The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-22


state Of mind philosophica]ly, by no
means salving his conscience because he
had dropped the affair the moment in
dividuaEties had become involved. or
laying claim to any merit for a repen-
lance sustained at such imminent peril.
"Whatever is the npshot of it all I
Owe over in the same ship with the shor-
mans,' he muttered, "and for being
brought up with a round turn by the
knowledge that the one to bear the
brunt of my iniquitv would have been
Leonie's father. Why, the excellent
senator might have been suspected of
that that view didn't occur to me till
knew the people,
The same gratitude had filled his sim
pie soul twenty times during the last
week, even when his enemies had
pressed him most sorely; but it REQUIRED
within sight Of the end. By noon on
the morrow the senator, would have
! safely housed the securities at the bank
and then his own responsibility would
cease. Ziegler could kill him then, and
welcome, if he still thought it worth
while, tho the chief of the organization
was not, he imagined, the sort Of per-
ly sentimental revenge. If Ziegler car
ried on the feud after the bonds were
safe from him it would be, as before,
to secure silence about the attempt,
and he could fling no stigma on the fam
lily name without divulging details that
would incriminate his gang. And the
family name was all that mattered.
Beaumanoir had just. rounded off his
forecast in this satisfactory manner
when he was suddenly startled back
into the, present by faint sound far
down the corridor on which the MUM
M II q h,1f nI II To 1yp rfo 11r
well what the sound was-the 'tscroop'
Of the spring driven swivel-roller that
automatically closed a baize door shut
ting off the servants premises. He
had half risen from his chair when an
other sound--the tinlkling Of pebble
east against the window from outside
ing it in favor Of the more pressing
emergency, he made haste toward the
door Of the room.
! The room . was at the extreme
end Of the, corridor, looking along
it lengthwise, and it was not
theref !se2osa necessary for the d duke
which he had purposely left partially
open, in order to reconnoiter. Stand.
ing in the darkness few feet from
the door, he was able to see who was
coming, and the sight sent a thrill OF
despair to his heart. All his pleasant
!, anticipations of oblivion for his trans
gression were rudely shattered, for the
,, cat-like tread, came along the passage
was Ziegler himself. Another figure
was dimly discerned close behind, but
of that the duke took no heed. His
eyes were riveted on the one in front
on the evil man who had the power
to change his destiny. There was some
} thing curioously fantastic, something
towards him, framed in the gaping
darkness Of the doorway.
The opening into branch passage
leading to another part Of the mansion
lay between ziegler and the munimen
room, and there was bare chance tina
he might turn in that direction. Il
, reality: he had to advance but few
steps before the point could be settled
but it seemed q. whole con to the duke
and, to add to the tension of his nerves
another pebble struck the window. Al
hope Of being able to preserve his sc
cret had fed now, and Beaumanoi
, strove to concentrate his reeling brail
, on how best to summon assistance an
! ward off an attack on the safe. /
only he knew who that. was throwing
up stones from outside-whether frien'
: to the window and open it or leave
. alone. He dared not act in ignorance
: possibly to admit a third adversary
t The window was ten feet from til
: ground, but the wall was covered wit
Q gnarled ivy stems up which an &C
tive man could readily climb.
While he was hesitating the matte
t was arranged for him. There was n
], time to reach the window, for Ziegle
/ passed the branch corridor without a
b much as looking at it. and was comm
: straight on to the imminent room
s Beaumanoir raised his revolver. bu
: lowered it again, incapable Of shootin
t a fellowcreature. in cold blood, and ais
e fascinated by a horrible curiosity t
i learn the intruder's intention. He coul
! not as yet be absolutely certain tina
r Ziegler knew that the bonds were i
: the safe. He would wait till it was al
0 tackled before he made a counter NOV.
: In this mind he slipped behind
s huge oak press laden with expired leas
Z es. and had hardly ensconsed himsel
g when Ziegler entered the room, followed
f to Beaumanoir s surprise, by a woman