The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1904-01-20
CHAPTER XIV.

"A right wing Mauville prepared
to make as effective defense
as lay In his power and looked around
for his aid. the driver of the coach. but
that quaklng individual had taken ad'
vantage of the excitement TO dlsap-
pear.
The young girl too. had availed her
self of the opportunity while he was
at the window and vanished.
"Why, the slippery jades gone" he
exclaimed, staring around the room,
COMPOUNDED for the moment. Then, re-
covering himself, he hurriedly left the
chamber, more apprehensive lest she
should get out of the manor than that
the tenants should get in.
For the moment he almost forgot the
antirenters. He hastily traversed the
upper hall, but was rewarded with no
sight of her He gazed down the stairs
eagerly, with no better result. The
front door was still closed as he had
left it.
Yes; she's gone" he repeated.
"What a fool was TO have trusted her
to herself for moment"
A new misgiving arose, and he start
ed. What if she had succeeded in
leaving the manor? He knew and dis
trusted Little Thunder and his cohorts.
What respect would they have for herl
For all he had done it was neverthe-
less intolerable TO think she might be
in possible danger-from others save
himself. A wave of conjunction
swept over him. After all, he loved
her and, loving her, could not bear to
think Of any calamity Detailing her
"Surely I've gone daft over the
strollerw he thought as his own posi-
ton required to him in all its serious
ness. "Well, what's done is done! Let
them Gomez
With no definite purpose of searching
further, he nevertheless walked me-
chanically down the corridor and sud
denly discerned Constance in a blind
passage. where she had inadvertently
fed.
At the end OF this narrow hall a win
dow looked almost directly out upon
the circular brick dovecot. now an in
distinct outline, and on both sides were
doors. one Of which she was vainly en-
deavoring to open when he approached
unfortunately. the door is locked"
he said ironically. Meanwhile. as this
spot has no strategic advantages, sup
pose we change our base Of defense"
Realizing how futile would be re-
sistance. she accompanied him once
more to the char2ls4S in the wing,
where he had determined to make his
last defense. After closing and lock-
ing the door he lighted one of many
candles on the mantcl.
The Pickering glare fell upon the
young actress standing. hand upon
her heart, listening with bated breath,
and Mauvlle, with ominous express
sion, brooding over that chance which
sent the lc2sehOlders to the manor on
that night Of nights.
The violent crash Of a heavy body Mt |
the front of the house and a tumult Of |
voices on the porch, succeeded by a |
din in the hail. announced that the |
first barrier had been overcome and |
the antrenters were i'm possession of |
the lower floor of the manor. Maui
Vile had started toward the door |
when the anticipation in the young !
girls eyes held him TO the spot. Inac- |
ccssible, she was the more desired. |
Her reserve was fuel to his flame, and |
at that moment, while his life hung !
I'm the balance he forgot the rebuff he |
had received and how she had nearly |
played upon him.
Words fell from his lips. unpremedi- |
tatcd, eloquent, voicing those desires |