The San Francisco call., 1903-12-13

teeth that 1t was rat-catcNerS S WOrk- anu
no soldiers, this killing of vermin, and
bidding his men make haste.
CHAPTER l..
HOW RICHARD COVERDALE'S S DEB
WAS PAID.
For some breathiess moments after we
three were left alone in the Styglan n
darkness OF the wine cellar no WORD was
spoken. The rolling of the thunder drum
was muffied now, as II were booming out
the dirge of the man who had dlgged
pit and had fallen therein, and the light
ming flashes coming at longer intervals
served but TO intensity the gloom they
lit up for the instant.
1t was a minced oath from Richard
that first broke the spell that bound us.
Twas too much for Madge," said he.
"she has tainted Swing the door and
light another candle"
l did both as quickly as might be. and
we bedded her on the floor, stripping our
coats to soften the stone Tagging for her
and trying by all the means known to
two unskilled soldier leeches TO bring
her to.
laved her face with that and with wine
as well, without effect, we were all dis
mayed, l do assure you. For all our
efforts she lay as one dead, and neither
of US could be cold enough to pry her
lips apart to play the drenching doctor
with the wine.
''Lord." cIIed Dick, the sweat standing
out upon his face in great drops; this
is terrible What shall we do?"
Jeanne will know what to do 1 as
serted. we must get her out of this
and up to her chamber"
Richard started to his feet and stopped
to gather the dear body Of her In his
arms. But in the act he paused and
Strengthened himself to look fixedly at
do you take her, Jack; she is-she is
your wife"
are her own true lover, and could she
choose her bearer"
a murrain on your finickingsw he
burst out "She may die while we are
haggling over the right to help her.
Take her up quick, man, and begoneH
But bethink you, Dick" l urged, III
you are taken. you have one chance In
ten of faring as an officer and a prisoner
of war. For me it's spy's death as
swift as they can drag me to it."
& No" you ,od VIII tbes Kn0w wo my Sber eea coud
twist a cord of such mean fiber to bind
them closer together. Richards eyes
flashed and his lip curled
Overlook it in me, If you can, he
said, with fine scorn. II had not thought
upon the peril of it," And with that he
took her in his arms she had
the door for him. But on the threshold
he gave me back my sorry little sub
terfuge. "Once more. your forgiveness
Jack. 1 knew well you were but lying
to give me precedence. Can you trust
me with herr?
Aye, dear lad; now and ever" said I:
and so 1 pushed him out and closed the
made shift TO lead the horses
through the narrow passage and out
by a rear door, giving them friendly
slap to point them toward the stables.
l know not how long it was tnat |
paced a weary sentry beat up and
down the narrow limits of the wine
cellar, alone with such thoughts as go
TO make the sum of that despair which
follows hard upon the heels of some
climaxing catastrophe. But l do know
INar TDn1 11,
shod. slow fever of impatience came
to dry the blood in my veins; % make
me hunger and thirst for leave to say
the final word to Father Matthieu, and
so to be set at liberty to find the bot
tom of the pit into which mocking
fate had plunged me.
Since I had led forth the good horses
the great oaken door had stood ajar.
So ] wondered why my visitor made
so much ado rafting the key in the
lock Then it came to me suddenly that
the noise and delay were meant to
give me timely warning; and at the
scent of threatening peril-a peril [
might cope with and grapple soldierwise
u became a man again. sweep of
my hat sent the sputtering candle flying
from it's barrel head TO the farther corner
of the vault and / dropped quickly be-
hind row of empty wine-butts to await
what should befall.
Had she been a ghost Mistress Mar
gerry would scarce have startled me more
when she swung the door to let me see
her. She was gowned In her best; there
was a heightened color in her cheek;
her eyes were like stars. Truly. ! do
think 1 never saw her so beautiful as
she appeared at that moment, standing
under the massive arch of the doorway
with her candle held high to light the
inner gloom.
This way. Scipio," she said, trip
ping ahead of the mulatto to point out
the Madeira bin. We shall give my
lord and his gentlemen the best the
Appleby.. cellar holds TO speed their
parting. Wherewith she stood aside
to wait while he filled his basket with
the straw-cased bottles.
At this l saw why she had come.
Lord CORVALLIS and his gentlemen were
about to take the road and the wine
was wanted for the stirrup cup. Trust
ing my fate to no hand less loyal than
her own, she had come herself with
Scipio to stand betwixt me and possible
discovery. And her word to the serv-
ing man was also word to me to let
me know my prisonment was near an
end
1 thought it most generous thing
in her; the last of all her many wifely
loyalties; and / would have given much
for leave to stand forth and tell her
poised his basket upon his head and
vanished, and she was lingering to take
a last look around before she followed
him. / was upon the point of speaking
But while l hesitated l saw her
start back with a little cry of terror
Standing in the arched doorway through
a man cloaked HATED. booted and spur
red as for the road. At her cry he
doffed his hat and
My dears. 1 shall never be able to
draw for you the hideous death-mask
the man was wearing for a face. Scanned
and SCARED, shriveled and livid in pur-
pie and crimson welts, you would think
a nine-thronged whip of fire had
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