Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-06-20
At Swords Points;
OR.
A SOLDIER OF THE RHINE.
Bv ST. GEORGE RAThBORNE
Copyright, by SrR1sT / SMITH. York.


to the spies Within"
Paul was silent for he hardly knew
what to say.
You do not speak. monsieur-you
tacitly admit the charge-therefore
you must not protest il we lead you
back again to your prison."
The major knew, then, that he had
been in a dungeon-perhaps he was
also aware of his engagement with
Conrad.
Monsieur lie major. carry here the
freedom of the city, signed by the
commandant, Marshal Bazaine, whose
signature you know. l rely upon that
passport to take me where 1 please
within the city walls You have been
influenced by one who hates me to
make this arrest. But, NJ lie major,
stand upon my dignity as the guest of
the city of Metz, and l defy you to
arrest me. l warn you plainly that
| II you order one Of these men to place
hand on me you will be the first to
suffer. Because my life is in danger
from yonder woman l have been gen.
erously allowed to carry arms, a most
unusual thing in the case of a prison
er on parole. So you see | have here
revolver that contains six bullets.
more than enough to finish all those
should regret spelling the neat apart
ments of my mother, and depriving
you of what you evidently need. I
shall be under the painful necessity of
scattering your brains about this place
II you persist. l am willing to go to
the commandant and surrender my
self, but must object to becoming the
prisoner of one whom 1 know to be
as INSCRIPTIONS as yonder woman"
The sight Of Pauls revolver rather
staggered the major, who had, OF
course. not dreamed that a prisoner
on parole could properly be possessed
of SO dangerous a weapon
He backed to the door, opened it,
and bawled out an order for half a
dozen more men to come into the
apartment.
At the same time Paul managed to
say few words to his mother that
caused her to leave the room by an
other door-he had thought Of a for
lorn hope.
1t was a faint hope indeed upon
which Paul was obliged to lean. and
only the desperate condition of affairs
could account for him giving it any
credence whatever.
Heknew his gigantic bluff had failed
to work. except in SO far as the
majors quick demand for a larger
bodyguard went.
With nearly dozen soldiers to
OBEY his beck and call, he would only
make sure that his own precious car
cass was we'll out of range when the
word to advance and fall upon the two
men would be given.
All Rhinelander could do was to de-
lay this climax as long as possible.
and meanwhile pray in his heart that
some fair measure of success might
accompany his mothers mission.
One thing surprised Paul.
This concerned Karl.
The young German had appeared to
self.
Could it be that he was in measure
stupefied by the alarming conditions?
Paul thought not.
He had known the other for some
time, and felt sure he was not made
of such poor material that the pres
ence Of danger would deprive him of
his usual sterling good sense.
Was he indifferent?
He had much to live for. and even
the customary German phlegmatic
temperament could not account for a
young fellow with a sweetheart re-
signing himself to death so calmly.
There must he something back of it.
Perhaps he was watching his chance,
and when the old major and his
gual:!s were caught mapping he meant
to suddenly sI7anize into life, make
one mad spring through the door
which Paul's mother had left open
and, taking his chances with pursuing
bullets, attempt to escape.
At best it was hazardous game,
with the odds three to one against
him.
And yet, what of that-were not
they ten to one he would be hung OF
shot if he remained?
SO Paul was ready to see him fit
past into the blackness beyond the
door, and felt even in a condition to
give him his blessing and good wishes.
There was something about KarIs
GOODNESS. that warmed the cookies OF
his heart and gave him renewed con-
fidence for the young German soldier
had the confident appearance of
man who possessed faith.
At least there was not an atom of
that quality called fear about his COM
position.
So Paul devoted himself O the task,
which was one of the strangest in his
whole adventurous career, of SPELL
binding the enemy.
Seconds counted, and as to a min
ute, it was precious beyond words.
Perhaps the major might be little
more amenable to reason now that he
had things in his own hands.
The spell-binding began.
Paul crushed down his bona fide
feelings and bent his energies toward
cajoling the man who held their des-
tiny in the hollow of his hand.
To hear him talk one might have
been pardoned for entertaining a
grave suspicion that his ancestry, in
stead of dating back to old Holland or
Some Dutch country extended tn the
famous region OF Barney Castle.
For truly Rhinelander did himself
proud upon this occasion, when the in