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Even in his pain and rage and fear, Stern did not lose his wits Too great the peril, he subconsciously realized, for any false step now Despite the fact that the stone prison could measure no more than some ten feet in diaht exist, frightfully deep, for their destruction

And other dangers, too,hi effort, he stood thereto think Severe now the pain froer felt it Strange visions seemed to dance before his eyes, for weakness and fever were at work upon hih reat flame, the mysterious and monstrous jet of fire which seemed to form the center of this unknown, incoasped he "That fire--those skeletons--this black cell--what can they mean?" He found no answer in his bewildered brain Once more he called, "Beatrice! Beatrice!" but only the close echo of the prison replied

He listened, holding his breath in sickening fear Was there, in truth, so chasm in the cell, and had she, thrust rudely forward, been hurled down it? At the thought he set his jaith terrible eance on these inhu there with bound hands in the thick gloo sound, as of troubled breathing Again he called No answer Then he understood the truth And, unable to grope with his hands, he swung one foot slowly, gently, in the partial circu save the s shifted his position very cautiously and tried again, he experienced the great joy of feeling his sandaled foot coirl's prostrate body

Beside her on the floor he knelt He could not free his hands, but he could call to her and kiss her face And presently, even while the joy of this discovery was keen upon hie he felt, she ue words, and reached her hands up to him; she clasped him in her arms

And there in the close, fetid dark, iain, and once hted their love and deep fidelity until the end

"Hurt? Are you hurt?" he panted eagerly, as she sat up on the hard floor and with her hands s head