The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-10


his hand No words were needed to re-
veal their purpose to the startled and
terrified women.
Madge was too frightened to speak, and
shrinking back to the farthest corner OF
the room, she covered her face with her
hands to shut out tho dreadful sight
But zeenut pluckily threw herself In
front of the rufllans, checking them for
the moment, and with rude, passionate
cloquence she begged for mercy for her
mistress.
Spare the mem-sahibl" she cried.
'She has done you no wrong-go, and
leave her in peace Do not take her
Innocent life!''
'Begonc!'' snarled Raghavn. 'Out Of
the way, woman tell you we have
tho Kings warrant for the deed. Is not
that enough?"
ut means nothlng Who is king now.
when the end hath come and the gates
of Delhi are open to the conquerors?
You shall not"
''1t Is Gods Will. Zcenut; you but waste
your breath on these wicked men," in.
tcrrupted Madge. a transformation had
come over her, and she no longer covered
helplessly against the wall. Pale to the
lips, but with a straight. fearless bear
ing, with a light of heroic courage in her
eyes. as If heaven had sent her n ray of
comfort, she confronted her executioners.
IF you are here to kill, strike quicklyl'
she said. PUT an end to my misery!
Your fate is In your own hands
ping towards tho girl and leering horri-
bly, 81 her. There Is yet n means Of
escape 1t is not too late, unless you
persist In your madness. Repent. prom
Use to be mine, and will spare your
At that moment, with a tremendous
crash, a she'll burst close by in the gar
den. The explosion frightened Raghnya
and increased his wrath against Ieenut.
who continued to plead for mercy while
she held him at bay. With sudden fury
hc plunged his sword into her bosom. and
she fell Quivering and bleeding at his
feet.
'she brought It on herselfI'' he cried.
"And now to finish tho mem sahib!'
The ruthless murder Of her faithful
attendant before her very eyes and the
horror inspired by tho deviish words
ana hideous smile OF Joel Spanish proved
too much for the brave girls fortitude.
Life on such conditions, was more to be
dreaded than death. With piercing
scream she reeled and dropped across the
bed. Raghavn leapt towards her with up
lifted blade, but was instantly seized and
fercely:
leave her to me. must have the.
mem-sahib's answer!"
"Unhand mel" snarled Raghava. as he
struggled to FREQ himself. Fool that
you are, to hope that she can ever be
yours. Remember the kings command"
On the quarrelng voices fell loud.
ringing shout. Madge heard 1t and sat
up staring breathlessly towards the oat-
err ROOM and for an instant she hesitatcd
to use tho tiny dagger, the trrsty friend
in need, which she had drawn unseen
from her heaving bosom. 1t was well
that she did so. for q trucr and better
friend was at hand. There was second
shout, a rush of pattering feet, and Lieu
tenant Fame stood on the Threshold of the
bed-chamber. III, 5yio+s ~
'In, time-thank God!'' he cried.
Jack. save mel" broke from the girls
She had Immediately recognized her
loyer-penetrated his disguise; nor was
Joel Spanish less quick of perception and
understanding. Tho sight of his former
master, against whom he cherished more
than one bitter grudge. threw him into
blind fury. With yell of triumph he
sprang at tho young officer from one side.
while Raghava leaped at him from the
other.
) The odds were heavy, but the thought
OF the stake he was fighting for kept
Jacks head cool and his hand firm,
which meant no small advantage. lie
drew back slightly and at the first blow
he disarmed Joel Spanish and sent his
sword spinning over tho floor. Then.
wheeling around In time, he became hot
ly engaged with the second antagonist.
For an. instant they struck and PARTED,
while the steel clashed and the sparks
flew. Madge, crouching In the rear Of
the room, was held fascinated by the
spectacle
"pie. infidel dog!" screamed Raghava,
as he made furious lunge
Unluckily for him, his foot slipped
lust then on the marble floor, and be-
fore he could recover himself the Eng
lishman's tulwar broke through his
guard and cut with tremendous force
into the neshy part of his neck. nearly
gsevcring his head from his shoulders.
The blood literally spouted from the
wound, and he went down like felled
OK, pitching across the body of Zeenut.
your turn next, traitors"
Jack shouted the words vengefully.
with a fiery ring OF excitement and pas
sion. He made a dash for the renegade
fusilier, who had just then reached and
picked up his sword--in so brief a time
had Paghava met his death. But the
blow that disarmed Spanish had sprained
his right wrist-it was numb and next
TO useless-and he had other reasons as
well for Sinking contest at close quar-
tiers with the cold steel.
He jerked huge brass pistol from his
belt with the left hand and fred point
crashed like matchbox and vomited a
white cloud, The shot missed. though
Jack felt the ball sing by his car. and
charging through the smoke he found no
target for his blade but the bare wall,
lie heard a venomous threat and curse,
and caught glimpse of the batiied scoun-
drel darting across the outer room.
"Jack!"
The sound of his own name checked
the young officers impulse to pursue
and the next instant he had clasped
Madge in his arms, was straining her to
his breast and kissing her moist lips and
tenr-stained cheeks.
"My darling!' he said hoarsely "Thank
God! This moment is worth all that
have suffered!.
"Heaven was merciful to send you, to
let mo see you once more" the girl
whispered. clinging more tightly to her
lover I'VE will die together, Jack--don't
permit them to separate vs."
"'Die? With the British .bugles ringing
in our ears? No; we will escape! We
must"