Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-12-31

To perpetrate a terrific outrage for
money or revenge, or in carrying out
some dark and unfathomable con-
spiracy involving royal blood? A plot
that only Marbury could have I'M
rayeled?
And WAS ! to be accused of it,
and fall victim to the law, even as
Alexandra might fall victim of these
two strange men?
A thousand alarming speculations
raced through my overheated brain.
The more | pondered the matter, the
more probable it seemed to me that
Alexandra and had both been duped:
that both the surgeons had involved
us in an unbreakable chain of evil
and had fled; that the woman was
doomed and | destined TO answer
charge of murder
Visions of horrible contingencies
arrest, trial. life mprsonment-ros
before me- My breath came unevenly;
my heart thrashed with sudden panic.
Those first emotions of realization
that disaster actually impendei were
the most ag0nizing Of my lie-all
save those destined still 10 be before
dawn should once more gray the east
ern sky through the winddriven rain
clouds lowering over the wet and sod
den world
Once this terrible suspicion had
been born in my mind could not re-
main passive could not stay in that
room, a prey to these frightful mag
innings. At whatever cost or risk, |
had to take some action and investi-
gate.
Having thus made up my mind,
prepared to leave Alexandra for few
minutes. | carefully inspected the
records, the dials, and the apparatus,
made final adjustment of the ray
filter, and then observed the patient.
She seemed to be sleeping Since
against all orders, it was necessary to
leave her, had better do so at once
before she should awaken.
Quickly | passed out through the
| caisson-doors. traversed the surgery,
and entered the hallway. For the first
time since the operation Alexandra
| now lay alone there in the hidden in
! ner room. The thought of this terri
: fled me almost more than the strange
! silence which contrasted eerily with
I no nj N n I'M nf NO nd i,.x
chimney and the drumming of the
rain on the porch roof.
With a thrObbing heart and Quakng
knees | ran up the stairs and along
the upper hall to Vital Ergazy's door.
Doctor: Doctor cried.
knocking at the panels.
/ Even to this contingency | had not
the nerve to fling open his door with
out first warning him. Too well | re-
membered many of his looks at me. |
doubted not that in pinch. or when
enraged, he would have shot me like
rat.
Again and again | summoned him,
pounding loudly at the door. No an.
swer.
tried the latch. 1t would not lift.
There was only one way to lock the
doors in this old mansion; that was
by dropping little iron dog onto the
tongue of the latch. had, then, con-
elusive evidence that Vital Ergazy
was in that room, for the locking de.
vice was inside.
realized that something now was
very far amiss Desperate, | deter
mined to break in the door. looked
about me for some implement to use
as battering-ram.
The hallway was almost dark. Only
a single Pickering little gas.jet burn
ed at the stairhead. BY its dim light
could see nothing that might serve,
except chair at the further end of
the hall. A chair was hardly what |
would have chosen, but every second
was precious now. had no time ia
discriminate.
| ran TO the chair, seized il, and
came quickly back | am strong
woman when aroused. The chair cir
cled high in the air and landed with
crashing force on the oak panels. The
impact was so violent that two legs o
the chair was splintered off. Agar
and again | struck with desperation
All at once one of the panel.
cracked and broke away. redoubleC
my blows. From within, no sound
But the hallway and the whole houst
echoed with the crashing tumut o
my attack
Suddenly the wreck OF the chair
smashed through, making great
pawning hole in the panel.
flung the chair away, thrust my
arm through the aperture, and felt foI
the latch. discovered the lockinl
device, and raised II.
A moment later was in Vital
Ergazy's room.
CHAPTER X.
The Crisia Annroarhes