The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-07-14

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IN pleasant p%rofusion. He wa stand
Ing there when Paul came into the
room. The prince glanced at Maggie.
tie saw where his Wife stood, but he
did not look at her.
otelninetz was writing something on
half a sheet of note paper in pencil.
he pushed it across the table toward
Paul, who drew 1t nearer to him.
Are you armed?" were the written
words.
Eau crushed the paper in the hol-
low of his hand and threw it into the
IRE, where 1T burned away. He also
glanced at the clock. 1t was five min
utes to Z.
Suddenly the door was thrown open,
ana a manservant rushed in, pale, con-
FUSED, terror stricken. He was a giant
footman in the gorgeous livery of the
Alexis.
"Exccllency," he stammered in Rus
sian, "the castle is surrounded-they
Will kill us-they will burn us OUT
he stopped, abashcd before Paurs
pointing finger and stony face.
Leave the room!" said Paul. "You
forget yourself"
Through the open doorway to which
Paul pointed peered the ashen faces Of
other servants huddled together like
sheep.
Leave the roomv" repeated Paul,
and the man obeyed him, walking to
n door unsteadily, with quivering
chin. On the threshold he paused.
Paul stood pointing to the door. He
had a poise Of the head, some sudden
awakening Of the blood that had
coursed in the veins Of hereditary po-
tentatcs. Maggie looked at him. She
had never known him like this. She
had known the man; she had never en-
countered the prince.
The big clock over the castle doomed
out the hour, and ut the same instant
there arose a roar like the voice of the
surf on q Malabar shore. There was n
crashing of glass almost in the room
Itself. Already Steinmetz was drawing
the curtains closer over the windows
In order to prevent the light from filter
Ing through the interstlces Of the closed
shutters.
"Only stones" he said to Paul, with
his grim smile; ut might have been
bullets"
AS If in confederation of his sugges-
ton the sharp ring of more than one
frearm rang out above the dull roar
OF many voices.
Steinmctz crossed the room to where
Eta was standing, white Tipped, by
the fire. Her clinched hand was grip
ping Maggie's wrist. She was half hid
den behind her cousin. Maggie was
looking at Paul. Eta was obviously
conscious of Steinmetz's gaze and ap-
proach.
II asked you before to tell me all you
knew" he said. You refused. Will
you do it nowT
Eta met his glance for q moment,
shrugged her shoulders and turned her
back on him. Paul was standing in
the open doorway with his back turn.
ed toward ~them-alone. The palace
had never looked so vast as 1t did Mt
that momcnt-brilliantly lighted, gor-
geous, empty.
Through the hail Of blows on the
stout doors, the rattle Of stones at the
windows, the prince could hear yells of
execration and the wild laughter that
is bred of destruction. He turned and
entered the room. His face was gray
and terrible.
"They have no chance" he said, "of
effecting an entrance by force. The
lower windows are barred. They have
no ladders. Steinmetz and I have seen
to that. We have been expecting this
for some days"
He turned toward Steinmetz as If
seeking confirmation. The din was In
creasing. When the German spoke he
had to shout.
I'VE Gun beat them back If we like.
We car shoot them down from the
windows. But"-he paused, shrugged
his shoulders and laughed-"what will
you! This prince will not shoot his ia
Tiers serfs."
1--WE must leave you" went on Paul.
1--WE must beware of trcachery. What
ever happens, we shall not leave the
house. If the worst comes, VIC make
our last stand in this room. Whatever
happens, stay here till we come"
He left the room, followed by Stein
metz. There were only three doors IN
the i~mpregnablc stone walls-the grea,
entrance, a side door for use In times
of deep snow and the small concenleo
entrance by which the starosta was IN
the habit Of reaching his masters.
For a moment the two men stood al
the head Of the stairs listening to the
wild commotion. They were turning
TO descend the state stairs when
piercing shrek, Immediately drowned
by a yell Of triumph, broke the silence
Of the interior Of the castle. There
was a momentary stiffness, followed
by another shrek.
"They are I'M" said steinmetz. lh'
side door,
And the two men looked at each otn
or with wide eyes full Of knowledge.
AS they ran to the foot OF uhe .proa.
staircase the tramp of scufiline lee.
n III