The Washington times., 1903-04-19
CHAPTER Xiv.
THE STOLEN CHLORATE.

AT the end of an hour the dwarf re-
turned.
The chlorate OF potassium is at the
bottom of the crater of Rheticus. he
said Those villains took IT in sacks
and threw it down the opening of the
well that supplies US with afr. 7 have
found it all in a heap underneath the
well I opened the crater. and after
q thorough examination. closed it again.
Can it be possible that you have
not made a mistake. Kaddour?" cried
Norbert. scarcely daring to believe the
good news.
Here is the proof. continued the
dwarf. taking ont Of his pocket a hand
full of chlorate Of potassium. which he
laid on the table
There was no gainsayiDg the fact now.
After warm congratulations on his dis
eovery. they took counsel together con-
criminals.
What is your opinion, doctor?" ask
ed Norbert. What ought to be done
with these wretches, under the circum
stances?'
1T is an atrocious crime, said the
doctor. and on board ship it would be
visited most certainly with death. II is
perhaps. rather more heinous, under ex-
isting circumstances. am not man
Of violence, and it is very much against
the grain to have to utter such YER
worst"
And what do you say, Sir B'sep-
haIus?"
There cannot be two opinions about
it." peremptoriIy replied the baronet-
These villains are permanent source
Of danger Fraud and treachery are
their favorite weapons. and ii IS useless
, to expect either gratitude or repentance
from them. vote for their death"
And you. Kaddour?"
Death is TOO good for them-that is
all I have to say"
And you, virgiI2"
Indeed. sir" said the brave Algerian
4 have seen many a poor wretch of
soldier shot for not a quarter OF what
these villains have done"
What do you say?"
Death"
/ Norbert was silent and thoughtful. He
was perhaps about TO tndorse the YER
diet of his companions, when Gertrude
her work-some cloth slippers she was
/ Iembroidering in spare moments for her
dear father.
+ Pardon me-" she said 7 am afraid
/ I am disturbing you You all look like
/ Iconspirators. sitting round the table"
+ The agitating crisis Of affairs had
/ been kept secret from her Not one of
the five judges could shake of his stern
mood sufficiently so as 10 answer her
back as lightly as she spoke Gertrude
was slightly afronted at this uuaccus-
/ toned want of courtesy
Il shall go. she said Il can see
| that I am not wanted"
She disappeared Bur she left behind
her. as il were. the gentle dew of
mercy" and Norbert could not resist its
influence.
1T is too horrible to think of put
/ ting these men to death when she is by,
be thought Then aloud. My dear
/ friends. there is one difficulty (Which has
/ perhaps also occurred to youl in the
way of executing summary justice on
/ these criminals We stand in the posi-
tion of being al the same time both
/ judges and prosecutors in the case I
| cannot but own for my part that we
have the strongest personal interest in
their death, inasmuch as II would lessen
/ the consumption OF oxygen, and eonse-
/ quently increase the amount of our
I breathing gas.
1t appears to me that this is sudl-
cient TO render our sentence invalid. 1t
is true that these men have deserved
death but that does not give US the
right to be their executioners. I propose.
therefore. TO grant them a respite. and
take them before an impartial tribunal
on earth"
The doctor. the baronet, and Virgil