THE MYSTERY OF THE RAVENSPURS

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13877, 1 February 1909, Page 6

THE MYSTERY OF THE RAVENSPURS

By F. M. WHITE,

CHAPTER XXII. DEEPER STILL.

stnrtNd was (ieoftn \ tnal ' H> tin- moistuie spurt iiom o'cry pore like ;> i ash. Hut, hilly eons' ions ot his danger, lie suppressed the er> that row io ins lips, nor did he move a.s he f<>ll r. thick cloak thrown over his head. Hi slipped his revolver into his hand mid fumbled it against the cold cheek of his antagonist. But the antagonist took it coolly. A pair of lips were close to Geoffrey's ear and tiie smallest, faintest voice- spelt ,Mit th'> letters, T-e-h-i-g-o-f-s-k-y. {.(•off rev put the weapon back in his por ket." At the same time he felt about till his fingers touched the hand of his Uon.panion. No doubt about it. The oilier was Tehigorsky be>ond question. Perhaps he had been testing Geoffrey's |<onr«age and resolution; perhaps the danger had deepened unexpectedly. Presently the light oi the lantern popped up again, m response lo some subtle signal, and once more the conspirators moved on to the vault abo\e. iTchigorsky lifted his head. 'Where are they going ?" (ieotirey asked. Tclugorsky responded with one oi his diabolical chuckles. "They imagine that they are going into tho castle," he said. 'Rut they arc not going to accomplish that part of the programme." "But what do they want there?" "What should they want? You know something of those now whose business it is to wipe you out root and branch. More artistic incthods having failed, they may deem it necessary to fall back on 'more vulgar plans. There are five people sleeping in the castle — six with \our Uncle Ralph— who stand in the way It is possible if the fiends are lr,ek\ that the castle may bo devoid ef hfe by daybreak." Geoffrey could not repress a shudder. "Fiends, indeed!" he said. "But wh\ not stop it? Why not let them enter and then take them all redhanded ?" "What could we gain by that? \\p could not connect them with past crimes! At worst they would get a few months in gaol as suspects. When tho time comes we must smash them all. And the time is coming." Tchigorsky rose as if to go. "I follow' them," he said, "you remain here, in the darkness. And if any one attempts to pass you do not let him do so. Don't forget this thing. At all hazards you are not to let any one pass." Geoffrey nodded as Tchigorsky passed on his way. For a long time all was quiet, and then from above there came a startled cry followed by the sound of strife and a scream of pain and terror. It was all that Geoffrey could do to restrain himself from yelling in response and rushing to the spot. Then he became conscious that somebody was coming rapidly through the cave. He reached out his hand and grabbed at and caught a sinewy, slippery brown ankle. It only needed that touch to tell Geoffrey" that he was at grips with the native. Down the fellow came on theslippery rocks, and the next instant the two were engaged in a life or death struggle. Young, strong, vigorous as lie Mas, his muscle knitted like iron with healthy exercise, Geoffrov knew that he had met his match. The native had a slight advantage of him in point of \ears; he was greased from head to foot, rendering a grip difficult, and In- flying robe came asunder like cobwebs at the first strain. He fought w ith the abandon of a man who is reckless of life. Over and over on the slippery rocks they rolled, each striving to get tho other by the throat. By this time they were both breathing thick and fast, and Geoffrey's mind began to wander towards his revolver. But to release his grip to get that might be fatal. He could hear his antagonist gasping as he rolled off a ledge of rock, and then Geoffrey lifted his opponent's head and brought it down with a bang on the granite.'' In the very instant of his triumph something whistled behind him, and a jagged piece of stone came smashing on to his temple. He had a confused view of a native on his feet again, fast hurrying away, h'-ard the rustle of garments and a iurIther rustle of more garments, and then Ins arm nas closed upon a female fiiruie whom he pulled to the ground by his side. He felt the woman open her lips to scream, but lie clapped his hand over her mouth. "No, von don't," he said grimly. 'One of you has escaped, and my friend the nigger has had a narrow escape. but I've got you, my lady. I've got \ou safe and I don* "aieau to let you go." He felt the slight figure in his arms tremble and palpitate; he hoard voices above. Once more the slim figure shivered. His hand was torn from her mouth and the woman spoke. "They arc calling you," she said; "for God's sake let me go, Geoffrey." For an instant Geoffrey was too dazed and stunned to speak. "Marion?" he gasped presently. "Marion?" Marion cowered down, sobbing bitterly. "You are surprised," she said. "No wonder. You wonder what I am dome; hoie and I will tell \ou presently. But not now; I will place my secret in your hands; I will disguise nothing from you. For the present leave me "' "Lca\e > on here! Impossible!" "But I am safe, quite safe. Geoffrey. Oh. if you have any feeling for one of the most miserable creatures in the world, leave me. Tell them above that those abandoned wretches have gone, that no sign of them remain--. Consider what I have suffered and am suffering for your family, and try to help mo." Conscious of his own weakness, Goottie\ pondered. Ho might be doing a serious injury to the delicate plans formed by Ralph Ravenspur, but he had given tbe promise and there was ?it' end of tho matter. Marfon was in some wav bound up witii these people, but Marion was pure as the angels and Marion would do no wrong. Why, then, should her good name be dragged in the mire? "You are ,so good, so good to me," Marion murmured. "Go betore they

