Widnes Examiner. — 1893-11-04 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

ONB NIGHT'S MYSTERY.  PARTED BY FATE;  OR THE MYSTERY OF BLACK-TOR LIGHTHOUSE.  BY LAURA JEAN LIBBEY,  Author of ."lone, the Pride of the. Mill," Au., &a.  As he spoke he threw back the folds of the heavy cloak which enveloped his fair captive. The blaze of strong light for an instant nearly blinded Verlie. Then, tids her eyes became accustomed to the dazzling light, she found that she was in a high, rooky cavern. Rough slab benches were ranged around the walls' and formed Its only article of furniture, and upon these benches lounged a score of men—a fierce, dark, bloodthirsty-looking crow, from whose nautical air Verlie at once knew thorn to be sailors. All were armed with pistols and daggers stuck in their belts, And wore heavy black crape masks pulled low over their swarthy faces. With a f3eling of sick terror, Verlie staggered back against the wall, as the dreadful conviction that she bad fallen into a den of pirates or smugglers forced itself upon her mind. In a few words her captor explained the situation to the men, adding, thoughtfully 3 "As she witnessed the duel, and in that partieu!ar locality, our safety demanded that she must be bound by an oath of silence, ere she is permitted to go free." " D.3n't let her go, captain. She will turn Informer," shouted every one present, simultane" Silence I" said the man whom they addressed as captain, with a sudden flash of his eye, and in a tone that made the boldest quail. "You have no right to make me your prisoner," panted Verlie, indignantly, "and I demand my freedom. I can gee you are a cowardly set of lawbreakers, and I know you must be the pirates who infest the harbour, and for whose apprehension suoh large rewards have been offered by the authorities; but to waylay and entrap defenceless girls is a crime which ought to be too mean for even outlaws."  A tierce murmur ran through the cavern at Ver. lie'a daring words ; but no one dared expreaa his anger aloud. . _ _  " Allow me to set you right; fair lady," replied her captor, with a cynical smile. "We did not entrap you. You threw yourself into our power. And" (here he lowered hie voice to a significant whisper) "let me beg of you to use more respectful language when speaking of us. There is a spirit in my men that your words will be apt to arouse, and which I may find it difficult to subdue I fun sorry it is not in my power to comply with your request. Neither I nor my men would feel safe in this retreat afterwards if we let you go free.  "In short, it is my painful duty to imform you that you must remain with us, at least until such time as this harbour cavern is deserted by us, unless as I said before, you are willing to take a solemn oath nevet to reveal what you have seen or heard this night. Will you take that oath 71 "No," cried Verlie, indignantly.; "not to save myself from deatli, much less imprisonment, would I see you escape the punishment of the law you so richly deserve. You, above all, should face the gallows, for I saw you take a unman life to-night. "The very moment I am free, that same moment I will inform upon you, and tell them the entrance to your retreat must be somewhere in the rear or the ruins of the old stone church in the graveyard. I will consider myself doing an injustice to the world in ridding it of a band of robbers and murderers."  _ In a single moment, as if pandemonium had suddenly let loose, each map VMS on his feet With a volley of oaths, and, in a twinkling, a score or more drawn revolvers glistened in the garish lamplight. "Lower your weapons, comrades," commanded the handsome young chief, grimly. "I will attend to this defiant little beauty." The lovely blue eyes flashed him a look of scorn; the golden, curly head crested itself proudly. "Do not touch me !" she cried, as he grasped her arm firmly. "Out of my way !" he cried, harshly, to the men who would have barred his exit. "I will give her into Hagar's hand for the present. Before we disperse to-night we will settle her future. You will follow me," he said, not unkindly, as he turned to Verlie.  She had no choice bat to follow, but the first few steps became so painful she dropped at his feet in a deep