight You have your
Instructions. Capture him If possible:
but If necessary, kill him. You know
your fate If you fail" Marianx actual
ly grnned at TIE thought Of the punish
ncnt lie would mete out TO them.
Nov be off,
Rashly he made his way to the castle
front bright moon cast its mellow
glow over the mass Of stone outlined
against the western sky For an hour
he glowered in the shade of the trees.
! giving but slight heed 70 the guards
! who passed from tim" to time. His
eyes never left the enchanted balcony.
AT last he saw the man. Baldos
came from the door Mt the end of the
balcony, paced the full length In the
moonlight, paused for Il moment near
| Beverly Calhoun's window and then.
disappeared through the same door
that had afforded him ecress.
Inside the dark castle the clock ct
the end of the hall melodiously doomed
the hour of ,. Dead quiet followed
the soft echoes Of the gong. A tail
figure stealthily opened tho door to
Yetive's chapel and stepped inside,
There was streak of moonlight
through the clehr window at the far
end OF the room. Baldos, his heart
beating rapidly, stood still for n mo-
ment, awaiting the next move in the
game. The ghostlike figure of a wom-
an suddenly stood before him In the
Path Of the moonbeam, hooded fig
ure IN dark robes. He started as IL
confronted by the supernatural.
Come" came in an agitated wh.s-
per, and he stepped to the side OF the
phantom. She turned, and the moon
light fell upon the face of Beverly Cal
houn. Don't speak. Follow NE as
quickly az you can"
He grasped her arm, bringing her to
standstlll.
Il have changed my mind" no wh!s-
pered in her ear DO you think I will
run away and leave you to shoulder
the blame for all this? On the balcony
near your window an hour ago T.
1T doesn't make any difference she
argued. you have TO go. | want you
to 90. If you knew Just how I feel to.
ward you you would so without a
murmur"
"You mean that you hate me-" be
groaned.
"I wouldn't he so unkind as to say
that" she fluttered. Il don't know
who you are. Come, we can't delay a
minute have q key to the gate al
the other end of the passage. and
know where the secret panel Is locat
ed. Hush, 1t doesn't matter where
got the key. See. Soc how easy 1t Is
He felt her tense little fingers In the
darkness searching for his. Their hands
I were icy cold when the clasp came. To
gether they stood in niche of the wall
I near the chancel rail. 1t was dark, ant
n cold draft of air blew across theii
I faces He could not see but there was
proof enough that she had opened the
r secret panel in the wall and that the
- damn. chill air came from the undcr'
ground passage which led to a point
, outside the city walls.
t You go first" she whispered nerv-
| ously. I'm afraid. There is a lantern
on the steps, and have some matches.
t Well light it as soon as Oh, what
' was that?"
Don't be frightened" he said. ~
think 1t was q rat"
Good gracious! she gasped. 81
wouldn't go in there for the world"
do you mean TO say that you intend.
ed to do so:" lie asked eagerly.
"Ccrtsnly. Some one has to return
the key &c the outer gate. Oh | sup.
pose III have To go i'll. You'll keep
. them off, won't you:" plalntively. He
e was smiling in the darkness. thinking
what dear. whimsical thing she was.
l with my liie," ne said softly.
: They're ten times worse than lions
D.. she announced.
3 You must not forGer that you re
2 turn alone" he said trlumphantly.
r Pit I'll have the lantern going full
t blast" she said and then allowed hin
8 to lead her into the narrow passage
4 way. She closed the panel and theI
: felt abolt tylth her foot until It located
n The lantern In "A minute they had
i light "Now. don't be afraid" she sale
! encouraglnGly lie laughed in pure de
G light. She misunderstood his mrth anC
I was conscious of a now and an almos
u unendura BILE pnng. He was filled witt
> exhilaration over the prospect of es
u cape, SOmehow she felt an impulse t
u throw her arms about him ana dral
u him back into the chapel in spite of th,
Z ghost of the game wardens daughter.
I What is 10 prevent me from taking
L you with me?' he said intensely.
mighty longing I'm his breast. Sh