The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-05-22
:Onthe Stroke Of Twelve
,oOOoOOOOOOOcOoOOOoOO OOOoooOOOOOOOOOOOO
By SARGENT RICHARDSON.
Copyright. 1904, by T. c. Mcclure.

, had covered his tracks too well TO be
followed by stupid officers Of the Cause.
And then-there was Lolita. Only the
night before. when ne had pressed her
hand in the dance and had asked for a
word alone, she had whispered: Per
haps-to- morrow-by night.
Perhaps she had sent him a mes
sage! Perhaps at this very moment
she awaited his coming
And at this very moment Dave Hen
ley, in the guest room of the secret
service chief, was calmly, deliberately
donning a fresh duck suit, a soft silk
shirt and a stunning tie, warranted the
newest things in the states.
And over the house Of Senior Ma
tanya, Minister of Finance, brooded
d calm that was portentous. Oddly
enough. and for the first time in its
history, it. was empty, save for the
master and his young daughter. The
old Care-taker at their country home
was celebrating her saints feast day,
and all the servants in the city house
had been hidden. Not only had they
they had been bearers of "A rarely
, large gift from the old retainer.
In the dining hall, the Minister and
his daughter fingered over the evening
meal, which, for the girls part, was
untasted.
1T is such deeds that the wom-
en- of your race did before you, Loli-
ia" said the Minister with calm
fnality.
Yes. father" murmured the girl.
obediently, but her voice shook, and
two tears stole down her cheeks But
l never saw any one die-and l shall
| remember it always"
You will not see him die-and you
will not remember anything save that
] I = FHrWka -
! Cruza was saved. Men like Carlos
Aquilla are more dangerous than
those who talk loudly and do
little, who long to carry the gun. but
| know naught of the art of intrigue"
Yes, father" said the girl, through
force Of habit But she heard nothing
| that he said, for suddenly there had
come before her a vision of a dance
and man unlike the men of her own
! race-one who stood so straight that
he looked down upon her by full ii
head; whose face was fair and who
wore no black, pointed mustache. She
recalled the next time they had met
and the neXt-and life grew sweeter
with each turn of memory's page.
She was weary of the empty, honeyed
phrases of her fathers political
friends. She had learned to care for
his Northener, who laughed with his
eyes when he praised with his lips
And she clasped her hands tightly in
her lap and wondered what he would
think-if he knew!
She was aroused by the scraping of
her fathers chair.
I'VE will retire to the south wing"
he was saying.
The south wing Her breath came
in short, faint gasps.
They crossed the dimly lighted re-
ception hall and passed through the
drawing room and the library, where
great metal lamp threw wierd shad-
ows over her fathers high. carved
desk; then through the unlighted, ST.
lent passage which led to the south
wing.
He threw opan a narrow door ana
they stood within the original resi-
cence CT the house of Matanya-cramp-
ed, low-ceiled and narrow. From the
living room, steirs led to sleeping
rooms above. and at the further end
an iron-barred door led into the kitch-
en-, where the mother of Lolita ha9
cooked MANY simple meal. Opposite
the staircase was another barred door,
which led into the gardens.
Since the death of Lolita's mother
the rooms had not been used. Often
the powerful Minister of Finance had
determined to pull down the wing,
which served only to remind him of
the days of poverty and struggle Bu,
1t was just as well. for now the old