THE HORNED CAT.

Evening Star, Issue 8565, 11 July 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE HORNED C AT.

Br J. Maolabkn Cobban,

Author of 'The Missing Partner,' 'Master of His Fate,' etc,

, CHAPXEH > Cloots to *hb keaboK. Bygrote'a uleaf, peu»tra?,iug voice a magical effect on the ruffians congregated in the kitchen. They stood awhile as if npellbound. The upraised arm remained upraised ; the uplifted foot retained ita position. It was as if they were stricken to stone.

Bygrove steadily advanoed, and en a sudden a hoarse voice broke the spell, "Trapped, by !" yelled one of the fellows. " This is swell Townshend's doings. His game is to get all the plunder for hieeelf."

A howl of rage and disappointment ioh lowed this speech; 1 "fi sha'n't have it," they cried. '' We'll choke all the lot first."

" Steady, my good friends," said the imperturbable Bygrove! " Put your back against that door, Mr Halliday. So ; that is well. Now, then, for an inspection of our company. :I

As he spoke he made a grasp at one of the candles, but it was instantly knocked out of his hand.

" Douse the glim!" cried the man who had spoken before; and with a sudden rush all the candles were extinguished, and, the shutters being, as I have said, closed, wo were left in utter darkness,

At that moment Cicely, stepping forward, as I could faintly see by the glimmer of her white dress, cried out: " What are you doing here ? what do you want ? and how dare you take possession of my father's house ?"

"5f our father's house be blowed. 'E were often glad to have us here. It ain't you nor swell Townßhend, nor Mr Detective—ah, we knowß him, as is going to keep us from our rights," " Boys, knock that youngster down and let's get out o' this." A rush was made in my direction, and I should assuredly have been overpowered by numbers, for I had no weapon of defence. They threw themselves upon me in a body and tried to wrench me from the door which I was guarding, when suddenly two unexpected allies appeared on the scene. Cioely, exerting all her strength, forced her way through the crowd and placed herself partly by my Side and half in front of me. "Do your worst, now, you cowards 1" she cried. " Would you strike a woman ?" Even as she spoke old Cloots sprang into the midst of us, fastening upon the face of my foremost assailant, digging his claws deeply into his face, and tearing away like a demon, hissing and spluttering all the time. " Take the cat away!" screamed the fellow, " Ugh ! he'll have my eyes out. him ! Take the brute off me 1"

But Cloots, as if enraged by the hoarse ories of his viotim, scratched and spit all the more.

" Did I not tell you to be steady?" said Bygrove. " Let us have a little light on the subiect."

And with the word he threw open the shutters, letting in a flood of daylight from the aftemoon sun, and displaying the scene, which, painful as it was to myself) had its grotesque features. There was I, so pinned against the door which gave admitsion to the main building and the hall as to be utterly incapable of action. Cioely was now well in front of me, her hair dishevelled andher faceglowing with the fire of righteotiß wrath, which streamed from her eyes like arrows of flame; the mob of intruders hustling close together and trying to strike me over Cicely's shoulder; and behind all, like the angel of judgment, towered Bygrove, calm, watchful, even smiling. " Now, gentlemen," he said, in his most quiet, piercing tones, "all this is very foolish. You had better surrender at once. Mr Halliday is unable to move, as you may see; and you are behaving very rudely to Miss Grimston. If you don't stand back this instant I shall have to make matters unpleasant for some of you." With the words he pulled out his revolver, deliberately cocked it, and presented it at the crowd. Cioots seemed to understand the motion, and with a parting scratch and fiery hiss released his hold of his victim, whose bloodstained face and hideous objurgations testified to the injuries he had sustained. There was a temporary lull, and then a big brawny fellow seized Miss Grimston by the waist and forcibly drew her away, thrusting himself into the place she had oocopied. "Cowards! cowards!" she exclaimed. "Shoot the scoundrels down, Mr Bygrove I" I saw a huge fist raised in front of my face, and ducked to escape the threatened blow. Just at that moment something darkened one of the windows. Even in that moment of peril I oast an oblique glance in the direction of the window, and, as by a lightning flash, I saw Townßbend peering in. And I heard his voice saying: " This is a very pretty game. I think I mutt take a hand in it."

