The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-14

the unhappy and hollow-eyed girl at
hel side she felt sure that her jour-
neX, odd as il had first seemed
TO her, could not be altogether mis-
take. The girl was honest, OF that
there could be no question, for she
had journeyed many long miles to
restore trivial bit OF jewelry to it's
owner. She had also refused to accept
money She had even seemed unwill-
ing, after Margory had packed a
large motor hamper with jelly and
milk and potted meats, to have that
luxurious young lady venture so far
a-field at such an hour of the night.
But Margory felt that 1t was a case
where the loss of time might possibly
mean the loss of a life, and she was
glad. as they went hurnming out past
the thinning lights of the city's re-
hottest suburbs, that she had not hesi-
tated to do what she could to repay
her debt to the daughter Of Dan
O'Mara.
"why are we stopping at the Apple
waithe works." she asked as tho car
drew UP beside the unlighted road
side.
DCCaOSc iNotIlSk IelC kOE L19
night" explained the wistful-eyed girl
as she clambered down from the car.
grateful for the gloom that already
surrounded Ter. You see, ma am,
they put us out o. the house this
mornin' So pop got the Waterman
here to let me mother sleep In ono
O the basement rooms"
But who'll take me to where your
mother is?" asked Margory, gather
ing up her skirts as she glanced into
the dingy storeroom feebly lighted
by it's one dingy electric bulb.
I'll be back in minute, ma'am,"
the girl replied. only too glad of any
reasonable excuse for disa ppearing.
Margory in the meantime peered
doubtfully about the somber build
ing in which she found herself so
Unexpectedly visitor. Along one
side OF the room in which she stood
she could make out dark masses Of
dye wood piled as high as her head.
Beside this she saw, in the uncertain
light, an open pit filed with water.
Into one side of this pit ran a
walled shliceway. stained al
most black, with watergate set in
the upper part of its channel. The
opening in the far side of the pit,
which was guarded by a heavy iron
grill as big as a park gate, led into
high walled cavern, across which
stretched a number of huge steel
drums. Set in these drums were rows
Of knife-edged cleavers.
The polished surface Of these great
blades OF steel shone ominously in
the half-light.
Margory was still staring at the
great drums glistening with cleavers
when. with suddenness that star
tied her, the electric lights were
thrown on across tho roof Of the
chamber She wheeled about quickly
to discover the cause for this. As she
did so an involuntary gasp escaped
from her lips. For. standing beside
the door. with his fingers still on the
switch. the Iron Claw himself con-
fronted her.
why are you afraid Of met? he
confidently purred. For the girl drew
slowly away while he as slowly fol-
lowed after her. step by step. Then,
with q movement that was feline In
It's Quickness. he flung out an arm
and seized her. Then he turned her
deliberately about until she faced tho
black walled sluiceway. But the girl
shrank back.
Don't be afraid of 1t. my DEAR" he
Knocked as he led her forcibly, step by
step to the lip of the channel through
which the mill water was curling and