The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-24
HWait' she ala c1I1ata1

I'Walt!'' she eJaCulated. Il have just
remembered. Under this room there is
a cellar. Mr.. Truro showed the trap-door
to Michael before we came, and he showed
it to me. It's there, in that corner, con-
cealed by the carpet. What If we hid my
father down there, and told them, when
they broke in, that heswas gone-that they
might look for him in vain? It would
hardly occur to them to look for a trap
door, would it? We might save him so.''
you've just helped me to think of a
better way than that" exclaimed Break
spear. "Quick, both Of you get into the
next room, close the shutters and bar
them. Lock the door and barricade 1t, but
to. stay here and TIL keep one Of the re-
, Volvers.'.
Before she could protest, and beg, as
she longed to do, thattat least they should
all be together, Jim had almost pusphed
her into the adjoining room after her
father and closed the door. There was
such a look on his face that she dared
neither argue nor disobey. She owed 1t
to him now to show that she trusted him
g.. fully, and there was only one way In
which she could prove that.
Her father flung himself on the bed.
covering his face with his hands and
moaning like a wounded animal Maya
flew to the window, outside which she
could hear footsteps and voices, and as
noiselessly as possible brought the heavy
wooden shutters into place. The curtains
which were made to fit exactly into the
recess Of the window, did not interfere
with the closing Of the shutters, and they
had prevented her movements in the dim
lly-Hghted room from being spied upon
For a little time her father was SAFE But
how long? And meanwhile, what of
Breakspear?
Her heart beating SO loudly in her ears
as almost to shut out other sounds, she
leant against the locked door and listened.
; Outside there were more shots and loud
noises, finding a far-off echo from the
main part Of the house, Maya fancied.
Perhaps Miss Truro believed that the
lonely moorland farmstead had been at
tackled by burglars, and was shrieking for
the help that would not come. But the
girl did not believe that the danger
menacing her and hers was shared by her
landlady, and her thoughts did not dwell
long on the terrified Elizabeth. She de-
? sired eagerly to know what was going on
in the next room-what was Breakspear's
, plan, and what possible chance it had OF
| success.
At first she could detect no sound save
, the oninous ones outside; but suddenly
!, there came a loud noise like the slammine
:, of a door. Maya's heart leaped with fear
, then she said to herself: ut must be the
!. trap-door. He has lifted it and accident
!. ally let 1t fall again. Yet Breakspeal
I at moment like this, when keeping thu
head cool meant al the difference, per
. haps, between life and death.
l Hardly had the crash ceased to vtbrat'
{ in her ears when it was followed by
: great shivering Of glass. Then shouts
9 sounded more clearly. There was RIM
! Of triumph in the harsh voices now
Maya's quick wits told her that one Of tn
J, men must have got a hand thru the win
f dow and reached the lock at last. 1t wa
: but question Of seconds, and the gam
: would be swarrning into the next room
. 'They will murder us all three, and TAX
: the pearls too,'' the girl said to herself
$50 they will have revenge. and a forum
i as we'll. They've laid their plans wisely
= But he-have they killed him already
= that he does not fire a single shot In on
a defence?"
y In the next room there was a grea
: trampling Of feet The men had got tn
:. window open, and one after another the
. were jumping in. Only that one door be
= tween her father and death
I AS this thought flashed into her MIND
/ Maya turned from the door and went
:. the bed where lay the PROSTATE figure
> the gray dressing-gown. 1t was motion
: less now, turned upon its face, the whit
: hair shining on the pillow.
: Father the girl whispered, half unde
n her breath. "Father!'
There was no reply. He had fainte
g again, she thought, and perhaps 1t wa
II better So He would be saved the tor
ture of suspense-and the end would b
N no worse. aaf sSS
/ She ran lightly back to the door an
re bent her ear to the keyhole. They wer
ss talking together. There must be thre
lie or four men. She would have given muc
to hear what they were saying, but the
or consulted in low voices. and she coul
n not catch the words. Breakspears voic
n was not among the others. ALI SCENE
d. strange to her except one-one that we
or hatefully familiar. But Breakspear-he
he knight; where was he a.
= Suddenly there was an exclamation
l. creaking sound that Maya could not quit
: understand, rushing OF feet, then silenc,
+. save for whispering. The suspense wa
lbecoming well-nigh uncomfortable.