He felt her tense little fingers in the darkness searching for

his. Their hands were icy cold when the clasp came. Together they stood

in a niche of the wall near the chancel rail. It was dark and a cold

draft of air blew across their faces. He could not see, but there was

proof enough that she had opened the secret panel in the wall, and that

the damp, chill air came from the underground passage, which led to a

point outside the city walls.

"You go first," she whispered nervously. "I'm afraid. There is a lantern

on the steps and I have some matches. We'll light it as soon as--Oh,

what was that?"

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"Don't be frightened," he said. "I think it was a rat."

"Good gracious!" she gasped. "I wouldn't go in there for the world."

"Do you mean to say that you intended to do so?" he asked eagerly.

"Certainly. Someone has to return the key to the outer gate. Oh, I

suppose I'll have to go in. You'll keep them off, won't you?"

plaintively. He was smiling in the darkness, thinking what a dear,

whimsical thing she was.

"With my life," he said softly.

"They're ten times worse than lions," she announced.

"You must not forget that you return alone," he said triumphantly.

"But I'll have the lantern going full blast," she said, and then allowed

him to lead her into the narrow passageway. She closed the panel and

then felt about with her foot until it located the lantern. In a minute

they had a light. "Now, don't be afraid," she said encouragingly. He

laughed in pure delight; she misunderstood his mirth and was conscious

of a new and an almost unendurable pang. He was filled with exhilaration

over the prospect of escape! Somehow she felt an impulse to throw her

arms about him and drag him back into the chapel, in spite of the ghost

of the game-warden's daughter.

"What is to prevent me from taking you with me?" he said intensely, a

mighty longing in his breast. She laughed but drew back uneasily.

"And live unhappily ever afterward?" said she. "Oh, dear me! Isn't this

a funny proceeding? Just think of me, Beverly Calhoun, being mixed up

in schemes and plots and intrigues and all that. It seems like a great

big dream. And that reminds me: you will find a raincoat at the foot of

the steps. I couldn't get other clothes for you, so you'll have to wear

the uniform. There's a stiff hat of Mr. Lorry's also. You've no idea how

difficult it is for a girl to collect clothes for a man. There doesn't

seem to be any real excuse for it, you know. Goodness, it looks black

ahead there, doesn't it? I hate underground things. They're so damp and

all that. How far is it, do you suppose, to the door in the wall?" She

was chattering on, simply to keep up her courage and to make her fairest

show of composure.




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