Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-14

up on his elbow and shifted. IL was undoubted-
" a curious smell, but he did not realize for
few seconds what it was. Then, as he thor
oushly reused himself, he recognized the faint
pungent odor. 1t was the smell Of something
burning.
He jumped off his bed and lit his lantern.
The light showed faint grey haze in the room.
He searched carefully for the cause, but found
nothing.
Then suddenly low stiAed cry broke the si-
lence Of the night. It was followed by the loud
rattling Of chains, and then by another cry,
longer and louder than the first. In fash
Jordison realized where the smoke came from.
The stable was on fire underneath him.
He rushed from the room and reused Lipp from
a heavy sleep. Jermy snored beside him and
LppN raised brawny arm for rude awaken
ing. But Jordison stopped him
n Let him be-" he said hurriedly, two are
quite enough, and if by any chance we cannot
put the fire out, we'll" He shrugged his
shoulders, and Lipp understood. Jermy was n
constant menace to both Of them.
Lipp thrust on a jersey and pair Of trousers,
and followed his master down the stairs. When
they got outside, the smoke was pouring through
the stable windows, for there not pane of
glass in any of them. Within, they could see
the dull red glow of FIRE, and, as they neared
the door, they heard a long horrible scream and
the clank Of chains.
"Quick Lipp,' cried Jordison, handing him
the key. "He must be saved at any cost" Lipp
did not wait to tumble with the key but burst
the door open with his shoulder A volume OF
flames and sparks flew out, and the two men
shrank back from the opening There was an
other scream, and a hoarse cry for help and the
noise of chains being tugged and shaken
He is alive and has got his gag Of" said
Jordison hurredly. 81 expect the fire has not
reached him yet. The loose box is made OF iron
If he is alive, we can live there too. There's the
window Quick"
rTTI-- IL Al. T.
son tore away the wooden framework with his
ha nds and climbed into the stable. The air in
side was comparatively free from smoke, but was
as hot as the blast of furnace.
In five minutes time Jordison reappeared and
thrust limp form through the window. A
loose chain dangled from one ankle, and loop
of rope was still round the dropping neck. The
hands were crossed close together in the iron
clasp of the handouts. Lpp took the burden
from Jordison and laid it on the grass,
''Alive" he said grufAy, but without the faint
est show of interest.
eyes," said Jordison coughing and gasping
for breath, "but pretty well choled. / couldn't
have stood another minute of it One end of
the place is like furnace, Undo those hand
cuffs and work his arms bit to put some air
into his lungs. He is safe enough at present"
Lipp unfastened the handcuffs, and tried the
process recommended for the resuscitaton of
drowning men. 1t was as might have been ex-
sighed nor opened his eyes.
"Go down to the creek" said Jordson, "and
get some water. am going to see what can
save. We shall be burnt out tonight No, stay,
you had better come and help me. He is not
dead. He can shift for himself. Put on the
handouts, take him down to the house, and
chain him by the legs to something's bar of the
cellar window will do"
These words had sudden and unexpected re-
suit. Home, who had been shamming uncon-
sciousness, sprang to his feet, dashed one fist
in Lpp's face and the other in Jordison's stom-
ach and sent them both sprawling Before they
could recover themselves, he had caught up the
loose chain in one hand and started down the
slope toward the creek.
Holme was a young and athletic man, and with
the fifty yards start he had obtained, he reached
the creek before his pursuers, in spite of his
weakness and the chains ensumbering his prog
ress.
He gained the creek, and plunged through the
mud until the water reached his waist Then
he struck out for the opposite bank. The weight
of the chain became painfully apparent, and he
could barely keep his head above water But he
was a powerful swimmer, and he struggled
through the incoming tide to point nearly a
hundred yards above the place where he had
entered the water.
AS he felt the soft mud under his feet once
more, he breathed sigh of relief From the
opposite gahk came the report of pistol, and a
outlet sang TO the leIC OF MN. TIC hung nlmBen
down in the mud and waited Five more shots
went over his head, and then he heard the
squelch of mud and the spashing of water.
He rose from his soft, but malodorous bed, and
reached the bank. The spashing of water con-
tinued. Then he heard voice cry out that the
current was too strong to keep foothold, and
another giving the order to go back. Neither of
his pursuerers could swim, and for while he
was beyond their reach
On the opposite bank the stables of the Red
House fared iercey, and he crept on all fours
from the lurid and unweleome light He knew
that SO long as he was mark for rife his life
was in danger Foot by foot he crept out of the
glare into the darkness.
He realized that Jordison and Lpp would not
give up pursuit, but endeavor to intercept him
before he could reach place of safety. But now
all the advantage was on his side. He knew
every inch of the creeks and marshes, and be-
fore the EASTERN sky showed grey with the com
ing dawn he had threaded his way westward,
had swum the creek again and was moving
across the park to Heatherstone Hall. His chain
clanked at every step he made. 1t was the only
refuge at hand, the only shelter where he could
find any human beings to protect him.
Isut as he crossed the lawn his senses reeled,
and his strength gave way, and he fell in
heap on the green turf. And there the garden
ers found him in the morning, delirous and cry
ing out for water, too weak to move an inch from
the place where he had fallen.
The men went indoors with the news, and
crowd of servants gathered on the lawn They
talked voluby, but were uncertain how to act.
Lord Heatherstone was not yet down. Lady
Agnes was with her stepmother, The whole
household were already in a tumut after the
events of the previous night, most of which had
now become public property,
lady Heatherstone's maid. was the onlv mar