Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-01-02


veriest extremity Of fear a scream
burst from his lips and pealed down
the empty passages and across the
courtyard.
A hand was planted on his mouth.
"No noise," said n fierce voice, and
bayonet point danced before his eyes.
"Where does the lieutenant sleepp
demanded the same voice imperiously,
and the hand was removed.
"My God! muttered the bound
wretch as he recognized the colonel.
"How in the name of all the DEVILS
"silence!',, said Preobeslas sharply.
Answer only my question"
"Here--beside me-in the next
room" stammered the fear stricken
poltroon. But you are not going to-
Going to murder him? No, my arch
scoundrel," said the colonel, with furi
Gus sarcasm, though no doubt that's
the course which would lend itself to
your approval" And he turned away,
with a gesture Of disgust, toward the
door that led into the next room.
Before he reached it it opened. A
yOluS StoOu Dtlolt
with unutterable amazement. Then
like flash the meaning of the situa-
tion broke upon him. The door slam
med resoundingly, and the bolt could
be heard shooting home.
"Down with itw bawled Desmond
savagely. Don't let him escape.
He'll get word to Osbrog and bring
the cavalry upon u.s." And he dung
himself upon the door, hammering at
1t thunderously. Half dozen Eng
lish fists smote beside him, and with
crash the door shot from its hinges
and gave crashingly into the room be-
yond. 1t was empty, but through
another open doorway long passage
showed and they caught the futter of
a white shirt down the distant corner.
With yell like wolves they bayed
upon the fugitivo's track and reached
the top of a staircase as a door slam
med at the top. Up they rushed and
smote 1t to matchwood with their rifle
butts. Again the room was empty, but
the easement open. Ii gave upon the
leads, and they jostled each other
eagerly in the narrow opening to gain
the roof. For an instant they stood be-
wildered. Then from the river below
sounded a splash. Down the leads
they ran to where lower roof stretch
ed ten feet below that they We're on.
Swimming across the stream was their
man, snatching his way through the
current with long, desperate strokes,
straining for the shore which was but
ten yards distant.
Half dozen bullets spattered about
him. One alone found mark, and
that but struck finger. Before any
one could reload he scrambled to his
feet and shook his fist with n yell of
defiance to the furious faces that lined
the parapet, Then. barefoot and naked
but for his shirt. he raced for the pad
lock, where, tethered to pegs, n dozen
horses grazed. Hastily knotting
head rope into halter, he slip
ped the bars and led pony out. He
leaped upon its back, smote his hardest
with bare heels upon its sides and with
one last yell of derislon swept down
the forest glades and away into the
green depths of pine.
cad" soliloquized Desmond. "It's
an Internal nuisance, his getting
awayr
"a nusance" said the colonel quiet
ly. ITS ruin. In an hour the squad
ron from Osbrog will be upon us"
well, then" said Desmond hopeful
ly lets make bolt for it at once.
Please God, Stefan's settled the
yachts crew."
A shot rang out from the forest. fol-
lowed by Il woman's cry. Desmond