Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 54: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

_—_-_--~--------- - -- - es - 0}\| U === =fifjijt]j j= == i= ee comicbook ROSE MORTIMER. — The count, however, heeded not his prayers and entreaties. He waved his hand, and two of the men approached the victim and raised him to his feet. He, however, would not or could not stand. His knees gave way under him, and he sank seemingly helpless to the ground. Then they raised him again and dragged him towards the mouth of the pit. As he approached its brink his face turned toa livid colour. Great beads of perspiration burst out upon his fore- head. His teeth chattered horribly, and he moaned dis- mally like some animal in great pain. When he had come to the opening, though, and could see down into the black- and yawning chasm below, his terror and agony reached their climax. Summoning all his strength, he sprang to his feet, and wrested himself from the grasp of the men who had been holding him. But his hands and arms were bound, and tue could do nothing to save himself from the fearful fate in store for him. Very soon again he was in their grasp. Then they once more dragged him forward. He plunged, and kicked, and screamed, but they passed a rope around his body and knotted it tightly. Then they raised him in their arms and poised him over the trap. By this time he had shrieked himself hoarse. voice was scarcely louder than a whisper. But his face was fearful to contemplate, such bitter agony did it express. He had to deal, though, with men of iron hearts, and they paid no attention to the terrors of the shiver- ing wretch. Balancing him for a moment, they hurled him sud- denly forward. His body foll with a heavy thud upon a revolving water-wheel below. An instant afterwards there was a hideous crushing sound, and then another and another, and then the same splashing bumping noise which previously was audible. ‘¢ Close the trap,’’ said the count. He was obeyed. ‘f Look to the other prisoner.”’ They crowded round Edgar Deville, who had slip- ped from his chair and lay in a swoon upon the floor. They raised him and carried him baek to the tempo- rary bed that had been made for him with the aid of a few old ragged blankets, and here he lay white and motionless like a corpse. His Several hours passed away. The band had betaken themselves to their several orgies in the banqueting room below—all save an old man, who had volunteered to sit by the fire and watch the sick captive. Edgar slumbered fitfully, and frightful dreams haunted his restless couch. The old man, weary of his long vigil, and sleepy with the hot fire, began to nod in the chimney corner. A profound silence reigned in the upper part of the house, in the workrooms, and the chambers adjoin- ing, and the distant portion of the apartment in which Edgar lay on his bed was filled with heaped-up Shadows, grim and ghastly. From out the pitchy darkness a form came stealthily—a cloaked figure, creeping, creeping, with noiseless tread, upon the slumbering watch. Poor wretch, he dreamed not of his danger. smiled in his sleep and mumbled softly to himself. The dark figure crept closer still. Its upraised hand clutched a-knife. The old man in his sleep moved his position and He the figure sprang quickly back. Then waited and watched in an awful silence. Not the faintest sound was to be heard, except the shivering of the cinders as they seemed to shudder upon the hearth, And now he slept again, and once more the phantom stole upon him. Once more the knife was raised in the air. This time it fell with deadly purpose. The old man half rose from*his seat, uttering an inarticulate cry, then came down heavily upon his face and lay a corpse upon the hearth. The figure stooped over him hastily, and laid a hand upon his shoulder. “‘ Dead!”’ said a woman’s voice, in a low hisaing whisper. ‘* Now for the other.” As she spoke she crept towards Edgar Deville, and, kneeling by his side, shook him again and again. "The sick man languidly opened his eyes and stared at her unmeaningly. ‘6 Wake up! Wake up!” she whispered. ‘© What is it ?”’ “¢ Escape.’’ ‘“< Escape ?” ‘““Yes. There is not a moment to be lost. come now we can get away unobserved.” “Get away ?’’ repeated Edgar. ‘‘ How? We shall be caught, and then—Ah ! the trap. Where have they put him ?” ‘Don’t stay talking here of traps, you fool,” said the woman, angrily. ‘‘Are you mad? I offer you liberty. Will you accept it ?”’ ** Yes, yes.” He struge sled to his feet as he spoke. He was weak and giddy, and clung to the objects around to steady himself. ff What is the matter?” asked the woman. along.” She did not seem to know he was wounded, or to notice the linen bandage on his head. ‘“* Are you ready ?”’ she asked, presently. “Yes, yes.’’ “Come, tlen. Hold my hand.” He did as she bade him, and, with a tremendous effort, collected something of his lost strength and steadied himself. . Then he followed her. She led him along through the workroom, down a passage, and another, and another, by a flight of gtd and out into a courty ard. He was still giddy and bewildered and like one in a dream. She led him through a neglected garden and across a shrubbery, through a gap in the hedge, und out into a lane beyond. / There there was a cab waiting. She told him to get inside and he obeyed mechani- cally. Then she followed, and in silence they drove away. He might have fallen asleep or swooned upon the road. At any rate he took no notice of the course the vehicle pursued, and only aroused himself at last when the cab stopped in front of a small cottage, standing by a road side, and having a broad open marsh land in its rear. ‘* We will get out here,”’ said the woman. Edgar obeyed. “* Now follow me.” She entered the cottage. ‘* Now you can lie down on that bed for a time and rest yourself. You won’t be wanted till the day after to-morrow. Be ready then.” ** For what ?” , ** You will learn when the time comes.” » - If you “Come