The Washington times., 1918-06-25
The Wolves of New York
A STORY OF LOVE AND MYSTERY
More Details of the Secret and Mys-
teriOus Marriage Revealed to
Esther by Basil.

the way across the hall to a heavy
oaken door, partially concealed by
a curtain. Behind this door there
was a steep fight OF stairs. These
we descended, our steps assisted by
the light OF a lantern which my
guide carried. It had been placed
ready for us in a recess
Through Labyrinth of Passages
| AT the foot OF the stairs a long
passage stretched before US. I say
long because found out after
traversing it that it must have been
quite a quarter Of a mile in length;
though, OF course, when 1 first faced
it I could not see further than our
lantern carried. 1t was rooted and
paved, and evidently frequently
used 1 wished to ask questions
about II, but the old man turned
to me with his fingers to his lips.
It was clear that he did not want
TO talk: clear, too, that he was agi-
tated and frightened. He walked
frst holding the lantern carefully
before him, and / followed treadinE
in his shadow. The journey seem
ed interminable- Ny companion
appeared constantly on the alert, as
IL he feared pursuit or interruption
from the front, but nothing happen
ed Now and again we passed
branching passages, and toward the
end OF the journey these increased
in number. At last the character
OF the tunnel changed, and 1 recog-
ntzed that we were in a series of
communicating cells that might at
one time have been cellars. Ny
guide had opened and carefully shut
several doors, and his nervousness
increased considerably at this part
of the journey. For myself, as far
as can remember, I was quite
calm 1 had embarked on the ad-
venture, and a spirit Of carelessness
had entered into me. I regretted
only that 1 was totally unarmed.
Sensation Of Being Watched.
81 had a strange sensation of be-
ing watched as 1 passed through
one Of these cells, larged and loftier
than the others, yet could neither
see nor hear anything to suggest
another presence Everything, in
deed, except for our own footballs,
was intensely silent At the end OF
this particular cell the old man
seemed to have some trouble with
the door, which he could not open.
His fingers shook, and standing by
his side, could see great drops Of
sweat upon his forehead Certainly
the air here was warm and far
moister than II had been at the
further end OF the passage; but
that was hardly sufficient to &C
count for the excessive perspiratiOn.
Certainly il must be due to fear.
while he was fumbling with the
door, had time to look about me,
though by the feeble light OF the
lantern it was little enough that I
could see. I could, however, dimly
make out a series OF shelves on
my left, and upon these shelves the
faint outline Of chests and Golfers,
just as II this cellar had been used
as a sort OF lumber room. On the
ground, too, were more large cases,
and l noticed that the lid of one
OF these stood open. Close by there
was a hole in the earth as IL an
excavation had recently been made,
and a pickaN and spade rested
the wall. And all the while, as
stood there, / had the curious SEN
sation Of being watched. I could
fancy some one concealed in one Of
the dark recesses, or gazing at me
from behind a partially closed door.
There seemed TO be a good many
doors opening into the cell"
The BOrradaIe Treasure.
1T was the BorradaIe treasure"
murmured Esther. She was follow
ing the story again now, restored
to superficial calmness. 81 do not
now how II came there. or to whom
It legitimately belongs"
"A treasure? I suspected some
thing OF the sort, for picked up a
gold coin which lay on the floor at
my feet. 1 showed it TO my com
panion, but the sight of II seemed
to increase his fear.
Throw It away he muttered;
do you hear me? Throw il away
at once And at that moment he
forced the door open
y threw the coin away as he
bade me and followed him. He
put down the lantern and occupied
himself with the closing and barring
OF the door. breathing heavily the
while. I again looked about me-"
You were in the Borrdaale
vault" murmured Esther.
Yes, I recognized that I was in
a vault The coffins lay in tiers
within recesses upon either side. /
believe l laughed. II seemed SO ut
tCrly incongruous that a man should
be led through such a place to meet
his bride. had felt no fear till |
now, but this was beyond endur- |
ance. l took the old man roughly
by the arm.
AT last we reached the door.
which opened without difficulty,
and to my inexpressible relief I
found myself once more breathing
the pure night air. l ran UP the
three low steps which led to the
door OF the vault, and looked about
me. The old man followed more
slowly.
81 was a stately tomb from which
we had emerged: a great square
mausoleum OF solid marble"
The place Is familiar to me-"
she said, recovering herself. ct
have seen Il by day and night Tell
me what happened when you got
into the church."
She had almost betrayed herself
She was conscious OF a wild desire
10 let this man know the truth.
Why should she keep IL from him?
Yet she bit her lips and spoke in as
natural Il tone as she could assume.
CONTINUED TomorroW)
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