become alarmed at ,\our silence and leave me here. Sa\ that you saw nothing. And when tho hou^e in quiet 1 shall make my wa.\ back again." Geoffrey retired upwards without iurther words. In the basement ol tho castle ho found Tohigorskv and Ralph Ravenspur. "They managed to Hudc you .- asked the former. Geoffrey pointed to the ugh bruise on tho side of his head. "Yes." ho said, "they both uot away But for this bit of an accident lighting in the dark I might Jiave captured the dusky conspirator. "Rather you had not, on tbe whole," Ralph said. "Something gave them the alarm as they reached the pa-sages. Of course their idea was to murder some or all oi us in our bees ;,ii-1 our idea was to take them m the ad But they got tbe alarm and yan- , ished. One of the fellows attacked me ' ii the shrubbery inst before dark, but I tancv he will not do it rgain. ', "1 saw him." said Geoltroy. "Ho c:.mo to Mrs. May's for assistance, She I i.'t. -tended that I was mistaken, but ! she had to give in at last when <■„-- eumstaneivs became too strong lor her. How did \ou mjinuiio to fieai bun 1 hat blow on the head. ui,cle?" Ualph smiled gnmlx. j I i have mv own ri'onn.s <<t pn»i(cI tM.n." be said. "Wl..it became oi tho It» How:'" „ i A i ii i Geoffro.\ explained all <hnt had hap'ivuerl dui-iim and alter tho dinner at ! .Wop's farm. His two listener fo'lowed his statement with flattering interest. Yet all the time Geottrex was 1, -toning intently for muiis oi Marion. 'Was she still in the vaults or had she 'managed to slip away to her bedroom '| 'The thought ot the delicate mii down | there in the darkness and cold wos \>\ lin means pleasant . . 1 "We have managed to make .. ine<-,| 10l it to-night," said Ralph. "Howj those people contrived to disco\er that 1 'there was danger afoot I can* uncWstanrl. But one thing is certain. the\ will not be content to lea\e thums as tho\ are. They may try tho >-an)« thing again or their efforts '"*> tlx^\\ a IU ' U and more uigeniou- direction." "Which direction we shall discover, j said Tchigorsky. "('an \ou let me out here, or shall I go by the same means that I entered?" To Geoffrey's reliei Ralph volunteered to open the hall door for his friend. "Come this wa\," he said. "All the "bolts and bar.s hnw b( on oiWl and will make no noise." They slipped awa\ quietly toirether. Geoffrey listened intently. He fancier! that ho could hear footsteps creeping up the stairs, and in the corridor a door softly closed. Then Ralph Ravenspur came back again. "Tchigorsky has gone/ 1 ho said. "After this it will bo nooe.-sar\ for us to vary our plan of campaign a little. You have learnt something to-night-You know now that our antagonists are two Indians and a woman who is dangerous as she is lovely and fascinating. Ah, what a woman she is!" "Who is she?" Geoffrey asked. "Ah, that 1 cannot toll you. You must be content to wait. 1 do not want \ou to know too much, and then there is no chance of your boing taken off your guard. When the surprise comes it will be a diamatic one. Tho more you see of that woman and tho more you cultivate her the more >ou will find to wonder at." "But can I cult i\ ate her after to-. night?" ■ "Why not? She does not know tit, | extent of your knowledge: she has noi j thr remotest idea that you have b»'ci j helping to foil her schemes. Next tinu j Tshe will meet you as if nothing h.ul J happened." j Geoffrov thought of Marion and was silent. That one so pure and sweet &hould be mixed up with a creature like that was horrible. Ralph Ravenspur rose with a yawn. He seemed to have lapsed into his wooden state. Ho felt his way down the big flagged hall towards the staircase. "We can do nothing more." ho said. "1 am going to bod. Good-night." Tho door closed and then Geoffrey was free to act. Ho could go down into the vault and bring Marion up. But first he would try to ascertain if she were in her room. Ho passed up the stairs and along tho corridor. Outside Marion's door he coughed gently The door opened and Marion stood .there clad in a fair white wrap, with her "lorious hair hanging free over hoi shoulders. Her eyes wore full ot tears. "Geoff," she whispered. "Gooti, dear Gooff." 1 She fell into his arms, and pressed her lips long and elingingly to his. Her whole frame was quivering with mingled love and emotion. Then she snatched herself away from his embrace and, with the single whispered w-ord "To-morrow," closrd tho door behind j her. (To be continued.