Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-12-07
grIpped the stairs still shook slightly.

gripped the stairs still shook slightly.
"Achl but 1t is you," he whispered up.
"For a moment l thought-but it was
the folly of a child. And so, Mr.. Har-
land, you come again to trouble me. Well,
it is for the last time-mark you that
for the very last time"
He sat himself across the cylinder As
he did so felt hand upon my shoulder,
and knew that Graden was awake.
"You might have spared the lad" he
said very quietly.
Marnac looked up with one of the
beast-like glances that showed the dis
ordered brain.
at was a necessity" he said. "He
would have prevented my act of justice
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 | am
aboutT
perhaps" answered my cousin grim
", and at the word he jerked away my
boot, letting the trap fall into its place.
"To the door, Robert" he whispered.
"To the door and shout for help, or it
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, run"
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 thun-
ders of the storm redoubled in violence,
as If Nature was conspiring to shout
me down. Once 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 acrid. piercing scent to
my nostrils, that grew and grew until
my lungs seemed to contract, so that
l 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.
1t was daylight when remember
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 was very weak and i'll.
my cousin" l faltered.
1--WE have got your friend round" said
the doctor-for so felt that he must be,
"also the other man."
what MANI"
"The man who pulled you out after
the cylinder exploded. A red-beaded
fellow-Blake, think his name is. You
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 Marnac"
81 really don't know about him.
don't think he was injured. Oh! perhap:
you mean the old gentleman who bolt
edW
"Bolted"
"Yes, of course there was great excite
ment over the accident. The captain
was dreadfuly cut up over the death OF
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. You
friend has gone to inquire about him,
fancy. The old man had something
against you both hadn't he? Or was il
you against him?"
Both, doctor, BOTH" l whispered
shutting my eyes.
(To be continued.)