Then the blow descended, and I sunk to the floor in a semi-unconscious condition. I can faintly remember being dragged away by somebody, being trampled upon, and treated to a parting kick. I heard the commingling uproar of hoarse, passionate voices, the report of a pistol shot, and, through all, as in a dream, I somehow knew that Bygrove and Townshend were conversing—discussing the situation in a cool, dispassionate way. When I recovered I found myself in a sitting posture on the floor, supported by Cicely, who was tprinkling water on my face, whilst Townshend and Bygrove were sitting at the table drinking wine from the bottles which the intruders had left behind them in their hurried escape from the kitchen.

For they were gone. All of them had vanished. Only Cicely, Bygrove, and TowDshend remained. I looked around, expecting to Bee a corpse as the result of the detective's shot, but there was none. Cloots, whom I have not mentioned as one of the company left, sa* enthroned on the table, placidly washing his face, as one who had behaved like a trusty comrade in the fightas indeed he had.

When I first opened my eyes, faint and dazed as I was, I caught a glance of pity, and, as I believed, of some deeper feeling, in Cicely's eyes. But it was a transient gleam. As I warmed into life, she frose into apathy. "I think you are well enough to get up now, Mr Halliday," was all she said. I staggered to a chair, and tried to understand where I was and what had happened to me. At first all was oblivion, but presently I began to remember things. " Why did you not come to my rescue, Mr Bygrove!" I asked. " Beoause," he said " if I had ventured into the crowd I should have been as effectually prevented from doing anything as you were. My plaoe was outside, where I could command the position." " And keep out of harm," I added, rather spitefully, for my head was aching severely from the knock I had received. " But," looking round the room again, " where is the fellow you shot! " "Really, Mr Halliday," he returned, "you are under some delusion. I never Bhot anyone." " But I heard the report," said I. " Just bo," struck in Mr Townshend. " / fired at our good friend here, Mr Bygrove, not recognising him, of course; but, fortunately for both of us, I mißsed my aim." " Not much," said Bygrove, " for here yon see where th« bullet passed through my hat." And, indeed, there were ominous round holes in his head gear, just sufficiently wide of the mark to pass over his scalp. "No thanks to you, Mr Townshend, but don't make any more such mistakes. In fact, I will take possession of this pretty toy myself." A small pocket pistol was lying on the table between the two men, and as Bygrove spoke he seized it with a quick movement before Townshend oould prevent it. Townshend's countenance expressed many conflicting emotions when Bygrove made this dexterous move—vexation and rage being! prominent—but he suddenly turned it off with a laugh. " Good for you, Bygrove," he said. " You have a neat turn of the wrist. But come, Air Halliday, you look very ill. Have a tumbler of wine."

I thought he was very Blow in pouring the wiue out, but he handsel it to me at hit

with i smile which I in Tain tried to decipher. As I was raising it to my lipa Cioely dashed it out of my hand. " Not that 1" she cried. "Not that 1 I will give you wine." And from another bottle she poured out a glass of wine, which I gladly swallowed.

