The state herald., 1913-01-03
CHAPTER XVI.
Tho Remains Of Tragedy.

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1t must have been the shock Of thus
realizing suddenly how short time
remained in which should have light
which restored my senses. | know
stared at the dim yellow flicker DULY
at first,and then with swift return
ing consciousness which spurred my
brain into activity. In that instant l
hated. despised myself. rebelled at my
weakness. Faith In Claire Mortimer
came back to me in flood Of regret.
II she had failed, It was through NO
fault Of hers, and was no coward to
stern fight for life. When was found.
those who came upon my body would
know that died struggling. died as a
man should, facing fate with smile,
with hands grippei in the contest.
The resolution served-it was a spur
to my pride. instantly driving away
every haunting shadow Of evil. Yet
where should | turn? To what end
should / devote my energies? It was
useless to climb those stairs again.
But there must be way out.
l gripped the old musket as the only
instrument at hand, and began testing
the walls. Three sides raped. re-
ceiving the same dead, dull response.
was In the darkest corner now, be-
yond the stairs, still hopelessly beat
ing the gun barrel against the stone.
The dim light revealed no change in
the wall formation, the same irregu-
lar expanse of rubble set In solid NOR
tar, hardened by century OF exposure
to the dry atmosphere. Then to an
idle, llstless blow there came a hollow.
wooden sound. that caused the heart
to leap into the throat. tried again.
foot to the left. confident my ears
had played me false but this time
there could be no doubt-there was an
opening here back OF wooden bar
rier
Half crazed by this good fortune,
caught up the inch of candle. and held
1t before the wall The dim light
scarcely served as an aid. so inge-
niously had the door been painted In
resemblance TO the mortared stone.
was compelled to sound again. inch by
Inch. with the gun barrel before |
could determine the exact dimensions
of the opening. Then could trace the
slight crack where the wood was At.
ted. nor could have done this but for
the warping OF board. Wild with ap-
prehension lest my light fail before
the necessary work could be accom-
pllshed. | drew out the single.bladed
knife from my pocket. and began wild.
ening this crack. Fcverlshly as /
worked, this was slow OF accomplish.
ment, yot silver by silver the slight
aperture grew. until wedged in the
gun barrel. and pried out the plank.
The rush OF air extinguIshed the
candle. yet cared nothing, Tor the air
was fresh and pure. promising a clear
passage.
God, this was luckl With new cour.
age throbblng through my veins
CROPPED my way back to the table nfter
flint and steel. and relIt the candle
fragment. shadowing the fame with
both palms as returned to where III.
plank had been pressed aside. How.
ever, found such precautlon unnec.
essary. as there was no perceptible
draft through the passage now the
opening was clear for the circulation
OF air. There had been two planks-
thick and OF hard wood-composln
the entrance 10 the tunnel. but | found
II impossible to dlslodge the second.
and was compelled to squeeze my
way through the narrow twelyeinch
opening. This was difficult task. as
! was man OF some weight but once
accomplished found myself in con.
tracted pasSageway, not to exceed
three feet In width. and perhaps Ave
from floor TO roof Here II was appar.
emily as well preserved MS whom frst
constructed. probably hundred years
or more ago. the side walls faced with
stone. the roof supported by roughly
hewn oak beams. was convinced
there was no great weight OF earth
resting upoh these. and the tunnel.
which followed without difficulty. or
the discovery OF any serious obntr,ic.
ton. for nfty feet. inclined steadily
upward. until. In my Judgment. II mus,
have come within n very few feet OF
the surface. Here there occurred n
sharp turn to the right, and the cxca.
walton advanced almost upon level.
Knowing nothing OF the conformn.
ton above, or of tho location OF build.
ings, was Obliged to prcsa forward
blindly. conserving tho fain, llgh, of
the candle. and praying for free pas.
sage. II was an experience to tcat IN.
nerves, the intense stiffness. tho bare,
gray walls, cold TO tho touch, IN.
beams grazing my head. ind uphold.
ing that mnas OF earth nbovc, tho in.
tense darkness before and behind, with
only the nickoring radius OF yellow
light barely Illuminating whore / trod
Occasionally tho wood creaked omi,