The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-11-02

Then my eyes focused on 4
slngles,oried building. the walls q
stone. tho roof matched with straw
halfhiddcn under the wall shadow
II was the roof. evidently newll
covered. which first rIyetsd my Al
teniion. and ! had stared nj II fol
fully a minute. doubling my eyes
before | DISTINGUISHED group oi
men barely visible beyond this
entrance.
mo,ioned with one hand for my
companion to Join me.
See yonder," I said. pointinf
thru the bars, where tho great
breach In In tho wall--a dozen mer
are there sitting about a IRE"
"Aye," he said. those are the
villains. And how do you figure Il
all out. Monsieur
In this way. The castle In used
by these robblng villains aA head
quarters. They are safe enough
here. for tho place has tho repu,a
ton of being haunted. aud no one
living In the neighborhooe will even
venture near"
And what shall We do7"
Complete our search. OF course.
Would you leave prisoners helpless
In their hands? Twill be safer for
us to walt until dark before de
parting"
Caster followed me back to the
- ~. xsNa
They we're composed OF broad stone
flags.
led the way. At the top We
found ourselves plunged into semi.
darkness.
The floor was OF onken timber.
blRcbened by age. yet exhibiting no
especial evidence OF decay. II had
even resisted fire. aitho there were
places where tho ancient flames
had burned deep before dying out.
CROPPED my way forward from
the stairhead. fearful OF the burnt
spots in the floor. and hampered
by the piles OF debris. We were
in a vast hall--a huge apartment.
appearing almost monsirous indeed
in it's bare uakedncss. the only re.
lief being indestructihle stone
benches ranged along tho side
walls.
Several openings. arched over by
massive oak tlmbers. yawned 10
right and left. leading TO contiguous
rooms.
My eyes glanced toward nm arch
In the wall. AS did so a shadow
giided across the recess and dlsap-
peared. With the instant my every
nerve was alert. and my fingers
Eripped Cassler.
stand there at the stair head :"
7 whispered fiercely, "and watch.
There IL movement yonder."
sprang forward. drawing my
sword. intent now only on the one
obiect-that OF overhaullng the
fugitive. The recess revealed an.
other room and my eyes instantly
perceived only narrow opening to
tho further wall, where a single
slab of stone swung outward
Reaching this | paused, staring up
flight of stone stairs ending In
utter darkness.
With every caution I crept for
ward, step by step. The stairs
were narrow and spiral, shut in by
solid walls of stone. counted the
steps. finding thirty before my eyes
perceived a CLEAN OF light still far
above me. From that point the
steps led straight up to a platform.
the opening OF which was closed.
The single bar OF light streamed
thru a slight aperture between two
stones and crept on until I
touched the obstruction above. II
was thin stone. fitted into
grooves cut in the solid rock. and
| lifted one end without difficulty
or noise. stood on the second
step, the slab of rock tilted lust
enough to permit my eyes to peer
thru the crack.
There was revealed the IN.
terror OF round turret. with
narrow window Sits, permitting
n view outward. and a wider omen.
Ing leading to the roof which was
protected by wall of stone. The
place was empty. but there. in the
dust OF the floor. we're footprints.
They were those of woman or a
child. Gould tho fugitive be Made.
molselle?
MY heart leaped eagerly at the
thought; for the instant did not
loubt, but rushed recklessly to the
ioor
There ! stopped as tho shot.
back behind the cover of