The St. Louis Republic., 1900-11-18

that moment. OF course should not con-
sent to hide myself away from danger. in
which course according to Lady Marina
duke. lay my only hope Of safety. Nor
could expect to escape the patrcon's wrath
in any other way. The members of the
Red Bana were not above the secret blow
under cover of the night, and I might fall
at any moment. Perhaps. after all. 1t was
really safer for me to go boldly into the
midst of my enemies than to let them come
at ME from Il distance. Yet hesitated
"'Are you afraid flashed Lady Marina
duke in scornful anger.
Had been afraid, madam, had never
hesitated. replied.
What really troubled and made It
hard for me to decide was not the danger
nor even doubt Of my success. On the
contrary, ! hesitated over point OF honor.
l knew very well tha, the Earl would not
approve of this. Could /? l had never.
save on the night before played the part
of n spy, and my own name was the last
thing in the world l should be ashamed to
own. 1 could tight; but no-I could never
be capable of this kind of work. Then I
glanced at Lady Marnaduke. There were
tears in her eyes. and I knew she must be
thinking of her husband. Could I desert
her now: l had sworr to be her man. Was
1t homes; and Just to turn away from her In
the critical moment-the first time she had
desired my help? My mind was swaying
in the opposite direction when the thought
of what Ruth would have said ciritched my
wave,ing mind back to the side of truth
and honor.
Lady Marmaduke must have seen all this
passing In my mind or shadowed In my
face. II was time for her to put her firm
hand upon me and force me the way shp
would have me- go. whether / would or not.
1t was to my brute passions she appealed.
not to my reason.
When 1 had entered the room ten min
! utes beGore she WAS writing letters. and the
e1nd!e she used to soften her wax with was
still burning upon the table. She took
step toward me. and as she did so l no.
ttced the candle flame wave delicately to
one side.
Z" Michael she said, putting her hand
upon my shoulder. you hesitate and am
ashamed OF you Her hand moved along
nay shoulder till her fingers played upon my
| neck. I said that saw no mark upon her
tody. What If there were prints u..on her
reckT At this instant her iron lngcrs
closed on my throat with g grip that made
me cry out;
Hush. fool she said iercely. relaxing
her grip I am not going 20 choke you,' bur
her throat was delicate and you know how
It feels Then her manner changed. She
spoke quickly and locked toward the can
die. He said he branded her. Perhaps he
! Gid. 1t was night when 1 looked at her
body. One cannot see plain by night. Per-
laps, he did after all. Did you ever see a
| person branded? Smell. Michael, smell
"She thrust her left hand into the candle
| aome.
"'For Gods sake I cried, trying to
| snatch her hand away
stop she replied, in her terrible deep
voice. AT the same moment she caught my
rescu,ng hand and held It as in q wise.
! Smell This Is what It is like to be
branded
"a spell seemed to take hold OF me. 1
had no power to move. bat stood still
watching her finger scorch In the tall fame
| Once 1 saw II trernble, but she bit her lip
and grew steady again. The flesh began to
shriyel and then-my God! I caught that
horrible stencil of burning flesh.
'Stop!' I shrieked.
"'oh. Ruth. Ruth. how pity you in your
pasU, my MISTRESS, WHO 1elQ on, en-
| during that bitter agony to make me sue
| cunb to her will. a-
! Then the sickentng smell came. again
| stronger than ever. s--,.s 20.
| Ruth. Ruth. RUTH The bloodhound!
Stop. I'll 60. I'll go. Oh. my God. my God.
| my God"
Il threw Up my hands with cry of hcr-
| ror and shut my eyes upon the terrible sug-
| gestion OF that cruel sight. Lady Marina
| duke bent close to me and spoke in my ear
: Methinks I can hear her scream III
agony. God. how she must have suffered9
| "My mistress told me afterwards that I
groaned and reeled backward. should
have fallen had she not caught me by the
arm. In moment the passion spent itself
F.! and I was sane once more. But tho temp
| tauon Of that smell had prevailed against
the promptings OF my conscience. de-
termined to run the risk. My life. IL It must
bel Yes. my life. but his too!
$50 resolved to join the Red band"
! To the service Of the PATRON he went
/ The PATRON had a lovely daughter, as
sweet and pure as he was STEPPED in sin,