Middlesbro' & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1868-05-22 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

MIDDLESBROUGH & STOCKTON GAZETTE.  'Safer than ever,' said Kenneth, in a tone of dark significance, and with an expression in his countenance which, for the first time, made Rachel alarmed. She had not time to make any renly ere the curtain behind was moving aside, and Abel Jerry glided from behind it.  At sight of him Rachel started violently, and in a moment divined her fate. _ . .  You have not come to murder me, Kenneth?' she calmly demanded. Is that an assassin you have brought?' I hays c,4rne to rid myself of the danger which lies in you.' 'Of course be has,' observed Jerry, with his usual coolness. I aint just what may be calied a professional assassin, but as it comes to be either your settleamit or his ruin, I stick in for my friend, and so I am here.' • Yes,' roared Kenneth, We are here to baffle you. I shall save myself from the hangman's rope, by—' Butchering me!' added Rachel bitterly. ' No; we don't mean to cut your throat or any thin:, of that kind. I am going to repeat the lesson you taught me. The vault is open!' ' My God, Kenneth, you would not put me there!' said Rachel, turning very pale. 'Why not? Won't you be in very good company?' remarked Mr Jerry. According to my information, you will there make the acquaintance of a young gentleman whom you assisted into it nearly a year ago.' 'Poor miserable dupe,' burst out Rachel, addressing Kenneth, but casting a scornful look on Jerry. You are trusting a serpent, who waits but his own time to destroy you.' Don't disturb yourself With that fear,' returned Kenneth, with the utmost composure. have trusted one by whose aid ere a few suns have risen and set, I wiil be helped—not to the cell in Newgate you would have thrust me into, but to the marriage altar with a bride worth forty thousand. I tell you this to make your reflections pleasant when you are lying in the vault waiting for death.' Yes, that is the sort of sting I have got in me,' said Jerry. Yours is poisonous, old lass; but we are going to make It harmless, and the sooner we do so the better.' He sprang upon her as he spoke, and with such swift and sudden motion, that ere she had a moment to resist, he had passed a broad belt over head and strapped her arms firmly to her side. This made her helpless, even if she had a thought of resistance; but she knew how useless it was to contend against the power of two strong men; and she also knew that no help could reach her from without. She was weak also from want and fatigue, and never once attempted to struggle. 'Base, base, ingrate!' she hissed, in Kenneth's face, through her clenched teeth. Your time will come ere long. As you now triumph over me, so another will triumph over you, evea—' A large shawl lay near, and, while she was speaking, Jerry snatched it up and enveloped her head and face in its folds, catching her up in his arms at the same moment, and signing to Kenneth to lead the way with the candle. The latter clutched at the light, and rushed out, Jerry following close behind him with Rachel, who struggled in his grasp. He had little difficulty, however, in bearing her along. Bound and muffled as she was, she could make little opposition, and what little she did instinctively- make was no hindrance to Jerry's  progresss. They reached the dungeon, and, without removing the muffler from her face or the belt from her arms, they forced her down the steps of the narrow stair, and, quitting hold of her, gave her a push forward. when she sank out of sight, and they heard her fall heavily on the floor of the vault. One shuddering cry was all she gave, which was, of course, unheeded by her murderers, whose eager efforts were now directed to the replacing of the slab on the mouth of the vault. A minute, or less, of quick working brought the stone into position, and, with a hollow sound which reverberated through the cavern beneath, it sank into its socket, and Rachel McLure was safely immured in her living grave. Their work being thus successfully done, Kenneth and Jerry left the Castle before the morning light, and when the sun of a new day rose in unclouded brightness from the sea, no sign was presented of the tragedy which had been enacted through the night.