-..Again that look of rage swept aorobD Towusheiid's fade, tti Ce succeeded by a longing, softening look as ho glanced beyond me towards Cicely. What did it fill menu? I was too tired and faint to coneidc the problem, and yielding to weariness I gradually foil asleep. My last remembrance is of Cicely stealing from tbe room on tiptoe so as not to disturb me, a finger on her lip, and nodding meaningly to Bygrove. CHAPTER XIX. THB BURNING KEY. My sleep was rather of the nature of a done. My eyes were closed, but the hum of conversation pervaded my drowsy senses, At fitful intervals 1 even caught some of the words, only half understanding what I heard. Presently, however, as my brain slowly worked back to the understanding of what was going on around me, I began to listen intently. "Now, Mr Townshend," I heard Bygrove saying, " don't you think the game is about played out. You see I have all the trumps in my hand. You are my prisoner, in fact, if I choose to make you so. Better be frank with me." Townshend made no reply for some time, and I was dozing off again, when suddenly he sprang to his feet, exclaiming: "I do not know what cards you hold; but, by heaven, you shall tell me before you leave this house, or " " Steady, sir, if you please," interrupted Bygrove, before the other could give utterance to the threat on his lips. " Before you talk of my leaving the house make sure that you or your gang upstairs can do so. I don't mind telling you that I have my men planted—every avenue is watched, and none of you oan get away alive." He paused for a minute and then con--1 tinued, Townßhend watching him with curious eyes the while : " I know all about the treasures deposited here, and, ounning as you think yourself, I have been able to put your "b" to my " iath," and I know what that means. The hoards of silks, satins, and velvets left by Sir Ralph ate under my hand, and the contents of the "binth" bottles are no secret to me. Now, don't you think you. had better hold up your hands and drop it ? " " I defy you, Mr Bygrove," said Townshend, without any sign of anger or annoyance. "I must have played my cards very badly if you, or all Scotland Yard, can trump them. But come, sir, this is foolish dry talk; and here he sat down again. " Take another glass of wine, and give Mr Halliday one. He wants it." He pushed forward a bottle as ha spoke, but as he did so a hand reaohed over his shoulder and cast the bottle into the fireplace. It was Cioely, who had glided in again unnoticed. " Dtiok nothing Mr Townshend offers you," she said. " I have reason to mistrust him when he speaks in a friendly tone." " Really, Miss Grimshaw," sneered Townshend, "you are scarcely polite to your father's friend." " Friend, sir!" said Cicely. "Such friends as you I have no desire nor any will to trust."

The noise of the crashing bottle bad thoroughly aroused me, and I sat up wondering what would be the end of this duel of wits.

I had not long to wait, Bygrove rose, saying: '' Well, gentlemen, as the last bottle of wine has been destroyed we had best seek for more. The golden hock, if you please, sir—the real golden wine this time." He moved towards the cellar, and Townshend, as in response to the unspoken invitation, prepared to follow him. "Will you kindly take the lead, Mr Towmhend. You know the house better than I."

" Are you afraid ?" asked Townshend. Nevertheless, he led the way to the cellar, stopping at the first door, in which was the key. " By your leave," said Bygrove, " there is better wine in the farther cellar, and I propose to test it." , Townshend laughed, but said nothing. I and Cicely followed to see what would come of it. Bygrove halted at the door of the second cellar, which I had pointed out to him on a previous occasion. " This is the place I want to inspect," he said. " Well, Mr Bygrove, you are at liberty to do so. As Sir Ralph's representative I make you welcome. Pray open the door." The door of solid iron was shut and locked. The two men looked at each other for the space of a minute in silence. Bygrove's eyes wandered all round the circle as if he were working out an algebraical problem. " Where is the key ?" he asked. Townshend laughed contemptuously: " Where you will never find it," he cried. "Is that so?" And Bygrove rubbed hit chin in evident perplexity. Then he felt round the door, still facing Townshend, As he did so his eyes brightened, and bendiog towards me he whispered: "Bring tne straw here,"

There was a heap of straw lying in a recess of the passage between the two cellars, Instantly I grasped his meaning. His keen sense ot touch had enabled him to discover that the framework of the door was of wood. Without hesitation I seized great armfuls of straw and threw it down in front. "More! More yet!" he cried. And I brought more. "What in the devil's name are you doiDg?" shouted Townshend, as Bygrove struck a match and cast it into the dry straw. "I am finding the key," he answered.

Instantly it caught fire, and I brought still more straw and piled it up against the framework of the door. Townshend, with % curse on his tongue, sprang forward, only to be confronted with a gleaming pistol barrel,

"It won't do," said Bygrove. " I mean to have this door opened." Townsend, defeated in his intention of scattering the fire, retreated to the far end of the passage, and we heard the heavy outer door leading to the kitchen olang to violently. We thought he had gone away, but in a moment he was back amongst us. And the flames leaped high, and the old dry wood of the framework now fed the fire and crackled in the blaze,

The passage was filled with smoke, and, as there was not any window or aperture of escape, the fumes beoame suffocating. Cicely stood aghast, and I confess to a feeling of terror. Bygrove never moved a muscle. In front of the fire he stood pistol in hand. "You had better get out of this Miss Grimston," he said kindly. Then calling me to him he again whispered in hurried accents: " Get away, and get Miss Grimston away. He and I have to settle this. Run to the ohurch-yard gate. Quick! You will find a man there. Tell him to pass the word and make straight for the house."

