The Red Cloud chief., 1902-04-11
CHATTER MIL.
Just Before the Explosion.

uOulCtu arrival VI OH No'i wynn Wv
scene gave the major still another set
back.
II seemed as though he were fatcd
never to get those words Of command
beyond the portals Of his lips.
And he knew Sir Noel, too, knew
that the foreign surgeon a In high
favor with the co~mmandant. even as
he had been with Marshal MacMahon
before the latter's state Of health com
PEELED him to relinqulsh the command
10 n successor.
What business had this Englishman
here anyhow-no M had invited him.
and II was q II Of his affair that tn"
military authorities of the French
stronghold on the Moselle chose to
make an arrest.
Was Sir Noel alone?
Paul could not hear the expected
swish of garments such rs might be-
tray the coming OF those who repre-
sented the gentler sex; but this was
not to be wondered at in the least.
since the German guns kept up a pref
ty constant growing away off beyond
the forts, and the explosion OF shells
grew more and more frequent in the
streets, occasloning considerable ex-
element among the crowds.
At the same time some intuitivc
sense told him she was coming, this
girl in whom his whole soul was
wrapped mp.
Hildegarde did not understand fully
what message the white-faced nun
brought Sir Noel In the hospital, but
she caught n name. Paul's. and under
stood that he was I'm danger of his
life, and had sent for the bluff. Oblig-
ing Bnglishman tn come TO the rescue
without delay.
When she saw him start forth per-
haps she feared, poor girl, that the
nan she loved had been manned by
Dne OF the exploding bombs and lay
npon the street with shattered limbs,
his life passing away.
Indeed, at such a time ii was easy
enough to imagine anything In the
way OF horrors.
Unable to withstand the eager desire
TO be of some assistance To Paul in
his hour of need. she bad started after
Them.
Nothing had as yet occurred to
change her Ideas as to what had hap
poned.
So that when she reached the open
doorway aud glancing into the lighted
room with eyes filled with expectations
of seeing horrors. the first object upon
which they rested was Paul, standing
there apparently in a fair state Of
health. the shock to her nerves was
severe indeed.
Doubtless the presence of the sol
diers would explain the situation clear
ly enough. especially when she saw
the bellicose attitude of the major.
Sir Noel had partly lost his breath
In his dash from the hospital and the
succeeding hasty climb of Il flight of
stairs. Doubtless he managed TO gather
enough breath to address the major
and ask what 1t all meant, and the
gentlemanly character of his request
again touched the major in his weak
spot. politencss.
He begged to assure monsieur that
he was only present in the discharge
of his duty, having received informa-
ton of the most positive kind that
the etage was shelter for "A nest OF
German spies, who had long been send
sun Inflammation no m thn xvnnlnnps
OF the brave defenders of Metz in the
line of Notwithstanding these trait,
orous reports by some secret under,
ground wire or the use of carrier
pigeons trained for the purpose.
"Of course, they will have n hear
ing?"
The major cast IA furtive glance a
the One Who Must BE Obeyed. and tn,
quick signal which the countess mad
gave him his clue,
Certainly. monsieur. In the morn
Ing. IL they are able, they shall appea
before the military drum head court
convened for just such purposes a
this by our commander, and the trutI
will either liberate OF send them to Oh
Court OF Execution
Paul noted that there was a claus
In his declaration, which somehow h
could not avoid emphasizing, a claus
of considerable Importance, since h
believed the majors design was tha
they should never live ia reach tn
prison.
"Sir Noel. step this way, please" h
said.
1t was at this critical juncture this
n movement at the doorway drew III
attention of the countess, and she b,
came aware for the first time of Hid,
garde's presence.
The sight sent the hot blood leapin
in bounds through her veins-nothin
must be allowed to stand in the wa
now-the presence OF this Germa
beauty who had won what she ha
sued in vain to possess, was a premon
ton OF coming disaster. unless 81
could push the major into the breac'