The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-12-26
CHAPTER XXXVI
In the Dead of Night

81 cannot do it," Vera said quiet
ly. Forgive me If my words hurt
you. You claim to be my mother
night l had no mother. For IS
years Lord Ravenspur has been
more than father to me. | will re-
turn to my room. Perhaps the next
time | see you you will have more
time for an explanation"
Vera, still a prisoner, sat thinking
the matter over till the clock struck
II. She glanced up at the trap door
| She could not hear a sound in the
house. Doubtless Silva had retired
long ago. AS to the servants, they
| were probably not returning till an
| early hour in the morning.
Vera decided to escape. If Silva
caught her attempting it she could
only return to her room again. She
changed her dress rapidly. In the
pocket of her skirt she placed box
of matches and night light To get
| through the trap was matter of a
moment. With the aid Of a match
| she found the top of the iron ladder
and let herself down, as she had
/ expected, to the top Of the servants
/ staircase.
At length, she found herself in
the hall. 1t was tense and nervous
work, and the girl was trembling
from head to foot. She drew the
bolts back a fraction at time.
Then she slid Off the chain; the
links clicked together with a noise
that sounded in the girls ears al
most like a pistol shot. She turn
ed the handle hurriedly. One mo-
ment more, and she would be in
the garden.
The disappointment was swift
and the key was not there. After
the nrst feeling of despair Vera
shot the bolts back and put up the
chain once more. 1t was no use
Trying the back door. The only
possible exit was by way of one OF
the windows on the ground floor
But here again Vera was doomed tc
disappointment, for every door was
fastened and every key had van
ished.
| Vera blew out her light and crept
softly up the stairs again. She won
dered if it were possible to open
one of the bedroom windows an6
Heap to the ground. Trembling In
tevery limb she CROPPED her way into
one of the rooms, the door of which
Twas open. Once more she venturet
Ito strike a light. The room was 6
study. Here was large table witt
paper and pens and ink
| Vera found one of the windows
lopen. There was a balcony be
lyond, and on to this she stepped
trying to measure with her eye the
distance to the ground. But it wa'
too dark for that. The risk was tot
great to take. 1t would be far bet
ter for her to remain where Shit
Twas until her friends came to he
assistance.
She turned back to the room
again. A sudden gust of air from
/ the open window extinguished thu
night-light. 1t was just as well, TO
almost at the same instant anothe
door opened on the landing and ;
shaft of brilliant light snoJ out. II
it's rays Vera could see Silva ant
another man who was stranger t
her They were chatting gayly.
Now, you know exactly what
want" Silva said. "You are to wal
by the gate till 2 o'clock if neces
sary, and when those people COM
along, you are to give me the sic
nal. If they don't come by
O'Clock then we can conclude tina
their plans have been postponed.
"Oh, I'll do what you want" TIL
! other man said hoarsely.
T'll see that you do" Silva wen
/ on. 81 suppose those fools though
they deceived me this morning. l
. was just as well that l followed
, them. 1t will be fun to sit her
, watching till they are overhead
} and then | shall have them in fin
trap Meet me in London tomol