Our Novelettes.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1519, 12 February 1886, Page 4

Our Novelettes.

A STBANGE BED.

(Oontinued.)

Setting down the candles on the table, Joyce opened the doors, which were not locked, and disclosed an unusually narrow cupboard, its depth little more than the thickness of the wall, without any shelves, and containing a large, heavy, thickly-stuffed pillow or cushion. She removed it—l saw her shudder as she touched it—and then putting her hand to an angle of the wall at the back of the cupboard revealed that it was no wall, but a door. On pressing a spring, it opened inwards, leaving an aperture as large as the cupboard itself, through which I saw, half lost in the shadow, the room which I had just left. Joyce trimmed the light, and raised it; and then I made a discovery wHch startled me. This door was, in fact, the back of the bed on which I had been lying, which opened on concealed hinges just an inch or two above the level of the bolster. Putting in my hand, I touched the pillow, which was still warm from the contact of mv hpad.

I began to understand, and found myself turning a shade paler as I looked inquiringly at my companion. She set the candle down again. " Those spirits they gave you," she began, "were " " Wore drugged P" I said, 'quickly. She nodled. " There was no more of the stuff in the house —and that was what made the master •o angry when I upset the table. Suppose you had taken the spirits; suppose you were lying there in a deadly stupor "

She broke off, and the remainder of her revelation was made in dumb-show. She pointed to the place where my head had been lying a few moments before, aud then, taking the heavy cushion, leaned over the sill of thejdoor, put the cushion softly and stealthily down on the spot, and held it down tightly, pressing on it with all her weight. It was only that of a sight girl; but suppose that murderous pillow ha<l been held in its place by two pairs of hands and those the hands of powerful men—pressed down upon my unturned face, as I lay there, helpless and in* sensible! There was a deadly horror in the thought that made me feel cold and sick. I turned away from the opening, and leaned against the table, trying to steady my nerves.

Leaving the door open, Joyce approached me.

" Do you understand ?" she whispered. I nodded, and, half unconiciously, drew a little away from her. She notice! the involuntary movement, and a faint colour flushed for a moment over her pale face. After a few moments I turned and looked at her.

" And, knowing this horrible secret, knowing what detil'a work 'goes on beneath this roof, you can remain under its shelter ? You ran continue to eat the bread of these men, knowing " " As Heaven is above u , .-lie interrupted, clasping her hands, and speaking with passionate earnestness, " I did not even suspect it until last month, the last time they —it happened. I have been here three years. More than once travellers have come to the house at night whom I have not seen go away in the morning ; if I asked after them the master said they had left early, before 1 was up. The body of one of them was found davs afterwards in a lonely part of the heath, and it was thought he hud been waylaid and murdered, though there was no trace of violence; another «ai found in the stream, and it was supposed that on leaving here before it was light he had missed his footing aud fallen in. I believoJ it with the rest. But one stormy night last month a man—a farmer from Paekcrton market—came here to sleep ; they drugged him, no doubt, but they gave him too little, I suppoie. Anyhow, when they opened the door, he was awake, there was a dreadful struggle. I heard the noise and came dowu. I hey were half in and half out of the door, all fighting together j he had a knife and was defending himself. He was a strong man aud might have been too much even for them, but, while lie was struggling with Kouben, the master took up that iron bar in the corner there, and " She stopped, shuddering. After a slight pause she resumed—" I did not see the blow —I could not look—but, Oh, Heaven, I heard it—l hear it still I" She covered her eyes with both hands, and leaned against the table, trembliug from head to foot. In a moment she went on, wiping her damp forehead with her apron—" 1 was very ill after that night—l believe I was mad for a time j but they kept me cU»e, and let no one see me for a time, and when I came to myself—not myself as I was before, for that I shall never be" again—l heard that the farmer's oody had been found in the river close by Beekley Bridge; he had fallen against the rocks, it was said, and so wounded his head." " And you let the belief pass uncontradicted P You did not denounoe these men P"

