The Red Cloud chief., 1896-12-18
The Great Hesper.
UN FRANZ BNEhtTr.
CHAPTER IN.

intended having my hfc-to re-.
move the possibility. ii possibility
existed. of being identified Us the
thief 10y me.
Ne set about his work with devil
fsh circumspcction heard tho
metal rings clink tt, hc took up the
fallen curtain from the ,lpor ard
folded it,, and the bed crcakod H. he
got upon IL. As he approached from
behind, he stnadicd himself hy SGT
ting one hand upon my shoulder.
then he laid the fold 1t curtain over
my other shoulder. and hi, buny
knucklrs touched IN Ghost a. lac ar
ranged the stun oycr my breast |
knew what that meant: il was to
prevent tho h%otraying blood from
squirting up his arm.
In the pause that followed, | fam.
cicd he must I've turning up his
sleeve, as II butcher does who has IA
beast To slaughter.
y thousand thoughts whirlCd in
M mind IN that brief space: hut "A
great came upou me as fnlt his
hand firmly grasp my left shoulder.
for then | realized that | was on the
very brink # eternity.
\ feeling Of regret for the i'll use
had made of many days-for the
los, of Edith, and the world which
she had filled with JOY aud hope; u
deep and tender wish for her happi-
ness, and the welfare OF the compan.
ions who had toilcd with me to win
the licspcr, took the place of terror.
and it was with something like rcsig
nation that awaited death.
A. he gra,pcd my left shoulder. |
felo him lean over my right, and the
next moment he stabbed me
lie had not used sufficient force.
for the knife point stuck in one Of
the ribs under my left breast and
went no further.
He pulled the knife out and tried
again. but this time the blade scarce.
~ puncturcd my skin
Then seeing that the thickness Of
the doubled curtain was too great an
impeachment, he unfoldcd and rear.
ranged it. passing his hand over ms
breast and pressing his fingers here
Wv tItl' w dSNNIlalu Wu'lIitT lt
had got it right for his purpose. 1t
was then that. my nature revolving
against this barbarous refinement of
cruelty, ! prayed like Samson for
strength, and made one more effort
to break my bonds.
The twisted sheets and firm knots
J withstood the strain, but the effort
saved my life. Tho calculating vii
lain knew that ! must exhaust my
strength in II few minutes, ana would
not risk breaking his knife or get
ting III lrcd with my blood as |
writhcd.
And presently my force gave out,
and all hope leaving me ! ceased to
struggle. and vas calious To his
touch, when he once more touched
my shoulder.
But in that moment of dread ST.
%lencc, when his knife must have
been raised To strike the final blow.
the dOor-handle turned. and | felt
his grasp relax nay, his fingers
trcmblcd "a they lay on my shoulder.
There was an interval of a minute.
and the door-handlc turned again:
then II voice that | recognized ~
Lola's spoke in II low one outside.
Are you there you" A mo.
ment's pause, and she added, you
amt sick, are YOU
She had come to my door and
heard me wtithing against the post
What would the rascal do now?
His hand still tremblcd. 1t gave me
courage. for it showed that he
feared discovery, and | knew that he
would not risk his own neck for the
mere pleasure Of killing M. lput
out my strength again, making tho
bcd-post snap under my strain,
''Shall | sing out" Lola asked, q
little louder and with an accent OF
alarm.
The hand slipped from my shoulder
ana down my arm as the villain
stepped from the bed. His position
was getting more perilous, II Lola
''sung out" there would be little
chance of his making off with the
diamond.
] had looscned the towel that
bound my head and gagged me, !
wriggled about f%uriously, worked tho
fold out of my mouth. and got my
chin above it, breathing freely for
the first time since | had been tied
up. AT the same moment heard
the key turn in the door, and ] know
that the murderer intended to let
Lola IN and silence her.
Take care, take care" ] shouted,
as loudly as the towel that still Gov
cred my face would permit
Another wriggle. and | felt that
the upper part Of my face was un.
covered. Moreover. | distinguished
a long gray patch before me. The
curtain Of the oriel had been drawn
back the light hal sensibly increased
during the time occupied b. the
events ! have narrated,
] almost fancied ! saw the sill
Aouette OF a mans figure against the