The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-07-05


cred the lost art is not a native. To
what country he belongs | do not
know. l do know that he made the
discovery and was captured with his
belongings and is confined within three
feet of where we now are. All day he
works in the underground cell perfect.
ing his discovery. for In spite Of the
most violent threats he will not i'm.
part the secret to another soul or work
In another mans presence"
But why did that woman send us
here-on a wild goose chaser NUT
tered Ryder after a silence.
"Yonder poor devil is her husband
She hopes with the aid of other white
men to help him escape from here.
was the first to come. | arrived at 6
In the evening. Now it is my duty to
open the gate at 8 every evening In
the hope of catching other would be
thieves. Set thief to catch a thief
you knowI'' He uttered a hard little
laugh.
81 suppose that's what we are
agreed Ryder.
"Tbat's So"
How long have you been herer
"Four years."
my Godl How do you liveT
"Don't live-exist-"
"Any hope of escapeT
"None whatever"
1.-The imperial government began
Ryder suddenly, when the Englishman
interrupted.
'The imperial government knows
nothing about the matter. The whole
rascally affair Is In the hands Of g
clique of highborn scoundrels. Re-
solve to make yourself as comfortable
as possible under the circumstances
resign yourself to losing your ears III
you ever should escape one can buy
lovely pink rubber ones, | fancy and
hope for a change OF rulers. Nothing
else will cause excitement enough to
have our existence forgotten. Good
nightw
Stone calmly stretched himself on
the floor and went to sleep. Ryder sal
and brooded at the bronze lantern
Pickering In the distance. His hand
still caressed the butt of his revolver
but with less confidence.
New York seemed many thousands
Of miles away tonight-New York and
alluring Lena Shultz. He cursed bel
under his breath and wondered how
many more men she would throw al
bait Into that hidden city In the hops
that one or all of them might aid IL
the escape OF her husband.
There was an audible murmur OF
sound without the thick walls, pierced
by sharp staccato cries. The thud Of
many pounding feet sounded In tbs
courtyards above their heads, and IL
an instant the six sleeping prisoner;
were awake and on the alert. The
Latins gabbled French to one another
while Stone and Ryder drew near tt
am iron grating in the stone roof
The American could make nothing
Of the strange sounds. but the Eng
lishman's face lighted with sudden ex
element.
by Jove," ne whispered exuItant
ly, you've brought good luck after
all, Ryderl Something extraordinary
has happened. from what can hear
a change Of government indeed! Two
deaths and chaos everywhere. Time
for us to make move and DISCUSSES
are In order"
He swooped to a dark corner and
pried up a portion of the stone flag
ging. He brought into view a mass OF
silk and satin. He threw rich gar
ments to each of his fellow prisoners
and without word they slipped into
the voluminous folds.
''Doubly a thief" muttered Stone al
he surveyed his companions. Then be
caught up one remaining robe and
thrust it under his arm See If We
can release Lena's husband. pool
DEVIL We owe her a grudge. sure
enough. but white men must stand by
one anotherT
With the air Of one who had studied
his ground and was well versed In his
Ss
door and by the guiding sound Of his
slipping. padding feet the six followed
him into the outer darkness Of CORR
| doris. They twisted and turned ant
doubled. and at last Stone paused be
fore another door.
81 don't know just how to get in
side" he admitted in low tone. Blu
the pressure of his hand on the plankI
pushed the door inward and revealed
to their shocked senses a scene Of car
mage indeed With the details omit
! ted. they realized that Lena's husband
was dead, with his precious secret still
a mystery behind his horribly grinnint
lips.
1.-THE syndicate has done well In
deed" said Stone, turning away. 81
lently they fled through the passage!
until they reached the foot of tht
| grass grown steps where Ryder haG
left the outside world behind. "It Il
here where the guard Is set. Look fol
danger. friends" whispered the Eng
| lishman.
1
They slipped up into the grove Of
whispering trees and followed th'
curve Of the shining wall around t.
the seventh gate.
"Once outsider muttered Stone fe
verishly.
In his own tongue.
In the distance were muf1ed criel
and excited murmurings. Around thu
seventh gate all was still-ominousl.
still.
The seven were pressed against thu
bronze gate. and Stone was fumblint
with the complicated lock. There wal
| rushing sound behind them, and theI
| turned their heads.
A file of soldiers was running to
ward then, and their short swords
were raised In deadly menace. Ston'
pulled the door open and dashed fortl
with his companions into pitchy black
ness. They crashed into sedan chat
| just entering the gateway. A won
ans scream pierced the darkness, ant
from the tower overhead the watch
man thrust his lantern.
A white face appeared for a hrie
instant between the parted curtains o
the chair.
LENA ShultzF beloved Ryder ex
citedly.
With one accord the seven victims O
Lena Shultz ignored the oncoming sol
| diers, and, shouldering the bearer
aside, they grasped the poles Of tn
chair and carried the shrieking woman
away from the seventh gate-awa.
from the Forbidden City beyond tn