The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1908-10-23
XVIII.
The Battle In the Maze.

" III Nv NIoGVs
For an instant l was overwhelmed
with terror and self-reproach. The
bolted door before me gave notice OF
danger as plainly as though the word
had been painted upon its front. The
dark and lowering walls of the pass
age in which the Wolf figure of Dodd.
ridge Knapp 'had~appearet ana dtsaH,
peared whispered threats. And /, in
my folly and carelessness, had
brought Luella Knapp into this place
and exposed her to the dangers that
encircled me. 1t was this thought that
for the moment unnerved me-
What does this mean2" asked Lu;
ella in a matter-of-fact tone.
ut Is q poor. practical joke, I fear,'i
said l lightly. l took occasion to shift
a revolver to my overcoat pocket. !
well, arn't you going to get me out
of here?" she asked with a little sug.
gesticn of impotence. /
That is my present intention" I re,
piled, beating a tattoo on the door. /
You'll hurt your fists" she said.
"You must find some way besides
beating it down"
I'm trying to bring our friends
here" said /. They should have been
with us before now" /
Isn't there another way out ?" asked
Luella.
II suspect there are a good many
ways out" l replied, but, unfortun,
ota1v down. lnou, tbo,o Aud I oo va
a few r%esounding kicks on the door.
Where does this stairway go,
wonder?" said Luella. ut can't be the
way out. Isn't there another?"
I'VE might try the passage"
She gave a shudder and shrank to.
ward me.
mo, no." she cried in a low voice,
"Try the door again. Somebody must
hear you, and it may be opened"
l followed her suggestion with {
rain of kicks, emphasized with a shout
that made the echoes ring gloomily
in the passage.
l heard in reply a sound Of voices
and then an answering shout, and thu
steps of men running.
Are you there, Mr.. Wilton?" criet
the voice Of Corson through the door
Eyes, all safe, l answered.
well, just hold on a bit ant
we'll"
The rest of his sentence was los
In a suppressed scream from Luella
l turned and darted before her, jus
in time to face three Chinese rufiian
who were Fastening down the passage
The nearest Of the trio, a tall dar,
savage with a deep scar across hi
cheek, was just reaching out his han
to geize Luella when | sprang forwar
and planted a blow square upon hi
chin. He fell back heavily, lifted a
most off his feet by my impact, an
lay like a log on the floor.
The other two ruffians halted irrest
lutte for an instant, and | drew my re
volver. Their wish seemed to be t
take me alive If possible. After
moment of hesitation there was a mt
tered exclamation and n of the de-
3 peradoes drew his hand from hi
3 blouse.
"Oh!" cried Luella. He's got
knife"
Before he could make anothe
movement / fred once, twice, thre
times. There was a scramble an
e scufle in the passageway, and tn
smoke rolled thick in front, blottin
out the scene that had stood in 81
houettte before us.
Fearful of a rush from the Chimes
/ threw one arm about Luella, an
@ keeping my body between her an
e possible attack, guided her to the sta
that led upward at nearly right angle
from the passage. She was tremblir
q and her breath came short, but h,
spirit had not quailed. She shoe
herself free as l placed her on the fir
step.
Have you killed them?" she askt
quietly. /.
Il hope So" l replied, looking ca
y tiously around the corner to see Il
= results Of my fusillade. The smol
= had spread into a thin haze throus
:, the passage.
(TO BE CoNTINUED.)