The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-24

guessed before-that the sick man was a
coward. " f.
81 have told my father about you,' said
Maya, her voice firm, tho she could scarce
ly be whittier had she been dead. He
consented to let me call YOU
81 am glad that you will let me be
with you,'' Jim answered. "But there Is
surely nothing to be greatly disturbed
about. A villain trying to frighten you
into complying with his demands" p.
IF it were only that" broke in Maya.
! But he has betrayed us at last This is
his revenge. The house is surrounded.
do not see how we are to escape, for the
men out there are Russians. Like blood
hounds they have hunted my father down.
| This f1end has done what for long he has
threatened. He has put them on our
track, knowing that they would not let
my father escape alive: Somehow, he has
| lured Michael away; I am sure it is he
| who has contrived my cousins absence.
Mr.. Truro's illness, too; that Is surely his
work And you-he would have had you
away from the house if his plans had sue
ceeded Now we have only you. They
know we are hidden in this wing. They
mean to kill my father. What are we to
do?'' .--5
1--WE shall save him. said Breakspear,
quietly, not attempting to dispute with
the girl the gravity Of the situation which
he did not comprehend.
"But how-how?" cried Maya. my
father has weapons, but what of them
It would only make matters worse to use
them, except later, perhaps. in self
| defense. There are at least four meT
outside; they came and tapped at all the
windows at once as if by preconcerteC
signal, and cried out a terrible word ii
Russian which means Traitor They die
it, T think to let us know how many We
had against US, how hopeless the though
Of escape. What can my father do agains
them? He Is i'll, almost dying. In mere!
they might leave him the little time h
has, to repent. And I, what am I?
would give my life for him, but 1t is no
that they want. Listen!" and Maya quiv
: ering all over at a new sound which mad
, saself heard at the window graspet
Breakspear's arm.
t but blow had been struck on one o
) the small, oldfashioned panes, shatter
ing the glass; Then the voices of sew
t eral men together cried again the strang
f word which Breakspear could not under
: stand.
, 1T will take them some time to brea
in that way" said Jim, when he ha
raised the corner of the lined curtain an
{ seen the thick strips of lead between tn
r diamond panes. "Still, it wouldn't be
bad thing If we had wooden shutter.
; We'd have longer to make up our mind
! to a plan Of campaign
:. "There are wooden shutters in the mex
room-my fathers bedroom" Maya an
. swered, land all the doors are of GAL
But sooner or later they will get in. Re
member, there's no one here except our
2 selves and Miss Truro and that hall
= witted farm boy. They will have every
: thing their own way-and they count o
), that
I'm not SO sure retorted Jim. A
! he spoke shot shivered another pane
i glass and broke one of the strips Of lead.
a Down went the white-haired coward o
e his knees, the revolver he had been load
: ing, falling to the floor. Save me-say
e MEL he sobbed, staring with wild eye
n at Breakspear. Don't let them kill m
: like a dog"
n There was contempt in Iim's heart fl
g ! him. but he put it away, because the ma
was Maya's father. ''They s1an't touc
!, you, except over my dead BODY he sal,
: "and I don't think my time has come *
7; dying. Come; let me help you into til
h next room. We can stand siege there.
d With an arm round the gray clad shou
t der Breakspear raised the covering fig
ure, and led it, unresisting, to the doc
j But there Maya stopped them.