The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-31

clined to suspect possible danger. take
better care of them"
Her voice ceased and she stood close
before rle. her eyes blazing into mine.
Il have seen you somewhere-some-
time" she added, slowly. You will
be true either to ourselves or to our
enemies. For your own sake. let 1t be
the fOrmer."
She took out my pistols from a
drawer in the table near which she was
standing. and half held tIsm towards
me. when suddenly there pealed
through the room the long, shrill quiv-
ering of an electric bell. Madam drew
back-a revolver in either hand. We
stood In silence. staring into each 9TH
er's eyes. She raised her right hand
slowly until the weapon covered my
face.
IF you have been false" she said,
"if you have dared to speak, your own
bullet shall repay yOu."
l bowed a silent answer. The revol-
yer followed the bending of my head,
down and up. The bell pealed again
this time in two short, quick rings
with a distinct pause between. One
of the men let fall an oath. The other
breathed sigh of relief. Madam low
cred her weapon and turned to my late
guide.
"I'nfasten the door" she said. "It
Is one of MS. PerhaDs a messenger
from the same source. with the letters
at last. There was no one to expect
though. but this stranger. What
She changed her speech to the strange
tongue she had used previously. for the
moment speaking earnestly to her CON-
panions. All four stood, listening In
silence. Presently the door opened
and Jackson with his yellow hands
pushed a slender, girl-like figure into
the room. The ssmall gloved hand
which trembled slightly, went twice
across her darkly veiled face. The
signal was quickly answered, and the
four Jackson Included, collected in q
little group about the new conner. leav-
ing me for the moment forgotten and
anart
"Why are YOU here?" one of the men
began. abruptly.
.Throuch no wish Of my oNn," the
yir, renlied Madam brought one OF
INV nistols corelessly into position, and
Che shrank hack Again the laughter
rinp,ad lightly from madam's lips.
lyon ave n coward still, Always o
COWARD and the child of a coward.
sbe said Now. once more, why are
.., or Inn"o"
,rho OWL made m effort TO control her.
s.is ~ have message." she replied
.Do,;var ~ :" madam impatiently de.
ndnS
so,,, througb ber veil which she
,,aa not raised that she glanced timid
~, a, NV direct;on before replying.
'..It i' 10 th;s =" She said: "You are tc
tr,st no one who comes tonight. o,
on,. rinht os n,assenger. hut bring.
INC M 5,assage"
had Thought nv danger over, ant
bara n was-~iust begun, I saw MADAM
,,,rn SLOWLY toward. me and as slowl,
tata o;,n v,,th INV own weapon. | saw
tna three wen Jackson with his yellow
hands outstratched start towards m,
With soorce oatbs unOn their lips.
heard tho cirI who had warned then
a .ainst mo to cry ont for fear of mercy
~ COW, har with n frantic effort throw
harseif q ~ainst madam's white arm
Tben os the hitting snap of the pisto
ran~ throngh tbe n,ace covered tn,
sn,cs which Law between myself ant
.t,a aoor With violent effor
,,,rorohsd a. omen and before MADAM
nn,,II "at second aim or the other,
;,,tnrfora nod ya,ned the massage an,
short relief
Tho ,amns which Jackson had lef
imam tho table were still burning. $,
thot could dimlv see INV way. l
saon,ed to me as afterward though
Of A. that claa rcd the stairs at n singh
bn,,nd and that INV hand touched tn
i,noh of the street door at the same mo
n,ent thar INV late companions issue,
from the room above The door re
sisted nv efforts TO omen IT. and I saw
that II had been barred and bolted
long before 7 could undo the fasten
inrs nv four assaiIants would hay
reached me. had sense enough t.
know they would not stop at murde