The St. Louis Republic., 1903-01-18
RICHARD HARDING DAVIS

ont Of this and back to the Palms?' hs
asked.
"No. IT'S too late This is the only way
now"
Hope opened the leather curtains and
looking out shook her head in,patiently al
Clay. Il wouldn't go now II there were an
other way she said. :" couldn't leave
her like this" ~.
You're delaying the game. Clay" cried
Langham. warningly. as he stuck the
| spurs into his pony's side.
The people In the diligence 1urched for
ward as the horses felt the lash of the whip
| and strained against the harness, and then
plunged ahead at gallop ON their long
race to the sea. As they sped through the
gardens. the stables and the trees hid them
from the sight Of those in the palace. and
the turf, upon which the driver had turned
the horses for greater safety, deadened the
sound Of their flight.
They found the gates OF the botanical gar
dens already open, and Clay. in the street
outside. beckoning them on. Without wait
ing for the others the two outriders gal
lope6 ahead to the first cross street. looked
up and down its length and then. In evident
concern at what they saw in the
distance. motioned the driver to
greater speed. and crossing the street, sig
nailed him to follow them. At the next
q,
throwing the bride to Langham, ran ahead
into the cross street on foot. and, after a
quick glance. pointed down its length away
from the heart of the city to the noun
tains.
The driver turned as Clay directed him,
and when tho man found that his face was
fairly set toward the goal, he lashed his
horses recklessly through the narrow street,
SO that the murmur Of tho mob behind them
grew perceptbly fainter at each leap for
ward.
The noise Of the galloping hoofs brought
women and children to the barred windows
Of the houses. but no men stepped into the
road to stop their progress, and those few
they met running In the direction OF the
palace hastened to get out OF the way. and
stood With their backs pressed against the
walls OF the narrow thoroughfare looking
latter them with wonder.
Even those who suspected their errand
were helpless to detain them, for. sooner
than they could raise the hue and cry or
formulate plan Of action, the carriage
had passed and was disappearing in the
distance. rocking from wheel to wheel like
bold as to start to follow stopped abrupt
ly when they saw the outriders draw rein
and turn In their saddles az though to
await their coming.
Clay's mind was torn with doubts. and
his nerves were drawn taut like the strings
VI a sAOhus 8CISOh0k uAuBcI CxHlldIdteu
him, but this chance Of harm to others
who were helpless, except for him. de-
pressed his spirit with anxiety. He expe-
rienced In his own mind all the nervous
fears Of thief who sees an ofacer in ev-
cry passing citizen, and At one moment he
warned the driver to move more circun-
specify. and 30 avert suspicion, and the
next urged him Into more desperate bursts
of speed. In his fancy every cross street
threatened an ambush. and as he cantered
now before and now behind the carriage, he
wished that he was q multitude of men
who could encompass 1t entirely and hide
1t.
But the solid streets soon gave way to
open places. and low mud cabins, where
the horses hoofs beat on q sun baked road.
and where the Inhabitants sat lazily before
the door in the fading light, with no knowl-
edge of the changes that the day had
wrought in the city, and. with only a mo-
ment's curious interest in the hooded car
riage, and the grim, white-faced foreigners
who guarded 1t.
Clay turned his pony into trot at Lang
hams side. His face was pale and drawn
capture grew less. the carriage slackened
its pace, and for some minutes the outriders
galloped on together side by side in silence
But the same thought was in the mind of
each, and when Langham spoke it was as
though he were continuing where he had
but just been interrupted.
He laid his hand gently on Claws arm.
He did not turn his face toward him, and
his eyes were still peering into the shadows
before them. ''Teil me?" he asked.
He was coming UP the stairs" Clay an
swered. He spoke in go low a voice that
Langham had to lean from his saddle to
hear him. They were close behind; but
when they saw her they stopped and re-
fused to go farther. called to him to come
away, but he would not understand They
Killed him before he really understood what
they meant to do He was dead almost be-
fore reached him. He died in my arms"
There was a long pause. II wonder if he
knows that?' Clay said
Lansham sat erect In the saddle again