" They kept me a prisoner, and cowei me with threats —at least the master did ; be--1 sides my illness seemed to have stupefied me. I went about like one in a dream daied and stunned. They thought I had turned idiotic, and talked of their dreadful secrets quite openly before me —that is how I have come to know all I hare told you—but I listened and understood, and I swore to myeelf that thev should never have another victim." She paused a minute. " Even before you entered the house to night I believe the muster had resolved you would not leave it ibve. He saw your pack, he guessed you would wear a watch and carry money, and when he took off your overcoat I saw him feel your pocket and look at Reuben. I knew then that the time was come to keep my vow." She paused again ; her voice sank Btill lower. "If you had been coarse and brutal to me as they are, I would have saved you all the same at the risk of my own life, but when 1 heard jou speak so gently, when you looked at me so pitifully, wuen you defended me, and afterwards touched me—me, a poor half-witted drudge, as tenderly as if 1 had been your sister—or—or your sweetheart " Her voice broke; her breast hoaved; the warm colour rushed over her face from chin to foreluad, transfiguring it; her eyes softened; suddenly she caught my hand in both her own and kissed it passionately, and then, covering her face, burst into an agony of tears, the heavy sobs shaking her slight figure from head to foot.

All my repugnance was gone; nothing but compassion remained. What a life must ber's have been if a few commonplace words of smypathy, a trifling act of kindness, could excite such passionate, wondering gratitude! I drew nearer to her, and would have put my arm about her, as if she had been my sister or my sweetheart, but, controlling herself by an effort, she raised her head and put me away from her. " I have stayed too long," sho said, hurriedly. " They think 1 am still in the kitchen, at any moment they miy mieo me, and—bark ! Didyou hear a noise P" We both listened; no, all was still. I have more to say to you," she continued—" the most important of all. If you with to leave this home alive, you must leave it at once.

Listen. The master told you it was nine miles to Beckley—that is false. Sim let out the truth, it is not more than five. The road crosses the stream Just above Beckley Full The window of your room is not above nine feet from the ground ; drop into the yard, saddle your horse, dead it out by the sidegate—the enow will muffle the sound—you will see the road straight before you, and in less than half an hour you will be at Beckley."

" And you ? while I am riding away in safety, what will become of you ? When they open the door and find the bed empty—the bird flown—they will at |once suspect you of having warned me, then " She shuddered involuntarily, but answered quickly arid firmly—- " I am prepared for the worst I have expected it. What does it matte'*? Of wha" value is my life to myself or anyone ? Do not waste time iu speaking of me ; go—go!" "And you think I will leave you—leave you to suffer a ;wnrse fate than that from which you have rescue Ime ? If I go, you must go too." " No, no ; it is impossible. They will miss me before we can get away, and then " " Let them come, I have a bullet for each of them," I returned, grimly. "y0.n0," she reiterated. "Your pistols are gone. The master took them when he came back to fasten the window. One man unarmed against two, both stronger thai yourself, what could you do?*' " I could at least die in defending you. But we shall yet have time, if you will come at once. Come, or it will ba too late."

But Joyce stood as if she was turned to stone.

"It is too late already !" she breathed 'Hark!"

I listened, and hesad the staircase door open. "They have missed me!" she said, breath* lessly. " The master is coming to lcok for me! In another moirent he will be in the room ! Go—go !" " By Heaver, I will not leave you!"

" You must —you shall! There will be time. I can make an excuse for b« ing found here ; he will suspect nothing until you are away. Go!"

"If you go—not else.

I throw my iirms round her, and tried to draw her away, hut .«he wrenched herself from my grasp. " Ho," she paid, in a vehement whisper;

•' if he nris-cs me, he will suspect—we shall both be lost—two lives instead of one! He is coming up-stairs oh, for Heaven's sake "

She threw herself at my feet, and raised her clasped hands in a dumb agony of entreaty. I hesitated —one hope remained—a chance of safety tor us both. I pointed towards the secret door.

How long would it be before they open tP"

'• I do not know—it is uncertain; they m:iy come at any moment. The master has been up already to see if your candle was out." " Then they will .not attack me while the light] burns ?'' " No, they will wait till—he is coming down the pas-age !" she broke off, and, staggering to her feet, thrust the candle into my hand. " Quick —in at the door I"

Putting my hands on the ledge, I vaulted through, alighting on the bed. " Good-bye," she whispered. " Heaven blesi you and protect you!" " And you, Joyce. But this is not good* bye !" " Ah, yes," she returned, with a forlorn smile, " this is good-bye!"

The next moment the door clo-ed upon me, and I heard her shut that of the cupboard just as Blacklock entered the room. Piessmg my ear against the back of the bed, and listening intently, I heard his rough voice harshiy questioning her, and hers in reply, making some explanation which appeared to satisfy him, for when he spoke again it was in a lower key; and finally, after another question and auswer, I heard them leave the room, traverse the landing, .and descend the stairs. Then all was silence.

