The Holly chieftain., 1900-07-06
CHAPTER vi.


CHAPTER vi.
In the moonlight his mocking, dark
face had look upon 1t that seemed
to Bluebells eyes as malevolent and
wicked as that OF any fiend could be.
He was looking straight up at the win
dow.
There is no necessity for undeceiv-
ing your daughter. Mr.. Leslie" he
said; but. you see, there's absolutely
no use In resistance-all is known now.
II you don't surrender yourself AS
prisoner 1t will be worse for yourself.
The commando have orders to shoot
you II you resist"
A shrek broke from Miss Eliza
beths lips behind Bluebell; but the
girl uttered neither word nor cry as
her Mortified eyes, looking dark and
large In the midst Of her CHASTITY white
face. strained themselves to catch q
glance from her father. He gave her
none. His own face was contorted
and convulsed with some terrible emo
tion. the veins In his forehead were
swelling to bursting. For a moment
or two he could not speak, though his
lips twitched convulsively.
Then suddenly his voice broke from
MIN. low and hoarse-a voice that
made Bluebell shudder.
You traitori" he said, and his tone
was terrible to hear. 30 that even the
Boer leader shrank away . little,
glancing at Moore doubtingly. II see
your game now! You urged me TO
give Information, and then you your
self turned and informed on me! You
are q Judas IscaEjot! And l would
have sold my child into your hands
for gold! May God Almighty forgive
me! Ny"
The words we're strangled in his
throat. He made wild movement, as
II he would have leaped out Of the
window upon Moore; then sudden,
strange convulsion shook him from
head to foot. and he fell back against
Bluebell. rolled from her grasp, and,
falling to the floor. lay there, after
one or two convulsive motions, per-
fectly still.
Miss Elizabeth gave another cry,
and moving forward, bent over him.
He lay on his side. his face still a
deep. almost purple, red in hue, his
eyes half open but glazed and unsee-
ing. his Jaw dropped. Bluebell, strick-
en- dumb and motionless, stood beside
him. unable to make any attempt to
raise him from the ground. Meantime
rapid consultation was going on be-
tween the leader of the commando and
Gerald Moore.
You can set fire to the house and
do as you like with the old mani" said
Moore. savagely. II have something
else to do. The girl is my property
and claim her."
DO as you like" replied the young
leader coldly. He eyed Moore with
cold contempt. Notwithstanding the
use that they had made OF Moore, his
was not character which COM
mended itself to the Boer leaders, who
knew more about him than did most
Englishmen. Il have nothing to do
with any dirty private work. My duty
Is to take Adam Leslie. dead or alive,
and mean to confne myself to that"
In few minutes the word of COM
mand had been given to the COM
mando who proceeded to break down
the door. and also to force their way
into the house by means Of the glass
door Of bedroom which opened onto
the stoop. The women upstairs heard
the noise. and Miss Elisabeth uttered
q terrified exclamation, while the
frightened servants howled and
shrieked In concert.
II shall 60 to them and demand
their right to force themselves into
any ones house like this!" said Blue
bell, suddenly starting a. II from
horrible dream. Before Miss Eliza
beth could prevent her she had moved
from the room and out to the head Of
the stairs.
All was dark below, only she could
ses that the outer door had been
opsasA. and . flood Of moonlight