Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-27
XXI.
The Tower Chamber.

I No sooner had the laird Of Castle
Cover and his satellite betsken themselves
out, than Kate sprang to her feet with
swift, tigerish energy.
Come, sister," she said, in a low hushed
whisper, 'quick-let us get away. They
have come to take baby from me. l saw
1t in their eyes all the time. Why
else did Rupert's father bring the doctor
to help him? They want to steal my boy
away! Perhaps to kill him-at least TO
take him way where l shall never see him
again"
And she proceeded to roll up her work
and make a bundle OF several things which
the baby might require. as il she would
leave the house Immediately.
l lad, therefore, to get her away into
her own room, where I impressed upon her
how impossible It would be for us to leave
the island in broad daylight with three
men all on the lookout, carrying a baby,
and the available boats all locked in the
boathouse.
Kate listened without speaking. She
seemed to be taking in what l said. but
l perceived a strange lack-luster deafness
In her eyes.
81 must go to him." / heard her whisper
more than once, 'he will surely protect his
O"h 4 I Il hlb AaNhO VIM a 10 nm VIZ
to this. He is good-he is kind-he loves
mel"
l did not hear all this at one time, but
in snatches as / went to and from, con-
irving work to keep me near my sister.
But all her excitement OF the afternoon
paled before what was to m when about
4 o'clock in the afternoon Hamish entered
by the great door In evident haste. He
went into the back parts to see old Jonet
and there unseen and. OF course, unheard
by US, conversed in signs with his dumb
wife. 1t was not long before the two OF
them came up to our room-the little bed
room with the window upon the sea, which
/ had chosen for myself when first we came.
Then HamIsh without any preliminary in
formed us that TIA gentlemen would not be
erossin' In the boat that NIGHT, but would
be stoppin' over till the mornin'."
Accordingly he desired Kate and myself
to change into the pair Of communicating
rooms which gave upon the court yard,
while. as he said, him and Jonet would
max up shak-doons for to gentlemen" In
my little ehamber
1t seemed a thing natural enough, for
1t was late, the wind was rising and there
was every prospect Of a storm.
But who was to convince our frightened
Kate Of that? She leaped up at the word.
Mono" she cried, Il will not leave
this room, l will not go into the other
chambers. / will not be parted from
my boy. Let them go into the front rooms
If they like. We wiz all three stay here
together. See, there is a lock upon the
door. Fairlie, you and / will lock our
selves in. l will sit up all night. They
want to take my darling from me. But
they shall not-no. they shall mott"
/ had to quiet her as best / could. at the
same time explaining TO Hamish that the
gentlemen could have the other two rooms
but that Kate and l would remain where
we were.
"As ye like, men," said Hamish.
There's nae objections that ken O. why
ye shouldna sleep in the meat safe gin ye
want to. Dell bite me. but there's nae
end TO weeman's vagaries!"
Hamish went out, and the moment he
was gone Kate threw herself upon the door,
locked and barred II, and began to drag a
heavy chest OF drawers into place across Il.
I assured her that there was no danger.
and succeeded for the time being In per-
suading her TO restore the chest OF drawers