The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-11-01
CHAPTER XII.
In the Banquet Hall

WHAT EN- Al.
In the Banquet Hall
I reviewed swiftly the details OF
the past night. He listened eager
ly, asking number of questions.
and, at the end of the narrative,
agreed with my conclusion that 1t
would probably be Mademoiselle
who was thus held prisoner.
We talked 1t over briefly enough,
only to arrive at the decision to
explore cautiously, and thus learn
all that was possible, before plan
ming any holder action.
He disappeared down the passage
I pointed out, while I chose the one
beyond, but. when we met again,
neither had much to report.
Then We came to the great stairs.
Beyond these, which we passed by,
resolved first to make certain of
the entire lower floor before ven
turing above, We arrived at what
must have been the kitchens and
storerooms.
The windows, protected by bars
Of iron, were lower than those at
the front of the castle. and curl.
osity led me to cross over, and
glance out into the courtyard be-
low.
At first | perceived nothing more
interesting than the gray stone
outer wall, broken down I'm places,
and revealing the forest clad hills
beyond.
Then my eyes focused on a
single-storied building, the walls of
stone, the roof matched with straw,
half-hidden Under the wall shadow.
1t was the roof. evidently newly
covered, which first riveted my at
tention, and had stared at 1t for
fully a minute, doubling my eyes,
before I distinguished group of
men barely visible beyond the
entrance. rt
motioned with one hapd for my
companion to join me. ~ r
"See yonder," said, pointing
thru the bars, where the great
breach is In the wall-a dozen men
are there sitting about a fire."
"Aye!" he said, those are the
villains. And how do you figure 1t
all out, Monsieur" sd as
''In this way. The castle is used
by these robbing villains az head
quarters. They are safe enough
here, for the place has the reputa-
ton of being haunted, and no one
living In the neighborhood will even
venture near"
"And what shall we do?"
Complete our search, Of course.
Would you leave prisoners helpless
in their hands? Twill be safer for
us to wait until dark. before de-
parting"
CASTER followed me back to the
foot OF the stairs without protest.
They were composed Of broad stone
flags.
/ led the way. At the top we
found ourselves plunged into semi
darkness.
The floor was of oaken timber.
blackened by age, yet exhibiting no
especial evidence of decay. 1t had
even resisted fire, altho there were
places where the 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 monstrous indeed
in its bare nakedness, the only re-
lief being indestructible stone
benches ranged along the side
walls.
Several openings. arched over by
massive oak timbers, yawned to
right and left, leading to contiguous
rooms.
My eyes glanced toward an arch
in the wall. AS I did so shadow
glided across the recess and disap-
peared. With the instant my every
nerve was alert, and my fingers
gripped CASTER.
STAND there at the stair head"
I whispered fiercely, land watch.
There is movement yonder."
sprang forward, drawing my
sword, intent now only on the one
object-that of overhauling the
fugitive. The recess revealed an
other room and my eyes instantly
perceived only a narrow opening to
the further wall, where a single
slab of stone swung outward.
Reaching this I paused, staring up
flight of stone stairs ending In
utter darkness.
With every caution I crept lor-
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 platform,
the opening of which was closed.
The single bar OF light strearned
thru a slight aperture between two
stones and crept on until
touched the obstruction above. II
was thin stone, fitted into
grooves cut In the solid rock, and
I lifted one end without difficulty
or noise. l stood on the second
step, the slab of rock tilted just
enough to permit my eyes' to peer