Part 28 (1/2)
”I am acting for your good.”
To Oscar the woman explained after they had entered the house that she had her brother deceived on a false ”steer,” but she added: ”You know it is to save him.”
”Oh, certainly.”
Oscar was led down the stairs, led to the bas.e.m.e.nt and then to the cellar. A lantern was produced and a door was disclosed, showing that an excavation had been made and a room built under the yard of the house.
All the arrangements were very cunningly made. When the door was opened our hero hesitated and the woman asked:
”What is the matter?”
In a tone of fearfulness Oscar said:
”I have been betrayed.”
”Betrayed?” repeated the woman.
”Yes.”
”By whom?”
”_You_.”
The woman laughed and said:
”But I thought you were a man of courage. Go on; I will go with you.”
Oscar delayed a moment, making some remark, until he heard a signal--a very tiny signal, but it was big and loud in its suggestions to him. He stepped into the pa.s.sage and a moment later a second door opened. The secret room was disclosed and at least a dozen masked men who had been seated at a long table arose. At the instant, as our hero recoiled, the cold muzzles of two revolvers were placed on either cheek and a voice said:
”Go ahead; you can't back out now.”
It was a supreme moment of peril. Our hero had friends at hand, but alas! ere his friends could announce themselves the deed of horror might have been perpetrated. It was indeed a critical moment, but Oscar was cool. He stepped forward and was pushed toward a seat, and the men gathered at the table. All sat down also.
There followed a moment's silence. Oscar looked around. Near him stood the siren who had allured him into the den, and her whole expression of countenance had changed. She looked like a beautiful fiend as her eyes gleamed with delight and the red glow of triumph flushed her features.
She was proud. She had promised to deliver the detective into the hands of his intending a.s.sa.s.sins, and she had made good her word.
”So you have betrayed me,” said Oscar.
”Yes,” answered the woman, ”I have betrayed you.”
”The story about your brother was a lie.”
”All these gentlemen are my brothers.”
”And what now, woman?”
”You have just five minutes to live. You were set to destroy us; we will destroy you.”
”Poor creature,” said Oscar in a tone of deep commiseration.
The woman glared, for there was a terrible significance in his tones, and she shouted:
”Down him and make sure.”
Alas! the arrangements fortunately were run on seconds, not minutes, or our hero would have been a dead man. As the woman shouted ”Down him!”
there came a second, voice, stern and commanding:
”Hold! don't let a man move or every soul of you dies.”