The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1932-10-15

1AO W NAs
And then all ct once there wss
something wrong. The light was
brighter-it was too bright FOR can
delight. Nan stood stock still and
stared at the open trap. It was
about q dozen yards away. A broad
yellow beam was coming through
| it, and suddenly there was q mana
foot in a heavy boot on the top
most step. Robert Leonard was
coming down.
Nan trrned and ran wildly down
the steps and along the black pas.
sage with her hands stretched out
in front of her as IL to ward the
darkness from her face. She turned
the bend, lighted her torch. and
ran back to Jervis.
Hes comingi" she cried, and
fearfully flashed the torch about
the space. There was cleft, wide
enough for her to stand in. Leon.
ard came up.
You're spelling my rest, yoa
know" Leonard said to yervis.
"Rosamhna1 just rang up"
Good OF her." remarked Jsryis.
"Her wishes are my Law. I've
come to give you your last chance
for half million dollars" He
dangled the key to the grill behind
which Jervis lay. with the tide
like this it's cheap"
| Nan slipped. .blundered horrifed
out Of her narrow shelter. Leon
ard started. and the lamp fell from
his hand. There was a sudden
flare Of burning oil. and the two Of
them were running back up the
passage. Nan ran for her life-for
Jervis' life. II she only could throw
herself beneath the edge of the
trap before he dung it down!
It was hopeless. The door
slammed, the darkness reminded
Nan that she still had her torch.
Shoulders sagging, she made her
way back to Jervis.i !
Jervis said. HE caught your"
"Yes-I fell"
she hasn't hurt your"
mo. He's shut me in"
He held her close and kissed
her. Nothing mattered. The wa
ter rose, and would have lifted them
IL they had not held to the bars.
Strange and cold. to have bars be.
tween them.
why did you marry me. Nan?".
said Jervis.
didn't yon known"
mo. | thought. Il. Why did
you?" =
Nan trembled. His arm was cold
and stiff, but It held her close.
II loved yoa 60 mnch."
"Then? You loved me them"
"Yes. aARa.then when y0u came
in that day and said that Rosa
mund had thrown You over 4
couldn't bear It"
"Nan--Nan! I'm net worth Il.
rye been beast to you. But do
love you now"
The cold wash OF the water
shook them.
Man" said Jeryis. "You
mustn't stay here"
Nan pressed closer.
"Nan-dariing -you mustn't. GO
back up the passage. / may have
to swim for IT,"
A sudden movement Of the whole
flood thrust Jervis hard against the
bars and almost took Nan out OF
his arms. It dragged back again.
and he was put to It to keep his
feet.
II can't CO." said Nan. "I'm not
afraid If you hold me-"
That surging lift OF the tide came
again. They chung together. ana
felt the bars between them strain
with the force OF the water. And
then with the backward pun some.
thing hard whipped about Mans
left ankle and chung there. She
pulled herself free Of Jervis and
stopped down into the water.
And then she felt a chain. Her
fingers closed on II, and she came
up laughing and crying. and thrust
it into the beam OF the torch Cor
Jervis to see Eighteen inches OF
bright chain, and o small bright
key.
HE dropped Il with the lamp"
said Jervis. He turned the key In
the lock. The surge OF water flung
them forward with the gate; they
splashed precariousiy to shallow
water. to the dry passage. Nan had
lost her torch. but they did not
miss II. Their minds were Hum
med by something brighter than
electricity.
It seemed a long time untfl they
reached the trap. Jervis couldn't
lift Il.
Have to wait for someone" said
he, too happy to care.
"wiIl anybody Gomez! asked
Nan.
gcopyrlsAt. 1858, Espeisceft1
Ferdinand Francis Interrupts Q
earleus tahleau, haeaeay, VI IssMs
ares hense.