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"Coht through the middle of the crypt and to a sort of tunnel-like vault at the far end This they entered quickly and al quest

In front of theh white star had been smeared Directly below it a kind of alcove or recess appeared, lined with shelves of concrete What its original purpose may have been it would be hard to say; perhaps it e-place for the cathedral archives

But now the explorers saas partly filled with pile on pile of curiously crinkled parchment not protected in any way froht, however, stood a ly of sheet-lead

"Sorowled Stern; "but why they left their records open to the air, blest if I can see!"

He raised the torch and flared the light along the shelves, and then he understood For here, there, copper nails glinted dully, lying in dust that once upon a tiize to them," Stern exclaione to pieces long since Dry-rot, you know Well, let's see what condition the parchments are in!"

She held the torch while he tried to raise one, but it broke at the slightest touch Again he assayed, and a third time Same result

"Great Scott!" he ejaculated, nonplused "See e're up against, will you? We've found 'e aechoed heavily through the crypt Despite herself, the girl shuddered The eerie depths, the gloom, the skeletons had all conspired to shake her nerves

"What's that?" she whispered, gripping Allan by the aret at these--"

"It was sorew suddenly silent

"By Jove--it sounded like--the door--"

"The door? Oh, Allan, quick!"

A sudden, irresistible fear fingered at the strings of the in to lift Then he sth of will

"Don't be absurd, Beatrice," he ed to say "It couldn't be, of course There's no one here It--"

But already she was out of the alcove With the torch held high in air, she stood there peering ide eyes down the long blackness of the crypt, striving to pierce the dark