Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-08

him, and, graphing with each other, we sWaycd
backwards and forwards in the moonlit cell.
Il always hated you," he gasped. But for
you | might have won the love of Daphne. You
shall not escape me!'
He made frantic efforts to reach me with the
dagger, but l chung heavily to the arm That hed
it, impeding his power of action. AT length
with a sudden effort of strength he flung me OFT,
but as he did so the crossbars OF the easement
gave way, and three human bodies were pro
iected through it in most ungraceful fashion,
and fell on all-fours to the floor.
For one second the artist stood irresoutc, and
then dartig towards the secret opening, he dis
appeared from view
The cell seemed to swim around me, mist
passed before my eyes, and then dimly as in
dream / became conscious that | was reclining
in an oallen chair, supported on one side by my
uncle and on the other by Daphne, The door OF
the tower wide open. hanging obllquely on
one hinge. Someone putting lighted match
to the wick in the antique iron lamp and Its
bright flame lit up a crowd of faces that were
bent upon me with wondering looks. At one
end of the cell some men, a hemeted police OH
Ger among the number, were kneeEng, lingering
and clawing at the stone slab which the artist
had pulled down after him to cover his retreat
at must be chained down." l heard the Baro-
net saying. lass the crowDar' hang ~ the
fellow will escape"
ellis eyes are OPEN" L heard Daphne saying.
/ ooh. Frank you are not hurt are you?'
She was now lineeling beside me, her lovely
ewes full of tenderness and sympathy. 1t was
worth all the agony | had endured to be the
object of her sweet pity | tried to speak, but
emotion checked my utterance, and ! could reply
to her question only by an assuring smile
'You are looking like the very dead said the
doctor 'Here. take a drop of this. This will
revive YOU
"Is my hair grey?" I murmured, putting my
hand to my head, as if it were possible to ascer-
tain by the sense of touch. "Do | look old?
feel like captive liberated from the Bastlle
How long have I been in this prison? Years
upon years?"
In a few words told my shudderng listeners
of the artists designs on me. From regard to
Daphne. [ reserved the story of Georges end for
another occasion.
"Ay. ay.'' remarked the doctor, gravely shall-
ing his head II saw this morning that he eN-
hbited all the symptoms OF insanity Genus and
madness are often allied"
"We thank Heaven you are safe" exclaimed
nv uncle ferventIy; Though more by your own
efforts than by ours" he added.
"Have you only just returned from the magis
trate's?" / asked HIM
There is a good deal of ingratitude in human
nature and even in the first JOY of my deliver.
ance I felt a disposition TO reproach my uncle
for what I considered very tardy rescue, total
" forgctfu Of the fact that if my rescuers had
appeared earlier on the scene there would have
been an end of me, for The artist at sight Of
them would have effected his deadly purpose
without my being able to offer any resistance.
eyes, we have only just returned" he an
swered, understanding the motive of my ques
ton "Everythng that possibly could went
wrong. The carriage broke down half way from
the NIanse, and when we set off to finish tho
Journey on foot we missed our way on the moor
and were a long time in finding it again. Wher
= we did reach the Abbey and did not see yot
about we guessed where you were and came a
once to the tower We heard enough to ASSURE
us that something very serious was the matter
and as we could not hope to make our way IL
empty handed we ran back for"
He was interrupted by shout coming from
outside Of the cell, and turning quickly I saw
that the slab had been lifted up revealing
stairway beneath.
"Turn your lantern down here. Wilson," criet
the Baronet excitedly, "and lead the way Lool
, sharp, or he'll escape after all"
$ The constable obediently went down the open
{ ing, followed by Sir Hugh, my uncle and two o
three other men. Thinking that had as goot
! right as any to join the pursuit, 1 rose witt
the intention of following them, but at Daphne
entrcaty I forbore and, leaving the cell, W
, both walked across the lawn to the Abbey, al
unconscious of the tragedy that was happenln
" under our very feet
: For the steps down which the artist had fle,
opened into stone passage, the walls OF whlcl