The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-07-01

Il trust you ruly. Shall I alarm the
guard" she whispered, recovering her
self possession.
by no means! want to catch those
devils myself Afterward we can
alarm the guards
"An ideal Americana she surprised
him by saying. Follow me-"
She led him to the doorway. "Stand
here, and I will call the countess-at
this side, where it is dark"
She opened the door gently and stood
In the light for q second. he saw be-
fore him a graceful figure in trailing
white, and then he saw her face. She
was Miss Guggenslocker!
"Heavens~ he hoarsely gasped, stag
gering toward her. You! You! The
princess?"
eyes, am Princess Yetive," she
whispered, smiling as she gl1ded from
his side His eyes went round in his
head, his legs seemed to be anywhere
but beneath him, be felt as though he
were rushing toward the ceiling. For
the moment he was actually uncon-
scious; then his senses rushed back, re-
calling his mission and his danger.
"She is sleeping so soundly that /
fear to awaken her." whispered soft
voice at his back, and he turned. The
princess was standing in the doorway.
Then pray stand back where you
will be out Of danger. They will be
here in a moment unless they have
been frightened away"
"You shall not expose yourself" she
said positively. "Why should you risk
your life now? You have accomplished
your object. You have saved the prin-
cessn
"Ah, yes, the princessw he said. "And
I am sorry you are the princess" be
added in her ear.
"Shr' she whispered softly.
The door through which be had first
come was softly opened, and they were
conscious that some one was entering.
Lorry and the princess stood in the
dark shadow Of a curtain, she close be-
hear his own heart and hers beating,
could feel the warmth Of her body, al
though it did not touch his. His heart
beat with the pride Of possession, Of
power, with the knowledge that he had
but to stretch out his hand and touch
the one woman in all the world.
Across the dim belt Of light from the
open doorway in which they stood
crawled the dark figure Of a man. Her
hand unconsciously touched his back
as If seeking reinsurance. BE shivered
beneath its gentle weight. Another
form followed the first, pausing in the
light to look toward their doorway.
The abductor was doubtless remember
ing the instructions to chloroform the
countess. Then came the odor Of
chloroform. Oh, if Anguish We're only
there!
The second figure was lost in the
darkness and a faint glow Of light
came from the canopied bed in the cor
ner. The chloroformer holding the cur
tains had turned his screen lantern to-
ward the pillow in order to apply the
dampened cloth. Now was the time to
act!
Pushing the princess behisal the cur
tain and in the shelter Of the doorpost,
Lorry leaped toward the center Of the
room, pistol in each hand. Before
him crouched the astonished despera-
does.
IF you move, you are dead men"
said he in slow, decided tones. 'Here,
Harry he shouted. ''Scoundrels, you
are trapped! Throw up your hands!'
Suddenly the room was a blaze OF
light; flashing candles, lamps, sprung
into life from the walls, while great
chandelier above his head dazzled him
with its unexpected glare.
Thunder he shouted, half throw
ing his hands to his eyes.
Something rushed upon him from be-
hind. there was s. scream and then q