The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-05-09

- Il IL uel SUI #IOOil SnOnG
through the transom. There was no
time to explain to Raymond. Know.
ing his violent and excitable nature,
aho remembering his disguise, which
Nc might forget if there was an alarm
below, she noiselessly turned the key
in his door and glided on to her room.
But Raymond had left his room imme-
dlately after handing William the note,
and was already approaching Frances
room below AS he passed the hall ell
trance, the door leading from the.
apartment into the garden opened and
husband and wife entered. With cry
OF amazement he rushed into the room,
drawing his sword as he entered.
"Who are you, sir?-why are you III
this room?" he asked, angrily. Somers
drew his sword instantly and con-
fronted him. Holbin had paused and
was staring wildly.
Richard Somers!"
Yes!" Somers gently put aside the
slender form which instantly inter-
posed between him and the man he had
sought. His eyes scanned the familiar
uniform of his old enemy in doubt.
'Speak out, sir!''
spare your voice, Raymond Holbin.
came with message for you. Louise
IS dying in my camp; I was unable to
resist her prayer. She implores you to
go to her to right her wrongs, for her
ch1ld's sake. Go, if you are man, and
can; let this marriage take place; do
something for the miserable woman
whom you have so deceived"
She was not killed, them"
She is dying!" said Somers, shocked
and sickened at the matter-of-fact
question. "Did you suppose that she
was dead?"
Yes. She insisted upon trying to
run the gantlet." A light dawned
upon Somers. A cry of horror escaped
him, and all the old enmity for the man
came rushing over him again.
You encouraged her! You knew she
was going to her death! You sent her
under "a false promise-her statement!
FRANCES, Frances, out of this room!
GOD has sent me to avenge Louise.
Mailman, murderer, we settle many
debts to-day" Blind, almost, with his
rage, Somers rushed upon his enemy
Their swords FLASHED as, facing each
other, the two men circled about the
room. Then Holbin's sword went
down. With incredible quickness he
avoided the thrust which was almost
part of the disarming blow, rushed to
the easement window, leaped into it,
and burst open the blinds. His hand
thrust in his bosom quickly reached
backward; pistol flashed. At this in
slant the sergeant rushed into the
room, saw the blue uniform escaping
through the window, and the extended
pistol. He leveled his gun and fired.
The man in the window reeled back and
plunged headlong into the room.
1T couldn't be helped. captain" said
the soldier, lowering his weapon. "Once
outside he would have given US long
chase. Did he hit you?" Well might
he ask the question. Capt. Somers was
deathly pale as he looked upon the body
of his foe
''No,' he said, utterly at loss to un-
derstand the situation. Frances, in
the moment of the tragedy, ree]ed
against the wall, sick and faint, but the
instinct of woman whose loved one is
in danger instantly rallied her to her
senses. She was the first to realize the
full significance of the soldiers action.
"You have saved our lives,' she said,
weakly; ''any reward you may claim is
Her hospital experience and familiar
ity with tragedies had served her we'll.
But the strain was fearful. and she COW
cred her eyes again.
Brief as was the respite for Somers,
it was sufficient. Passing his arm
around her, he urged her out of the
room.
Three minutes - keep every body
out for three minutes, and am safe,'
he whispered. White as ghost. but
brave, she took her stand at the foot
of the stair and waited.
Somers returned and bent above the
figure of his enemy his mind at work
The reference by Louise to the dis
patches, the blue uniform, the horse
tied in the yard, the hour, and the
character of the man aroused a multi
tude of suspicious. From the pocket
he drew a sealed packet and folded
paper, the latter pass through the
lines. There was no time for an ex-
animation of the package; the soldier,
leaning upon his gun, was waiting.
Promotion for Somers was in sight;
but he had entered the room with an
avowal that he could not disregard.
"Sergeant," he said, take this to the
war departm ent; it will bring you pro-
motion, I think. The honor is yours"
But, captain, it was you who really
did the work. Were you after him %
EYES," said Somers, slowly, II was
looking for the man and had reason to
suppose that he was on these premises.
l came in to find him. He evidently en-
tered this room incorporation! Go
at once, sergeant, and send an am
bulance. What family lives here?" He
asked the question in support of his
character as a stranger.