The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-01-15

Continued From First Page)
up IN creating me what am. am no
better than you, dear. but-but-you
understand: :" She said il SO pleading
~, so hopeEessly, that he understood
what it was that she could not say to
him. I'VE seldom. if ever. marry the
men whom God has made for us to
love"
He lifted her hands to his breast and
held them there. If you will just go
on loving me III some day make you
forget you're a princess" She smiled
and shook her head. Her hair cleaned
red and bronze in the kindly light: a
soft perfume came up TO his nostriIs.
The next day three of the native
servants became violently III. seized by
the most appalling commissions. At
first thrill Of horror ran through the
chateau. The plague-the plague in
reality.
But these fears were quickly dissi-
pated. The sufferers soon began to
mend. By nightfall they were fairly
we'll recovered. The mysterious seizure.
however, was unexplained. Chase alone
OWNED the cause Poison. He was
sure of it. But who the poiSoner?
All previous perils and all that the
future seemed to promise were forgot
ten in the startling discovery that
came with the fall of night.
Lady Deppingham and Robert
Browne were missing, They had dis
appeared as if swallowed by the earth
itself. Neenah. the wife of Selim. was
the last of those in the chateau to see
the heirs. They crossed the swift tor
rent by the narrow bridge at the base
of the cliff and stopped below the
mouth of the cavern which blew its
cool breath out upon the hanging gar
den. Later on she saw them climb the
stanch ladder and stand III the black
opening. apparently enjoying the cool
ing wind that came from the damp
bowels of the mountain. Her attention
was called elsewhere. and that was the
last glimpse she had of the two people
about whom centered the struggle for
untold riches.
Chase, they are lost III there
grOaned Deppingham, numb with APP
prehenSion. He was trembling like d
leaf.
There's just one thing to do said
Chase. We've got to explore that
cavern to the end. They may have
lost their bearings and strayed- off into
one of the lateral passages"
IL can't bear the thought of her
wandering about in that horrible
place" Deppingham cried as he start
ed resolutely toward the ladder.
She'll come out of it all right" said
Chase, sudden compassion In his
eyes.
DruSilla Browne was standing near
by, cold and silent with dread. Il set
expression in her eyes. Her lips NOV
ed slowly, and Deppincham heard the
bitter words: You will find them.
Lord Deppingham. You Will find
them
He stopped and passed his hand over
his eyes Then, without Il word, he
snatched a rifle from the hands of one
of the patrol and led the way up the
ladder. Chase turned to the white
faced princess and said between his
teeth:
IF Skaggs and Wyckholme had been
in the employ of the devil himself
they could not have forescen the result
of their Internal plotting. l am afraid
-mortally afraid
Take care of him. Holdings WORTH"
she whispered shuddering.
"Goodby Genevra. my princess"
said Chase softly and then was off
with Britt and Selim. AS he passed
Drusilla he seized her hand and paused
long enough to say:
It's all right. little woman. take my
word for it If I We're you. I'd cry.
You'll see things differently through
your tears"
The four men. with their lights, van
ished from sight few moments later
Chase grasped Deppinghams arm and
held him back. gravely suggesting that
Selim should lead the way.
They were to learn the truth almost
before they had fairly begun their in
vestigations.
The heirs already were in the hands
of their enemies, the islanders,
The eager searchers. shouting as
they went, had come to what was
known as the ''cathedral" This was
wide, lofty chamber, hung with
dripping stalactites. far below the
level at which they began the descent
The floor was almost as fiat and even
as that of q modern dwelling. Here
tho oarorp bropaboI off J., tbrna ~