My first movement was to put the whole width of the room between myself aud the horrible bed, and then, agtinst the dressing-table, I raised my hands to my forehead and tried to think. I say " tried," because at iirst I could not divert my <iisordered thoughts from the scere which had just passed ; Joyce's paleface was still close to mine, painted on the air before me—her voice still echoed,in the silence, uttering her fornlorn Good-bye." Gradually, however, some degree of calmness returned to me, and with it returned that hope of safety tor us both which had flashed across my mind a few moments before.

" While the light burns, they will not attack me." How long would it burn P X 1 joked at it—a long attenuated tallow candle j about half remained. A glance at my watch told me that it had been burning rather more than an hour; it would last another hour, no doubt.

Suppose I left the bouse as Joyce had suggested, rode to Beckley, and returned with as.-istsnce P Should I have time before the candle was burned out P I made a rapid calculation —twenty minutes to go, twenty minutes to obtain the mounted reinforcement, twenty minutes to return —yes, it could be done! But could I—dared I leave Joyce meanwhile to the mercy of these miscreants P Suppose I was delayed by fsome unforeseen accident 't suppose tbe candle did not last so long as I anticipated j or suppose they opened the door belore it was burned out ? It was an awful risk.

I glanced round the room in quest of something that would serve me as a weapon, nunposing I resolved to stay and defend myself bb best I could j there was nothing, not even a chair —for the cumbrous armed one was not portable. Ititcime to a struggle, I shotild have nothing to depend upon but my own physical strength ; and I knew well 1 was no match for my antygonbts singly, mU( .h less together. 1 gave up the thought and turned to the wjndow. The snow had now ceased, the clouds were breaking, and, though moon and s'ars were not vUible, there was a pale diffused light in the sky which served to show mo the way —the ro.igh road winding away into the bl»ak distance, the dark stream beside it rushing betweeu its deep, rocky banks.

I hastily drew on fmy boots, which Joyce hud brought up stairs, and, !placing the preciousj candle,! on which a life depended, in a sheltered corner out of the draught, opened the casement to its widest, scrambled through on to the ledge, hung by my hands for an instant, and then let myself drop gently into tho snow-covered yard. How I managed to gaddlo Polly in tho dark Ido not know ; managed it was, however, to her intense disgust, though not without a delay which made me fume with impatience ; and, leading her with infinite caution out of the yard, and a little way down tho rond, I flung myself into the saddle and rode away. At first the mare was sulky and restive, and gavo me not a Utile trouble, but, when I £ot her Well iu baud, and showed her I win not to be trifled with, she changed hor tactics, and set off at a headlong gallop. On we rushed, and the deep and rapid stream rushed with us, making a hollow mur« »ur between its rooky banks.

I saw nothing of the road we trayersed ; my thoughts were on before me at «y goal, or behind me in the dark and silent house I had just left, where a helpless girl was shut up alone with two murderers. The picture of my deserted bed-room rose before me with a strange vividness. I saw the open window, and the candle flickering in the draughtsuppose a chance wind shou'd extinguish it 1 Every breath of wind in my face made me shudder. I saw too the Green Bed with its treacherous, inviting look ; but, having pictured so much, my imagination played a strange freak, and painted Joyce lying on the bed, with an awful stillness in her face and form. Try as I would, I could not efface that figure from the picture ; when I saw the bed, I saw Joyce upon it. It was but a fancy, but it thrilled my heart with a new and shapeless fear. At length I heard the rush and thutder of Beckloy Fall, and presently came in sight of it. At this point the river takes a sudden reckb ss leap over the rocks which bar its progress, and, alighting in a clov.d of spray nine or ten feet below its former level, rushes onwards, foaming and turbulent, over the boulders.

lhere was the Fall, but where was the bridge ? I drew rein, and eat looking blankly at the stream. Tie bridge was gone The upright timbers which had supported it were still standing, but of the bridge itself, only a few loose planks remained ; the rest had been loosened and s«ept away by the swollen stream.

