Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-21

lind the door locked. But tina; did not
much matter now. Ravenspur arng him
self against the woodwork and the door
gave way with a crash. Then Vera
rushed out and threw herself sobbing
Historically, into his arms.
Never mind me-" she cried. Save
him.
'Of whom are you speaking" Raven
spur asked.
why. Waiter. of course" V ra went
on. Il believe that dreadful man poisoned
him. He lurad Walter into tn dining
room and gave him a glass q wine, and
when ! got there, he - Oh. ii
too dreadful Then I broke TIA, window
and scream for assistance, and you
came in"
Ravenspur listened uneasiy In the ex-
ctement Of the moment he Hal 'Drgotten
all about Wa!tar
Try and calm yourself" he said. so
much dep nds upon you now. Tell me
all that happened"
Il came down with that man last
night" Vera said. He brought me a let
ter from my mother. l wanted t. come.
and l didn't want to come think you
will be able to understand my feelings.
Then two Of tEcm drugged me and car
ried me down here. 1t has he-n "A dread
ful time. | began To hope this morning.
when saw va in the garden and Walter
gave me a kind % sign. l felt gate sure
then that you We're not far OF and the
knoWl ndge gave me courage. | was
locked ny in Il room at the top of the
house. but | managed to cscaao through
a trap-dopr and | was actually on the
landing in the darkness when Walter
came. He was taken utterly b. surprise
by this man Silva, and / am sure that
he was terribly knocked al at and
shaken by fall that he had lad. Then
1 managed to let Walter know inat | was
in the housa. IL was a daring Thing to
do. and Silva must have seen it. though
did not think so at the moment. After
that he got Walter downstairs, under pre-
tence of giving him a glass Of wine. and
tracted that l hardly know what L am
speaking about 1t is dreadful to
think
Il am quite sure you are mistaken"
Ravenspur said. This man Silva has no
quarrel with Walter, and when we come
to get at the truth you will find that there
is no greater mischief than a compare
lively harmless drug. But where is Wal
ter? Dragged or not, he certainly was
not in the dining room when w got there
just now
But he must be-" Vera protested. II
saw him lying in an armchair, to all ap-
pearances dead"
Ravenspur wasted no time in further
argument. He went straight back to the
dining room, but no signs of Walter were
to be seen. Silva had disapp AIRED also.
A strong draught was blowing from tho
open back door. Ravenspur began to UNI
QeTStdnO pFelty well what had taken
place. He turned eagerly to Vera.
Come along with me-" he exclaimed.
I'VE are going into the garden. l shall
not be in the least surprised to find that
Silva has dragged Walter out there. He
would have had plenty of time when we
were breaking into the house. I UNDER
stand he is man Of considerable per-
sonal strength. Depend upon it, we shall
find him somewhere here. Don't be dis
couraged."
Vera was doing her best to keep from
breaking down altogether. There was
something peculiarly horrible in the sug-
gestion that her lovers body was lying
out there stark and stiff-in the darkness
The fresh breeze blew gratefully on her
face. She began to feel a little more like
herself again.
I'VE will get Perks here with his Ian
tern presently" Lord Ravenspur said.
Keep as near to the path as possible. If
that fellow happens to have a knife and
secs me here, why"
1t was Lord Ravenspurs turn to shud-
der now, but he kept bravely on. He
opened his mouth to speak again. when,
suddenly snarling roar like that OF an
angry lion broke out, followed by the
shrill scream of a human voice. calling
in the last extremity of az Jng'. At the
dreadful sound Vera stood still
1T is Bruno Lord Ravenspur said
hoarsely. The dog is utterly oct of con-
troll. He has got hold of that Italian to
certainty. There may be time to save
his life yet.
(To be Continued Tomorrow