The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-24

| him, the unhappy wretch, driven by the
sickeniDg terror at his heart, resolved K
sell his life dearly.
| Like a wild beast be leaped upon the lad
! springlng 30 high in bis tigerishness that he
all but reached his throat. He fastened in,
stead with his claw-like hands upon his
chest, and strained every nerve TO dash him
| 10 the ground.
But the lad, slight as he was. jerked him
self forward, at the same time pressing
with all his weight on his antagonist.
shoulders, so that the hunchback fell to the
| ground. But in a moment was up again
and ready once more for the attack.
Though as resolute in his defense OF the
door as ever, the lad felt that he could not
| gain hope for so easy a victory. He looked
hastily round for help, Royal and his part.
ner were fully occupied In fastening broad
iron bar across the inside shutters of the
window.
The lad realized that he must meet the
second attack alone, and bis heart turned
| sick within him. not with fear, but for the
| certain CONSEQUENCES % his failure to her
whom he would have died to rescue.
The crooked figure was almost upon him
again when his eye lighted on pistol which
lay &C hand on the mantelpiece.
Recalling his hosts advice, and with nc
! thought but TO use it as a threat, the lad
leveled it warningly at the dwarf
But-there was a sharp report-a cry
and the hunchback fell with dull thud to
| the floor.
Another cry burst from the lads lips, as,
realizing what he had done, he stood like
one turned to stone, the weapon fallen from
his nerveless hand, his eyes fixed helpingly
upon the misshapen body at his feet.
In that moment the heavy load Of mnr-
der was fastened upon his young soul.
1t was but a moment.
The cry which had escaped him broke of
suddenly.
| He had another enemy.
A second time foe spranR on him, and
dealt him a reeling blow, which, in an in-
slant, blotted out all light, sound, and feel
| ing.
1t was not the hunchcack.
His last glimpse of consciousness revealed
to him the deformed body lying motionless
where it had fallen.
But par OF eyes. from which conscious.
ness was only gone for an instant, saw that
it was Royal who had struck the blow.
1t was scarcely full moment that suf-
| feed for his work, but in that moment
| Royals real enemy took his advantage.
Obvious in his fear for his life of the
blood which was flowing freely from a
wound IN his arm, the hunchback raised
| himself once more on his feet, and with O
doggish perseverance,, dragged himself up
| by the handle Of the inner room door.
But quick as he was, his enemy was
quicker. Royal, more by instinct than by
| sight, became aware of the new danger,
The dull thud the lads senseless figure
fell to the ground followed by a second re-
port from the pistol and a horrible gasping
moan.
Not dozen seconds had passed since the
four men had stood upright in the room,
and now two alone remained 80, the other
two lay stretched on the floor. motionless.
! The huuchback had fallen almost on the
same spot as when first he had been struck
down-a yard or 30 from the threshold OF
the room he had fought 70 gaia.
| Royal had stood with his back to this
door and thus had only been dimly aware
of presence which, at the moment he had
turned upon the hunohback, had appeared
as it we're behind him. Not 80 tue Rat. He
saw that there was a spectator to the terri
BILE scene. The door had opened, and in the
doorway was fgure-the figure OF a girl,
her hand to her eyes as If dazzled by the
sudden light.
He sprang forward snatched up Royals
| dark cloak, and in an instant had flung il
over the girls head.
She struggled wildly, crying for help In
stihed tones,
Royal, with an oath, lifted again the pis-
toll he had used, and leVeled it at the half
| hidden figure
| But he did not fire.
The girls captor, forcing her on her knees,
| hastily interposed his own b dY as a shield
"What will you DOR he whispered in q
hoarse voice.
| Dol" replied Royal IA scream from
her and we are done for.n
"You will kill here" the Rat asked
hoarsely "kill her as you have killed him.'
And he made gesture toward the pros
trate hunchback, whose coarse shirt was now
slowly becoming soaked with blood Jus
above the heart.
Fool! She has seen all-she must bt
silenced Pm not afraid to do it."
."Swear her to secrecy-Un peril of her
life. She will promise.n
"And once free will betray us-all tha
she has scent l tell you. There's too much
at stake now for US to hang back
| This whispered dialogue, on which tht
girls very life depended, took place al
| quickly as the rest of the strong chain o.
events which followed the failure of tht
hunchbacks trap.
| Unable to deny the truth of his par ner'
horrible fear, the elder man made as IL hG
would resign the captive to him. when al
idea flashed across him.
| There is another way-better-safer
Let her Iive-this"- he drew from hi.
pocket the little phial be had shown Roya
that morning-'this will put it out of her
power to betraY us. She has seen only; she
has not heard us speak"
Royal hesitated a moment, then realizing
that there was enough TO hide already
quickly made up his mind.
do it, then. But be quick" For thu
girl was writhing in h'r terror, ard crying
every moment louder for help. He stiheC
her screams with the folds of the cloak
Then, in voice utterly unlike his own, ht
whispered fiercely:
"At peril of your life, move or speak
You have seen crime. and you are in oul
power. You shall die unless you swear b.
this"-Rnd snatching up a GROSS which hung
at her side, he pressed it to her lips abov
the cloak-''sw by the cross never to be
tray, in word or deed, what has passed here
to-nightm
The girl had ceased her struggles, and LAY
still in her captor's arms. He Withdrew
his hands from the cloak, and she faltereC
with q sob:
81 cannot swear to hide so terrible
thing"
81 shall take the blame. not you" Thel
he added. sternly: Swear, or l must xii
you. Feel this pistol is ready" And ht
pressed the muzzle against her breast.
The girl struggled more wildly than ever
but his grasp only hurt her more, and tn
chill OF the muzzle against her heart froz
the very blood in her veins, her efforts I,
do right melting like wax before the shud
dering terror of death.
"Ah don't kill mel 1 will do as yol
wish. God forgive mel l caunot und'
/ -, I