Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1912-08-15


month ago. oply L0le lie was Killed
down below. But what can have be-
come CT Claire?"
She never passed along here" In
sisted Mortimer, "for l haven't taken
my eyes from that door"
R'Then she is hiding somewhere in
those front rooms. Come on, Law
renee, and We'll search them"
We went out hurriedly, leaving the
wounded man lying helplessly on the
bed. and stepped carelessly across the
dead sentinel lying in the hallway.
The memory Of Peter required to me.
He was not the kind to desert his mis-
tress at such a time. Stopping Far
rell, | stepped back to inquire. The
Colonel opened his eyes YEARLY at
sound Of my voice.
HE is not here" he explained slow
ly. Both Peter and Tonepah were
sent away to find surgeon, and have
not returned. We anticipated no dan
ger here with Captain Grant present"
ground my teeth savagely togeth-
cr, recalling the treachery of the lat
ter, his insults to Claire, his deceiv-
ing Of Eric, his stealing Of papers,
hoping thus to ruin his own Colonel.
his alliance with Fagin, his selling Of
British secrets. Here was a villain
through and through and | hoped he
had already paid Che penalty. If not,
| vowed the man should never escape.
But the thought of the missing girl
came back, driving all else from my
mind. She was in none of those rooms
we searched, nor did we discover the
slightest evidence Of her having been
there. AS l stood in the Goor of the
deserted mushroom staring helpless
ly about, sudden possibility occurred
to ME. Ay! that must BIO the truth,
the full explanation Of her vanishing.
She had come flying up the stairs,
frightened, desperate-so far as she
knew, alone against Fagin's unscrupu.
lous band, She had not returned to
her father, or escaped by way of the
hall. Where then could she have
gone? The secret staircase, down
which she had hurried me, and which
was known only to herself Eric and
Peter. gripped Farrell's arm eagerly
"You know this house well-did you
ever hear Of secret passages in it?"
81 have heard it whispered in COS
sip" he answered, that such were
here in the old Indian days. Why"
Because 1t is true. Tho girl hid
me here from Grant. And that Ii
where we will find her. The opening
10 there by the false chimney, but
have no conception Of how 1t works;
she made me turn my back while she
operated the mechanism"
He stopped down, and began search
along the fireplace, and Joined him
Together our hands felt over every
inch Of surface. There was no re
Spouse, not even crack to guide us
At last he glanced aside, and our eye!
, met
who knew of this beside Clairs?'
he asked
;; Eric and the servant Swanson. Sh'
told me she and her brother discoy
cred 1t by accident through reading al
) old memoranda"
"And the colonel Is not aware o
$ its existence?"
81 understand not. Do you know
the boy Mves?"
He left the room. and heard hi
voice calling down the stairs, but di
not distinguish the words of reply.
was stiIl on my knees when he N
turned.
i 'He is alive, but unconscious. Law
: renee. Do you consider IL impossible
for her to escape from here alone, pre-
e viding she took refuge in this place?
81 could find no opening, except III
. derground, and that is blocked now.
! shuddered at the thought. Besides
she must be in utter darkness, for
), used all the candles"
a Then we must get axes. and CT
our way In. Wait here, and / wi
i bring up some of the men,"
Strengthened up as he left ii
n room, and my eyes looked into
small mirror above the open graf
:. Good Heavens! Could that be my r.
/, lection! Bareheaded, my face streake
e. with blood and dirt. my coat rags. m
shirt ripped to the waist. scarcel
p looked human. In sudden burst (
s anger reached out and gripped IL
mirror. Jerking II savagely. Then
:. sprang back. Slowly, with fai
d click Of the mechanism, the mants
piece was swinging open.