San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-12-19

The steps were in the little yard, or
rather a sort of back area underneath
| the window. at may be only a con-
stable" he tried to say to himself; but
there is no installing the stabulary
tread, which is not fairy-like, or even
gentle, like that he heard.
A low whisper destroyed his last
| hope. In quite unpremeditative
manner he put out the gas and rolled
| under a leather divan which stood at
the end of the room. He wished now,
| with all his heart, that he had run
| away while he had the chance-but it
| was too late.
81 hope they'll do it with a revolver
| and not knife" he thought. ooh, my
poor Matilda! you little know what I'm
going through just now, and what'l be
going through me in another minute!"
A hoarse voice under the window
called out, "Tweddle!"
He lay still. None o that, yer
skulLzer; 1 know yer there" said the
voice again. "Do yer want to give me
the job o. coming in after yer?".
After all, Leander reflected, there was
the window and thick half-shutter be-
tween them. 1t might be best not to
came half out of his hiding place.
that you, Mr.. Braddle?" he quavered. Is
"Ah!" said the voice, atfirmatively;
ais this what you call being ready for
us? Why, the bloomin' winder amt
even undone!"
That's what I'm here for" said poor
Leander. as the-the other gentleman
out there, too?"
r,,tnl hI,SinnSS' NnI1'n
find something the Count give me to
bring yer; I've put it on Il window-sill
out ere. And you obey horder next
time, will yer?"
The footsteps were heard retreating.
Mr. Braddle was apparently going back
to fetch his captain. Leander let down
the shutter and opened the window; he
could not see, but he could feel a thick
rough bundle lying on the window sill.
He drew this in, slammed down the
window and ran up the shutter in a
second, before the two could have had
time to discover him.
"Now, " he thought, al will run for
it, " and he CROPPED his way out of the
dark saloon to the front shop, where he
paused and, taking match from his
! pocket, he struck a light: his parcel
| proved to be rough sack-cloth, on the
| outside of which paper was pinned.
Why did the Count write, when he
was coming in directly? Curiosity
made him linger even then to ascertain
| this. The paper contained a hasty
| scrawl in blue chalk: mot tonight, I"
he read, arrangements still incom-
| plete. Expect us tomorrow night with
out fail, and see that everything is pre-
pared. Cloth sent with this for pack
| ing goods. P laid up with profess
sional accident, and safe for n week or
two. You must have known this-why
not say so last night? No triaing, if
you value life!"
1t was reprieve-at the last moment!
He had n whole day before him for
flight, and he fully intended to fee this
time; those hours of suspense in the
saloon were too terrible to be gone
| through twice.
But as he was turning ont his CASH
box, and about to go upstairs and col
| lect few necessaries, he heard we'll
| known tread outside; he ran to the
door, which he unfastened with tremb'
ling hands, and the statue, with the
hood drawn closely round her strange
painted face, passed in without seeming
to heed his presence.
She had come back to him. VIM
To be Continued.