“Who is there?” he called, holding his lantern high. “Answer or I’ll shoot!”
Penny did not doubt that the man would carry out his threat. Her hand closed on a stone which lay on a ledge directly behind her.
“Don’t shoot,” she said, exposing herself to view.
“So it’s you again!” hissed Highland. “I might have known!”
Penny let fly the stone. It struck the lantern. The light went out and oil and flame splattered over the stone floor.
Knowing it was her only chance to escape, Penny made a wild dash up the stairs. But she could not climb swiftly enough.
Jay Highland pounded hard after her. As she neared the top of the circular steps, he seized her arm and pulled her backwards.
Penny fought like a tiger to free herself. Together they stumbled and rolled down the wide stones to the floor of the crypt. There the man pressed his revolver hard into the girl’s ribs, and she knew the game was up.
“Get in there!” he said, giving her a hard push. “This time you’ll stay!”
As Penny reeled backwards into a wall, she heard the door of the crypt close and lock. With despair she realized that she too was a prisoner in the chamber of the dead.