The St. Louis Republic., 1903-01-18
Soldiers of FORTUNE.
CHAPTER xrI-coNT1NuEp.

CHAPTER xu-CONT1NUED.
The movement was final, l,forthernen below.
freed from the reproach Of his eyes, flung
MP their carbines and fired. some wildly,
without placing their guns at rest, and 9TH
4 efs steadily and aiming straight at his
- heart.
J AZ the volley rang out and the smoke
drifted up the great staircase, tho subai-
his body sank into itself and toppled back
ward. and, like tired child falling to
sleep, the defeated soldier OF fortune
dropped back into the outstretched arms Of
his friend
Clay lifted him upon his knee and
crushed him closer against his breast with
one arm while he tore with his free hand
at the stock about the throat and pushed
his fingers In between the buttons OF the
tunic. They came forth again wet and col
ored crimson
"stuartr' Clay gasped. Stuart, speak to
me. look at mer' He shook the body in his
arms with fierce roughness. peering into
the face that rested on his shoulder as
though he could command the eyes back
again to light and life. Don't leave met
he said. For Gods sake, old man, don't
leave men'
But the head on his shoulder only sank
the closer and the body stiffened In his
arms. Clay raised his eyes and saw the
,soldiers still standing, irresolute and ap-
= palled at what they had done and awe
them.
Clay gave a cry as terrible as the cry of
a woman who has seen her child mangled
before her eyes, and lowering the body
quickly to the steps. he ran at the scatter
ing mass below him. AS he came they fed
down the corridor. shrieking and calling to
their friends to throw open the gates and
begging them to admit the mob. When they
reached the outer porch they turned, en-
>couraged by the touch of numbers. and
Ha1T 1T~Af E,nn
them. -
Clay stopped, with a look in his eyes
which no one who knew them had ever
seen there, and smiled with pleasure in
knowing himself master in what he
had to do. And at each report OF
stumbled and pitched heavily forward on
his face. Then he turned and walked
slowly back SIP the hall to the stairway like
a man moving in his sleep. He neither saw
nor heard the bullets that bit spitefully at
the walls about him and ratified among the
glass pendants of the great chandeliers
above his head. When he came to the step
on which the body lay he stopped and
picked it up gently, and holding 1t across
his breast, STROBE on up the stairs. Mac
Williams and Langham were coming toward
him.. and saw the helpless figure :n his
arms. ...
What is it?' they cried: is he wounded.
is he hurt?'
He is dead" Clay answered. passing on
with his burden. Get Hope away"
Mime. Alvarez stood with the girls arms
about her, her eyes closed and her figure
trembling.
Let me be,' she moaned Don't touch
me; let me die. My God. what have to
live for now?" She shook OF Hopes sup
porting arm. and stood before them. all her
former courage gone. trembling and shiv-
ering I'm agony. Il do not care what they
do TO me!' she cried. She tore her lace
mantilla from her shoulders and threw it
on the floor. Il shall not leave this place.
He IL dead. Why should 60? He is dead.
They have murdered him; he is dead"
she is fainting" said Hope. Her voice
was strained and hard. To her brother she
seemed to have grown suddenly much older.
and he looked to her to tell him what to do.
Take hold of her." she said. "She will
fall" The woman sank back into the arms
Of the men. trembling and moaning feebiy.
Now carry her TO the carriage" said Hope.
s'Sbe has tainted: 1t Is better; she does not
know what has happened"
CLAY. still bearing the body In his arms,
pushed open the first door that stood. ajar
before him with his foot. 1t opened into
the great banqueting hall Of the palace. but
he could not choose. He had to consider
now the safety OF the living. whose lives
were still In jeopardy.
was laid with places for many xeopIe, for
II had been prepared for the President and
the Presidents guests, who we're to have
toined with him in celebrating the success
full conclusion Of the review. From outside
the Hght OF the sun. which was Just sink
ing behind the mountains. shone dimly upon
the silver on the board. and the glass and
napery and the massive gilt center
pieces oiled with great clusters of fresh
flowers. II looked as fhough the servants
had but Just left the room. Even the candles
had been lit in readiness, and as their
flames wavered and smoked In the evening