Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-01-14

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"pou speak us if you yccrc sorru tor me-
the knob. The lock bore both figures
and letters III concentric rings. and he
saw that the seven figures Harry bad
written formed a word. Hugh dropped
the match with a smothered eXclama-
ton, for the word was J~essica. So
Harry really had loved her in the old
days! He swung the massive door
wide and took out the canvas BAG
with the thousand dollars. With this
n the ruby ring-it must easily be
worth as much again-he could put the
round world between himself and cap,
ture.
He closed the safe and with the BAG
of coin in his hand CROPPED his way IL
the door of the chapel. 1t was less
dark there, for the snow was making
a white night outside, and the stained
glass cast a wan glimmer across the
a1sles. He greatly needed sleep. and
tonight In h open that WAS out of
the question He could gain several
hours rest where he was and still get
away before daybrcak. He drew to
gether the altar cushions and lay down.
the canvas bag beside him. but he was
cold, and at length he rose and went
into the vestry for a surplice. lie
wrapped this about him and. lighting a
cigarette, lay down again lie was
very tired, and in a few minutes he
vas sleeping heavily.
The last half consumed cigarette
dropped from his relaxing fingers to
the cushion, where it made Il smo!der-
ing nest of fire. y tiny tongue of
flame caught the edge of Il wall hang
ing, ran up to the dry oaken raftcrs
and speedily ienited them. Iii fifteen
minutes the interior of the chapel was
a mass of flame, and Hugh woke gasp
ing and bewildered.
With a cry of alarm he sprang to bis
feet. seized the bag of coin and ran to
the door of the study. In his haste he
stumbled against it. and the dead lock
snapped to. He was a prisoner now.
for he had left the skeleton key in the
inside of the outer door. Clutching his
treasure, he ran to the main entrance.
1t was fast. lie tried the smaller Win
dows. Iron bars We're set across
them.
He made shift to wrap the su1plice
about his mouth against the sitting
smoke and fiery vapors. The bag drop
ped from his hand, and the gold rolled
,J,n,,+ 3J,n En.r n -tNA,N,) ,,,yl ll,+.J,
ed Il handful of the coins and crammed
them into his pocket. Was he to die.
after all. like this. caught like :: rat in
a trap?
Uttering a hoarse cry. with the
strength OF despair. Hugh wrencbcd a
pew from the floor and made of it u
ladder to reach the rose window.
Mounting this. he beat frantically with
his fist upon the painted glass. The
crystal shiNered beneath the blows,
and clinging to the iron supports, his
beard burned to the skin, he set his
face to the aperture and drew a gulp-
ing breath Of the sweet, cold air. In
his agony, with that fiery hell opening
beneath him. he could see the massed
people watching from the safety that
was so near.
Look! Look" The sudden cry
went up. and a thrill Of W ran
through the crowd. The glass Hugh
had shattered had formed the face Of
the penitent thief in the window de-
sign. and his outstretched arms fitted
those of the figure. 1t was as though
by some CHASTITY miracle the painted
features had suddenly sprung into life.
the haggard eyes opened in appeal.
All at once there came u shout of
warning. The wall opened outward.
tottered and fell.
Then 1t was that they say the with
ing figure. tangled in the twisted lead
bars of the wrecked rose window.
Shielding their faces from the unen-
durable heat. they reached and bore 1t
to safety, laying it on the crisp, snowy
grass and tearing off the singed and
smoking ministerial robes.
Judge Conwell was n of these. In
the iaring confusion he leaned over
the figure. The CLEAN of the ruby ring
on the finger caught his eye. He bent
forward to look into the drawn and
%t~4ortn,s t.-