The Washington times., 1911-09-11
CHAPTER XVII.
In Which Many Things Happen.

At the sound OF his own
name the young man in the
cellar feebly raised his head. and stared
up at the grating which separated hin nm
from his two rescuers. But his teat-
ures showed no recognition.
He gazcd in an aimless, vague, silly
manner for a few seconds. his eyes
blinking under the glare OF the lantern
and then his head slowly droopeo again
10 his chest.
He was dressed in a dark tweed trav-
cling suit, and Racksole observed that
one sleeve, the left, was torn across the
upper part of the cuff. and that there
were stains of dirt on the left shoulder.
A soiled linen collar, which had lost all
its starch and was half ul.buttoned, par
TALLY encircled the captives neck: his
brown boots were unlaced: a cap, a
handkerchief. a portion Of a watch
chain. and a few gold coins lay on the
floor.
Racksole flashed the lantern into the
corners OF the cellar. but he could dis
cover no other furniture except the
chair on which the hereditary Prince of
Posen sat. and a small deal table on
which were plate and a cup;
"Eugenr cried Prince A1bert once
more: but this time his forlorn nephew
made no response whatever, and then
he added in a low voice to Racksole,
"Perhaps he cannot see us clearly"
But he mus surely recognize your
voice." said Racksole. in hard. gloomy
tone.
There was a pause, and the two men
ebove ground looked at each other hesi-
tatingly
Each knew that they must enter that
cellar and get Prince Eugen out Of it,
end each was somehow afraid to take
THANK God. he is not dead!' said
"He may be worse than dead" Rack
cole replied.
Worse than What do you mean?'
81 mean-he may be mad"
"Come," Aribert almost shouted, with
q sudden access of energy, a wild i'm
pulse for action; and, snatching the Ian
tern from Racksole, he rushed into the
dark room where they had heard the
conversation of Miss Spencer and the
lady in the red hat.
For a moment Racksole did not stir
from the threshold Of the window.
Come" Prince Aribert repeated, and
there was an imperious command in his
Antterance. What are you afraid Off"
II don't know" said Racksole, feeling
stupid and queer L don't know
Then he marched heavily after Prince
Aribert into the room.
On the mantelpiece were a couple of
candles which had been blown out, and
IN a mechanical, unthinking way Rack
glanced around the room. 1t presented
no peculiar features; 1t was just an ordi-
nary room. rather small, rather mean,
rather shabby, with an ugly wall paper
Thrown over a chair was a mans
evening dress jacket. The door was
closed. Prince Aribert turned the knob,
but he could not open it;
It's locked" he said. Evidently
they know we're here"
Nonsense" said Racksole brusquely
How can they know And, taking
hold Of the knob, he violently shook the
door and 1t opened.
Il told you it wasn't locked he add
ed, and this small success of opening
the door seemed to steady the man.
1t was a curious psychological effect,
this terrorizing for it amounted to that
OF two courageous, full-grown men by
the mere apparition of a helpless crea-
fure in a cellar. Gradually they both
recovered from 1t.
The next moment they were out in
The passage which led to the front door
Of the house. This door stood open.
They looked into the street, up and
DOWN, but there was not soul in sight
The street, lighted by three gas lamps
only, seemed strangely sinister and
"She has gone-that's clear" said
Racksole, meaning the woman with the
red hat
"And Miss Spencer after her, do you
Think" questioned Aribert.
mo. She would stay. She would
never dare to leave. Let us find the
cellar steps"
The cellar steps were happily not diff
dcult to discover, for in moving a pace
backward. Prince Aribert had a narrow
escape from precipitating himself to the
bottom of them.
The lantern showed that they were in
curve. Silently Racksole resumed
possession of the lantern and went first,
the Prince close behind him.
At the foot was a short passage, and
IN this passage crouched the figure of a
woman Her eyes threw back the rays
of the lantern, shining like a cats at
midnight Then, as the men went near
er, they saw that IT was Miss Spencer
who barred their way.
She seemed half to kneel on the stone
floor, and in one hand she held what at
first glance appeared to be a dagger,
but which proved to be nothing more
romantic than a rather long bread
knife.
Il heard you, 1 heard your she ex-
claimed. Get back. You mustn't come
here"
There was a desperate and dangerous
look on her face, and her form shooK
with scarcely controlled passionate en-
"Now, see here, Miss Spencer" Rack
sole said calmly. II guess we've had
enough of this fandango. You'd better
get up and clear out, or we'll just nave
TO drag you Off"
He went calmly up to her, the lantern
in his hand. Without another WORD she
struck the knife into his arm' and Sne
lantern fell, eXtinguished.
Racksole gave a cry, rather OF angry
surprise than OF pain, and retreated a
few steps. In the darkness they could
still perceive the CLINT of her eyes.
81 told you you mustn't come here,
the woman said. Now get back"
Racksole positively laughed; it was a
queer laugh; but he laughed, and he
could not help it.
The idea of this woman, this bureau
clerk, stopping his progress and that of
Prince Aribert by means of bread
knife aroused his sense of humor.
He struck a match, relighted the can
die, and faced Miss Spencer once more.
"Tn do it again." she said, with a
note of hard resolve.
"Oh, no, you won't my girl" said
Racksole. and he pulled out his revQl-
yer, cooked it, and raised his hand. '
Put down that plaything Of yours, I"
he said firmly. .y
NO." she answered.
81 shall shoot"
She pressed her lips together.
II shall shoot" he repeated. "One-
two-three."
Bang! Bang! He had fired twice,
purposely missing her.