The firet moments of stupefaction past, I soon recovered myself. There was no time to hesitate; on the loss of a second might depend a life. I gauged the stream with my P yp it was about twenty feet wide as well as i" could judge at a hasty glance. The opposite bank was a foot or two lower than this one, which was an advantage. I backed the mare across the road, so that its whole width lay between her and the river, and, bringing my whip smartly down on her flank, put her at the leap. She started forward, crossed the road at two bounds, and on the very brink of the stream swerved suddenly, so as nearly to unseat me, and turned me aside. I tried apain, with the same result. Then I grew desperate. I lashed her savagely, urging her on with wild cries which sounied strangely in the silence, and at length, like a mad thing. she ru-il.ed at the leap, cleared it at a bound, alighting safe and sound on the opposite bank, and tore onwards down the road without a moment's pause. Five minutes later she clattered through Beckley High Street, and I drew rein before a large old fashion red-brick house standing back trom the street, with a line of posts and and chains before it, and on the door a brass plate bearing the name of " Septimus Eardly."

Mr Eardly was the Mayor of Beckley, and the Magistrate to boot; a few years before, when himself in business, he had had dealings with Marriott Brothers, aud I knew him to bo not only a kind-hearted man but a clearheaded and quick-witted one—invaluable qualities in an emergency. The family had all retired for the night, except Mr Eardly himself, who in dressinggown and slipper?, opened the door to me, and to whom in a few hurried words I explained the situation. He " rose to the occasion" at once, as I had expected he would. " In twenty minutes the men and horses shall be at the door," be said, promptly. •' We can cross the stream further up, where it is narrower;" and, ushering me into a room on the ground floor, he left me. I spent the interval in pacing about the room in a fever of impatience and suspense that increased with every moment, listening to the comings and goings in the house, and straining uiy ears lor the sound of horseß hoofs' without. At last 1 beard the'n, nd, hurrjing out, found Mr Eardly and his son—a stalwart joung Yorkshireman of lour or five and twenty—on horse-back at the door, accompanied by the chief constable— one of the principal tradesmen of the town—and a watchman, both mounted. In a second I too was in the saddle, and we were clattering through the silent town, waking all its sleeping echoes, and bringing more than one night-capped head to the windows as we passed. 1 headed the cavalcade, and on we went, down the lonely road beyoud the town, never slackening *peed for a moment, crossing the brook about a quarter of a miie below the Fall, and keeping on along the road 1 had already traversed. After the first mile or two we exchanged no words and the muffled beat of the horses' hoofs on the snow and rush of the impetuous stream were the only sounds to be heard. I rode on like one in a dream seeing nothing but the picture of the deserted bed-room which seemed to have photographed itself on my brain. What had happened there since I had left UP What might be happening at this very moment ? As we proceeded I half dreaded to hear a cry—a woman's de s . pairing scream—borne towards us ou the night-breeze; once I fancied I did hear it, and so strong was ihe illusion that I involuntarily drew rein and listened, but, except the rush of the water and the beat of the horses* hoofs all was silent as before. At length we came in sight of the house—a picture of rustic tranquillity, with its snow-covered roof and picturesque gables . The " best room" was on the side facing us as we approached. With breathless anxiety I strained my eyes in search of the light. My heart gave a wild throb, and then sank—the window was dark! , . . "Too latel" I gwped, pointing to

" Ko, no," said young Emily | " the ligkt is still burning. Look again." Looking more closely I saw that he was right; there was a feeble glimmer, a dim uncertain ray, which showed me that the window was still open. But even as I looked it flickered, failed, and vanished. By Mr. Eardly's directions we slackened our pace to a walk as we approached, in order not lo bo heard, and, alighting at the gate of the vard, two of us—young Eardly and the "watchman—went round" to guard the front door, wh : le Mr. Eardly, the constable, and myself entered the yard. I knew there was e. ladder in the stable, and had suggested that we should enter the bouse through the window which I had left; taken by surprise, the men would have nj time for resi tence and, the only exit being guarded, no chance for e-cape. The ladder was brought out and placed against the wall. I ascended first, Mr. Eardly and the chief constable followingall three armed.

" We'll take 'em alive, if we can, sir, if it's all the same to you," the latter whispered to me as we amended, as if he were speaking of some dangerous wild beasts. " I'd give fifty pounds to see the villains * swing'! " To get in at the window was a somewhat more difficult matter than to get out of it; I accomplished it, however, safely and quietly, and motioned to the others to keep back for a moment. Ihe room was silent, chilly, and profoundly dark. The candle had only just expired; the wick still smouldered. I stood for a minute listeniug—there was not the faintest sound without or within the house ; and then a strange instinct which I have never been able to account for led me straight to the bed. {2b be continued.)