Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-04-23

you speak 40 II you qOeTe sorry TOR me
the knob. The lock bore both figures
and letters in %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 tie word was Jessica. 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
and 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 to
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
aisles. He greatly needed sleep, and
tonight in the open that was out OF
the question. lie could gain several
hours rest where he was and still get
away before daybreak. He drew to
SClnCl III dltdl CAiSllOiS IL lAS - "a
the canvas bag beside him, but he was
cold, and at length he rose and weni
into the vestry for a surplice. He
wrapped this about him and, lighting a
cigarette. lay down again. He was
very tired. and IN a few minutes he
was sleeping heavily.
The last half consumed cigarette
5oo--.o1 pros. ~. nol, ~ AnerCrr ~
the cushion, where 1t made a smo!der
ing nest of fire. A tiny tongue of
fame caught the edge of a wall hang
ing. ran up to the dry oaken rafters
and speedily ignited them. In fifteen
minutes the interior of the chapel was
a mass of flame, and Hugh woke gasp
ing and hewildered.
With Il cry of alarm he sprang to his
feet. seized the bag of coin and ran 70
the door of the study. In his haste he
stumbled against it. and the dead Jock
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. He tried the smaller win
dows. Iron bars were set across
them.
He made shift to wrap the surplire
about his mouth against the sitting
smoke and fiery ,vapors. The bag drop
ped from his hand, and the gold rolled
about the floor. He stopped and clutch
ed a handful of the coins and craninled
them into his pocket. Was be To die
after all, like this. caught like a rat ii
a trap?
Uttering a hoarse cry. with the
strength of despair. Hugh wrenched II
pew from the floor and made of it II
ladder to reach the rose window
Mounting this. he beat frantically with
his fist upon the painted glass. The
crystal shivered 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 sec the massed
people watching from the safety that
was so near
look. T.ookr" The sudden CT,
went up. and a thrill of awe ran
through the crowd The glass Hugh
had shattered had formed the face o.
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 painteo
features had suddenly sprung into life
the haggard eyes opened in appeal
All at once there came a shout Of
warning. The wall opened outward
tottered and fell.
Continued next week