I turned to go, forcing Cioely away with me. Naturally I sought for an exit by the kitchen door. It was closed and looked. Townshend had shut us fatally in the passage, where death by suffooation seemed inevitable.

"Is there no other way out?" I asked Cioely. "None that I know of," she replied. " Oh God ! what shall we do ?"

In this moment of extremity, whilst the flames were leaping higher and higher, and the sickening smoke was rolling in clouds through the passage, it happened that by one of those strange incongruous freaks of thought whioh oftentimes occur on suoh occasions, I noticed for the first time that Cioely'a dress* had been torn and almost dragged from her shoulders during, I suppose, the sorimmage in the kitohen. I had my ooat off in a minute. " Miss Grimston," said I, " your dress is in rags. Let me put my coat over you." I have read of similar things ocourring in the immediate peril of shipwreck, and wondered at them; yet there did not seem to be anything grotesque in my doing this now. She accepted the coat without a word. But the danger was growing. Even then my curiosity prompted me to ask her a question: " Did you auspeot poison in the wine ?" "No,"she replied, "not poison; but it was probably drugged for both of you. I saw Towushend's hand olose over the bottle, and a white powder fell into the wine!"

" Come with me," she said presently, Whither she would have lid I oannot tell,

fer jdii at that moment the door of the cellar fell forward,' wfth the blazing straw tearing down the framework an'd pattering a shower of sparks around. In Co' fr*rt Aiming aperture I saw the detective leap, closely followed by fownshend ; but instantly, as it seemed, Bygrove threw a bottle full at him, which, bursting on his forehead, bedewed his face with its ruddy contents, iVhieh mingled with blood flawing from his cuts where the bottle had struck him, so tibat in the firelight hj« pre* seated a ghastly appearance. Jfrio£l|.'er followed in quick succession;' arid lp! as it' broke, a meteor train of sparkling light,scintillated around Townshend's 6gure. In his haste to repel the enemy Bygrove has seized one of the precious "binth" bottles, and scattered one of Sir Ralph's hoards. Bat Cicely dragged me away from the scene. Her quick eye had caught sight of an iron door in the recess. Eagerly I examined it. It was studded with strong iron bosses, and was apparently of great strength. On examination I found it secured by two iron bolts at the top. «• I don't know whore !it Cicely said) " but try it." A little exertion enabled m'e to release the bolts. The doqr then fell outwards', farming a kind of platform. Within Was rf hollow chamber, into which I plunged without delay, when I found myself in a kind of shaft or spout. No ray of light was visible; but as I felt round the walls something knocked off my hat. Throwing my hand upwards, I grasped an iron chain,' terminating in a hook, whence I conoluded that this shaft had been used to lower cases into the cellars. I caught the chain, and, bracing myself up for a vigorous effort, planted my feet against one wall and my back against the other. In this way I managed, with incredible difficulty in my weak state, to climb upwards., fortunately the distance was short, for, after thtis Working my way for about twenty feet, my head struck against a trap-door, which yielded with slight pressure, and to my delight I found myself in a spacious chamber, which, like those I encountered in my flight from Townshend and Hind, was filled with pileß of costly goods—velvets, satins, and silks—and, in an opes cabinet, vases and chalice:) of gold and silver made a tempting display. But I bad no time to indulge myself by a closer inspection, A door, also fastened on the inside, attracted my attention. It was easily opened, and then I found myself in one of the towers that I have spoken of in the earlier part of this story. A flight of stairs was before rife. Need I say that I hurried rapidly down, and, unbolting a narrow door at the bottom, thanked God heartily as I found myself in the fresh air—outside of that accursed mansion. ( To be continued.)