Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-01-11

but he encountered no one. Hood by some slippery movement had glided away, and where he was in the solid darkness neither .of fsus@conbd sa " sI gathered thtSfroin thessiiance that eli, sued upoB3 Montgomery's spring, l heard him pick himself up, and then there was hush. stood with my back against the door in state of in tense suspense rnere-came a. Slight soft sound, and dagger whizzed past me and struck in the oak with loud tang. sprang forward, but my fist took the afr. sa ',
 Montgomery, from his corner, made rush toward me, and I heard another of those horrid ''tanss' and an excla- mation of pain. Then there fell silence again. and presently an invisible per son seemed to pass before me. I thrust out my arms, and again soft and slender form touched me gently, and there came the clang and chatter of a knife upon the wall, pinning my coat sleeve to the woodwork; but upon that there bore down upon us the sprawling form of Montgomery, and two people were fighting upon the floor before me. Tap, tap, tap went the horrid knife up on the floor, and then silence again, broken only by heavy noises in the throat. With, formidable fears in my breast, r struck a match, casting a thread of light upon the scene of the struggle. Hood lay in Montgomery's arms, crumpled like snake. whose back is broken, one hand (which held knife) stretched inert along, the floor, his head thrown back, his face white through its. sallew discoloration, and his eyelids lowered over his strange eyes. a+
 Good heavens, you have killed himw said I.
 Montgomery looked doubtful. q don't think so," he panted; but he was the very devil to tackle with that knife of his. I may have squeezed too hard. Something did crack, but
 I pulled him aside. Light the lan- tern, old chap" I said. y.. ,z.
 Hood fell loosely to the floor as Mont gomery moved his arms. and opened his eyes, which fell on me sharp and ardent, burning with violent light. He sat up.
 You have me, sir" he remarked.
 "Yes, my man," said cheerfully, "I think we may go so far as to say that"
 Hood turned on his side, and kicked the dagger out of his reach.
 If you don't mind, sir, should like to be eating something" he said quiet ly. "I've had nothing all day"
 He looked toward the treasure chests, and I perceived upon one of these the preparations for a meal. I laughed. You know the house well, see, Hood"
 Yes, sir" said he. Eve done a good deal of foraging, sir, at one time and another. .,..
 "Very we'll Have your neal" I agreed. Any bones broken?"
 Thank you, sir; none, sir. A bit stiff, sir. that's all."
 '"rhen think we'll leave you to your supper, Hood,' said. I examined the candle in the lantern; it would last some hours. Ere it burned out I would revisit the. prisoner with some sup plies. .A ..-,..'
 You are not going to keep him here?" asked Montgomery in some sur . prise.u,. ;s.aA san, .At4.. ,~ :lk.a |. I I.nodded. For the present" ,, .. :
 We passed out. and turned the key in the lock. .. .t5.
 Hell stide in .there," expostulated Montgomery. .,..,
 "Oh, dear, no.' said I, Its not the first time the keep. has been used as a dungeon. though I dare say it will be the last"
 I think the boy took a grewsome fear of me on that occasion, regarding me with horror as malevolent and bar barous tyrant, but in truth had ppr- pose ill my seeming malice, as will ap- pear.