The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-24
The Secret Of the Maltese Cross.

ne secret OF the mditeSe SToSS'
"Wont you let me stay?" he entreated.
"No; please co. she said, quickly.
"Thank you again, and good night. You
need rest. I will come to the door Of the
house with you, for, Of course, it is al
ways kept locked"
Already she was moving towards the
door, as if anxious that he should be gone,
and there was nothing for Breakspear to
do save submit, feeling as he did so that
her belief in him was now but half
hearted. ..-.-
Standing in the dimly- Lighted corridor,
outside Paradise, he heard the turning of
the key and the pushing home Of the two
bolts which fastened the heavy door be-
| tween the main house and the North
Wing. Now the barrier was complete; but
Breakspear had no intention Of passing
| the night in his own room. He could not
bear to think Of the young girl left alone
| to care for her father in a situation SO
| isolated. If the invalid should be worse,
and help were needed, Maya could not
make anybody hear by calling. She would
have to leave her father and come out of
the North Wing before she could hope to
bring any one to her assistance.
Breakspear went quickly upstairs,
stripped his bed of It's pillows and a pair
of blankets and returned again to make
an impromptu couch for himself just out
side the locked door which communicated
with the wing. If the night went quietly
Maya need never know that he had been
| there. a-. Ii.
He wrapped himself in one Of the ban-
kets and lay down on the other, with two
small pillows under his head. 1t was g
more comfortable bed than he had had ii
his late soldering experiences in South
Africa, but he had no inclination for sleep
The house was very still, save for thu
occasional scampering of rat in the ole
walls. 1t was difficult to know how time
passed, for the moments were slow, mas
querading as hours. 1t seemed to jim
that half the night must have gone, AM
a slight drowsiness was lulling his senses
when suddenly came the sharp sound o
slipping bolts close to his ears, and in al
instant he was sitting upright.
Before he could get to his feet, how
ever, the door burst violently open, ligh
steramed into his eyes, and Maya's tigur
was framed in the lighted doorway.
With one glance she took in the fac
that Breakspear had constituted himsel
her bodyguard. She had been doubtin
him while he lay STRETCHED on the floor
ignoring his own pain and WEAKNESS TO
her sake. Remorse for her lack of fait
and JOY that she might welcome it bac
into her heart again, contented in he
breast, but only her eyes told what sh
felt. Her lips had other things to say
ana CHSy IuuSI NC Sdlu Ill IldSl6
II was going to call YOU" she exclaimed
Thank heaven you are here. I have ter
rible need of the help you offered. Com
with me quickly and let us lock the doc
again"
In an instant Jim had crossed tn
threshold, and without stopping for ques
lions he shot the bolts into place an
, turned the key.
, "Listen!' whispered the girl. do 70
hear that?"
+ AS she spoke there came a tapping a
] the closed window behind the thick dar
curtain and a voice that was like tn
/ moaning of the night wind cried strang
word which Breakspear could not under
; stand. At the same moment he becam
!, aware that they two were not alone
' the room. Standing before an old-fast
toned desk, the top of which had bee
) opened, was Maya's father in his Ion
gray dressing gown.
Never had Breakspear seen such abjec
: sickly terror on the face Of a human be
4 ding. The mans eyes stared unseeingly
his skin was ashy white and shone wit
, moisture. From the open desk he ha
I lust taken a revolver and was holding
! ! in a. hand that shook as if with palsy.
Breakspear knew now what he ha