Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-05-18

49,
zen in her throat saw both blades
clang out with u single movement, saw
Jarrat hurl himself forward, heard the
steel meet. Mixed joy and horror held
her.
She understood. He had cherished
his masters purpose all along, pursued
by treachery, meeting cunning with
cunning, constrained to deception. 1t
was the true message Of the French
king that she clasped at TINT moment
under her cloak. To carry this he had
won his way from the hands of his en-
mics and fooled Jarrat to his purpose.
And now without the packet his voice
would give the message to the congress.
She had brought it just in time.
All this came to her at once in sue
cession of pictures vivid MS patches of
night landscape seen by violet lightning
and at an instant when horror over
rolled her joy.
The street, the taproom, were SO near.
Would none come to stop them? She
feared to declare herself, for start, a
tremor of the hand, might mean death
to her lover
She saw the quick end, powerless to
utter cry. Armand stiffened sudden
ly, his left hand fallen low. His blade
passed like needle in sailcloth through
the others body, and Jarrat slipped in
huddle to the floor and 10y still.
Anne tried to scream. but her throat
only gave forth q whisper. Not till
Armand had sheathed his wet sword
and the door had closed upon him did
she find strength to part the curtains.
She looked upon the PROSTATE man in
terror. She must summon help and
then take the packet to Armand. She
realized suddenly that Jarrat was not
dead; that his eyes were upon her;
that he was struggling to sitting
posture.
you saw-you heardm he gasped.
"Youw
YES" she breathed.
"You brought him the packet! My
God! To think never suspected! And
be has gone-gone"-
ITO his honor"
He stared Mt her, slow, ghastly
smile coming to wreathe his lips. s'Hon-
or? Say you SO? Waity'
He made an attempt to unbutton his
waistcoat. 1.-THE paper in this pocket"
he groaned. 'Take it and read. Quick!
Quick! Nay, call no one! Men bleed
not to death SO soon!"
She unfolded the scroll with shaking
f1npars md rpod.
I. Louis Armand, released from durance
in Halifax, under special instruction from
his majesty's government touching the
Continental congress. do agree that. in
the event that I do not carry out this
mission, as ordered. hold my life forfeit
and pledge my honor within one month
this hereafter to deliver myself to Lord
Chetwynde. whose custody now leave.
ARMAND.
She caught her breath. "Do pledge
my honor to deliver myself"-"to hold
my life forfeit" He had chosen to
give his life to carry the true message.
Ills life! How dear that was to her!
He must not do 1t! oh, If God would
only help her to think! He must not
do 1t! She heard Jarrats breathing
through 1t all and felt his eyes, filming,
upon her.
A heavy knocking came at the door,
and Joseph Galloway entered, his stick
in his hand. He made an exclamation
as he saw and threw up his hands.
Galloway said the wounded man,
his breath rafting with CONFUSION.
us the other bent over him. HE Is
false to US. Armand-he is falsei He
did this. He is gone to the congress.
You must stop him!'
Eyes, yes. l will coll leech. TITS
not mortal thrust, man. will 60 to
the hall. But how to do it2 Proofs
"She"- gasped Jarrat in final eff
fort, pointing to Anne. She and
lapsed into ashen inconsistencies.
s.. ITO BE coNT1NuED.I