THE HOUSE OF THE WICKED.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17762, 9 December 1929, Page 3

THE HOUSE OF THE WICKED.

I OUR SERIAL STORYI

CHAPTER XVI,

WITHIN AN ACE

He stopped, ard r n his fingers up the woodwork by the door-rost. No, there was no space between. It was as tightly closed as ever. Again he lljdeit the log, and plied i.t with all his power. Again he felt for success, but did not find it. .

Another thought came to his mind, j If the door were too strong for him, peril ap she might have more sifctess with the bars of the windows. > ! He tu'rnea to them,-. and found that i he oould get the end of his batterings I ram between . them. Thrusting it! through i :, s far as possible, lre.ik.ng a pane of glass in so doing, he bent all his weight against it, forcing it from him, and using it as a lever. , I As last! The bur gave way, snapping at the point where it was inserted in the stone of the sill, and he fell forward in a heap on the damp earth. He whs up again in a room, n!;, and was at work on the next two. These, proved stronger. Still, the force he was Applying told, and they 'quivered and bent. The sweat was pouring off his face in streams. He \toilefl like a m idman. Every moment was of consequence. He knew not wliat villainy might be happenng within thoie walls. That his daning w.is in peril, in the hands of his enerpies, • was liis one thought, and his efforts were redoubled. Another bar gave way.

CHAPTER XVII

He threw down bis weapon, and seizing the bars, pulMd them towards him, endeavouring to Lenl them ap. rt at the same time. In a measure, ho succeeded, but do as lie would there was not space to force liis body between them.

Another bar must be removed. He ingain seized the log and renewed his efforts. It proved a tougher job than either of the others, and before it gave way a piece had broken from his lever.

It whs only a matter cf time and strength now. He ivould win. His prize was such a great one. Once lie paused to g in breath and listen.

Not ia sound broke the silence wh ch reigned within these prison walls. The ph.ee might have been uninhabited. ' ' i

Surely his! darling must have heard and recognised liis voice, and the knowledge that he was near would inspire* her to resist all efforts to carry her off.

Why had she not answered him? Why lipid she not made some signal in reply? Once more he seized the broken bar and wrenched at it as if his very life depended on his tearing it from its holdings. It was giving. He heard his muscles crack as he put the last remnants of his sorely-tried strength into his efforts. It was a. fierce struggle between the man and the metal, and the man won.

Without ianv warning the iron snapped at a point a foot above where it had joined the stone-work, leaving a new and formidable weapon in his hand. •

The wiay was open to him. With tiie piece of the bar he broke another pane next to the top of the

DONE IN THE DARK

By WILLIAM LE QUEUX, (Author of “The Man from Downing Street/’ “The Under Secre...i. .. 'tary,” etc, etc. . , ,

sash, making a large opening so that he could insert, h:s arm. without being cut .by the jagged edges, and release the catch. .

The next moment the window was raised, and he was making his way through. It was all he could do to pass between the bent bars, the space was very narrow. He had literally to wriggle and twist first to one side ana then to the other. He was halfway through, A supreme effort and the difficulty was overcome, and Tie stood within Scorley Farm. For a moment he stood erect recovering his breath, and then bent down to recover the weapon he had let fall in his . struggle, and as he did so Se felt a crushing blow on his head, a hoarse chuckle of ' demoniac laughtsr sounded in liis ears, and he knew no more.

In order to make th's strange narrative thoroughly clear, it wi.l be necessary to go back a little in' the matter of time.

The last visit of Venables to Harris had disturbed the latter more than he cared to show\ Harris was at heart an arrant coward, and the fear of discovery and punishment told heavily upon him. His nerves were shaken, and the least sound that was not open to immediate explanation caused him to tremble at ■ once and ignore his agreement with Scarfe. He recognised the stronger will of his old fellow-student, and felt that with him .working with him liS would have someone to rely upon and apply to in any difficulty, and moreover, in spite of what he had said, Venables—if the only managed matters properly—would be compelled to share in the responsibility which how so. crushingly oppressed’ him alone. For he recognised that under his present arrangement lie would never be able to lay any c.f this on Scarfe. Scarle bad him too tightly under his thumb. He dare not utter a word against him; if he did, he knew what the consequences would be, and shuddered at the thought of them. One thing he saw clearly, namely, at any moment he might have, to seek safety in flight, and lie made att preparations accordingly. His own belongings and those of h s sister which they had not immediate need of he had packed and taken to. London and deposited in one of the booking-offices, to be called for under another name. His own personal papers and immediate necessaries he kept with his stock of ready money in a small black bag, ready at hand. Thus mutters stood on the nicht of Guv’s visit to Scorley Farm. Harris had* been sitting in tlieir usual sit-ting-room talking to his sister, wl on lie beard the sound outside made by

Guy’s rapid descent of the tree. The door was open; he always sat with it so since Venables’ recent visit, in order the better to hear any sound from the front of the house. He started up, and ext'nguished the light, saying, “You heard that, Ada? What was it? Go and see. It’s something jn the garden. I’m going upstairs,” and the two left the room I hurriedly «. . , He found Linda, leaning a.gamst the window looking out. . “Mrs. Bingham! Mrs. Bingham! he exclaimed loudly, hurrying across the room and drawing her away. “What'are you thinking of? Remember your husband, please, if you have no thought for yourself. Don’t go near the window if you value your life!” As as he spoke he heard Guy’s exclamation, and, trembled lest his prisoner should have heard it, too. But she did not appear to have dene so, for she said: ‘ ‘What’s the matter? What has happened? Is anything wrong, Mr. Harris?” and her face was pole with

anxiety. . . T r “I can’t tell at present, but I fear there is,” and he extinguished the lamp. “You must not stay here. 1 fear someone has discovered hid-ing-place,” as the sound of Guys rushes against the door came up the staircase. “Follow me and beep Perfectly silent, and all will he right, and he led her from the room down into the kitchen, where he placed a chair for her. “Do not move. I will be back in-a moment.” (To be Continued.) r