The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 147: what you’re looking at

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

THE GOLD DELUGE. | 147 With one wild leap Szemsky sprang on him. A short, sharp struggle followed, then feeble resistance and faint moaning—the chloroform had done its work. ‘The keeper tried faintly to tear the sponge from his nose— it seenied for a moment as though he would succeed, but suddenly, strong giant though he was, he sank back helpless. Szemsky caught him and care- fully laid him at full length on the dark side of the corridor floor. He pressed the sponge over the fellow’s nose and signaled to Hrik to proceed. 3 Suddenly both were startled by a sound. The keeper whom Erik had stupefied began singing a lively, ribald song, from the London streets. Louder and louder his voice rose on the still night air, awakening the crazy inmates one by one. Very soon he was accompanied by a chorus of crazy voices until pandemonium reigned. Erik was the first to regain his courage, and explained in a whisper to Szemsky that it was not unusual for people in such a stupor to begin singing. The stupefied keeper sang louder and louder each moment. From one tune he went to another, until it seemed aS though the full program of a low class music hall was to be rendered. At last! They had reached the storeroom. Once inside, Erik bolted the door, which luckily they had found open. Day began dawning, and they could indistinctly see objects about them. There, before them, was the trap door. Szemsky lifted the cover with all his strength. ‘Thank God! It was not bolted. Time was precious. ‘The drunken keeper and his chorus of lunatics still howled madly and must soon attract the night guard. Szemsky was the first to descend into the well or dark opening. rik was just about following him, when Szemsky clambered back hastily, all out of breath, and panted excitedly : ‘“Back! ‘The keeper of the gateway is not there! We cannot open the door ourselves ; we must get back to our cells quickly, before we are discov- ered! ‘They must not know that we ever left.’ In desperation both sat there pondering over a means of escape. Szemsky stared before him vacantly in mute despair. Soon their captors would be upon them and then—they would be walled in alive ! Erik looked about him, dazed and bewildered. What was to be done? Helplessly he glanced at the objects around him—nothing but. sacks, cases, carboys of acid for the drug department and several iron cylinders containing fluid carbonic acid. Absent mindedly he gazed at the labels on the various casks and bales, when suddenly he sprang to his feet. ‘““Szemsky !’’ he cried, roughly shaking his comrade by the shoulder, ‘“T have it !—we will burst the gate open with a blast !”’ ‘“ Burst? Blast?’’ Szemsky repeated mechanically. ; “Yes |!—Quick !’’ Erik now commanded. ‘‘ Here—glycerin—there—is a carboy of nitric acid ; we will make enough nitroglycerin to blow in the whole place ! ”’ ‘‘ Nitroglycerin !’’ Szemsky ejaculated, and shuddered. ‘“Empty this jar on the floor !’? Erik continued nervously. ‘‘ It is ‘only distilled water. Here is nitric acid and there glycerin and phosphoric acid. )3) Comiclaool< (S@)