The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-12

Quick FASH he answered: admit that there's
for curiosity Since willing to satisfy it.
tell whether digging relics whether
you making to busy secretsomethng of the
nature, for instance, of Maltese cross?'
AS he spoke, he his eyes the others face
the flush leaving pale thin well-cut lips
young down his spade stepped
OF the hole he had been digging which certainly did
sembe shallow grave.
so you are hep his next words, slowly and
thoughtfuiy uttered You he of the Maltese CROSSE?
Still the Of the The
was beginning-and for Breakspear least, in
peced fashion The temptation not to himself beyond
the pale of it grpped him He shrugged his shoulders II
know something of the Maltese cross he replied.
The other stopped and picked his coat which lay
the brown pile put brows
rownng his together controlled emotion
that the young man was striving to collect his faculties to
give himself time before making supreme effort But
after all, his next words were commonplace.
why have here long before the appointed
hour?'
SO it long the appointed Jim
posed I'VE right to answer by ques-
said temporizing why you long
fore the appointed hour?"
"a second question is not an answer was the sulen
reply, certainly
not French neither "since only wish
for that here them for that am here And
that have in her place.
Breakspears pulses bounded I'm her placer who was
the who had this Satans Tor? Was it
shethe the Lilies, mistress his thought
whom he could not Danish from them tho she the dugh
ter of coward villain who not gentleman
under all his faults?
@ her, asked, cautiously
mo, you It impossible for her
to But letter Here it IS Read it,
Now Jim could why the young had been in
haste to put his discarded coat From inner breast
pocket produced enveop
With how handed it Breakspear who
placed in difficulty.
If he refused to accept the letter. would
confession that not the whose mantle he had
acity assumed Whereupon the further of the
book just opening under his eyes would be instantly
closed to him. Yet it impossible that he should read
communication written by woman to another and
probably concerning which would
from stranger at all hazards.
gain time for decision he took the enveop, which
unaddressed turning began apparently to
examine the SEAL reality he scarcely the gauntleted
busily asking would avail him
thing to parley to that he begged for meeting with the
lady, whether would be better after ALL throw himself
clemency this handsome youth tell
whole the black pomanteau and the photo
thus explaining his in this lonely place But
the question to according to his
satisfaction 1and his remained fixed unseeingly
the seal Meanwhile, the hand of the other had stolen
again inside his coat the pocket where the letter had been
cautiously gong there, but it swift
light in coming So swift in that and in
other that Jim had only time to look from
the letter. attracted by the rapid lifting of Only
revolver aimed at his heart but
scarcely time spring aside and to defend himself be-
fore the firing Of a shot
He was struck in the left side, but felt pain
merely dealt him. striking him
himself, the other him like leopard
they struggling together breast to breast their
breath hot each others faces
cowardH' painted jim at that moment
surprised unnatural ring of his voice his
Of the throbbng spot in
side. Tho there still pain, only the half
throbbng there he knew that he had been shot and
that he rapidly losing blood which dubbed out
of his body in wrestling with the enemy.
Without treachery his would have been the advantage
between these for Jim taller,
doubtless in better training But there had been
carelessness the other
like with his life for his reckless trust in
stranger.
He felt grow weaker;
question of moments, perhaps seconds. Had he
young of uncommon strength he would have
staggering all but recovering himself
bullet and buried itself in his side;yet his
boosted strength ebbing sick gddiness
swimming in his head if the air
the ringing of bells and distant beating Of
before his yelling the fierce
young his in crimson network.
that he being forced slowly backward
the doing this special yet
changing bells the pounding drums confused his
that unable to what that
duly, almost mechanically fighting tho
failed; mingled with
past in tangled He thought that he in
Africa again. that he had been wounded in batte that
pressing close forlorn of