St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-02-25

0HOO6 you. SAID inc man, 5uercely.
Also, If you give the alarm before
have got safely away your brothers.
life shall be sacrificed. He is already
prisoner, and if do not return with
in a specified time he will be killed.
Do you understand"
The boys lips framed the word
eyes," but they gave no sound
He understood the whole plot now,
and knew that the man was looking
for the secret signal code, and that the
key of the box it was kept in had been
stolen from his brothers wrist.
He believed that the man had spoken
the truth, and that his dearly beloved
Philip would be murdered if the plot
failed; but he knew also that his
brother would prefer death to dishonor.
SO his own personal feelings must
count as nil. Besides, he would be
dead. too; so what did it matter?
He must be cautious, though. It
would never do to give the alarm at
the wrong time, and lose his life for
nothing. And yet it was maddening
to stand there and watch the villain
rif1ing the dispatch box before his eyes,
There was a marine sentry On duty
outside the cabin door, and at that
moment the boy could hear his foot
steps dying away in the distance.
1t would be useless to give the alarm
until the man was actually outside the
cabin door. The question was, would
he be back before the count had
finished his search?
O, the agony of those interminable
moments! Would the returning tread
of the marines heavy ammunition
boots never break upon his straining
ears?
The tension was becoming too great.
The boy felt that he must shrek, or
he would lose his senses. He bit his
lip until it bled, and dug his nails into
the palms of his hands.
What could the sentry be doing!
Why had he not returned?
At. this crisis the count" suddenly
turned round.
Remember, your brothers life de-
ponds on your silence!" And once
more covering the boy with his revolv-
er, he backed slowly until he reached
the fore cabin.
Then the psychological moment ar
rived, for, without the slightest warn
ing, young st. Aubyn sprang forward
with shrill cry of Sentry! Help,
help!" and flung himself upon the man
like wildcat. A puff of smoke,
sharp report, and the boy staggered
back, then fell probe upon the deck,
and the count" as he dashed out of
the cabin, precipitated himself into the
arms of the big marine artilleryman.
The sound of the shot soon brought
men hurrying to the captains cabin,
and the thief, in spite Of desperate
struggles, was quickly disarmed and
captured. Rough but kindly hands
then gently raised the young hero and
laid him in his brothers bunk.
"My brother-the Great Britain ho-
tel-at once-at once!" he gasped, with
superhuman effort, and then fell back
fainting.
When the party from the Tremen-
dous burst open the door of the Zul-
lenoffs' room at the hotel they found
Capt. st. Aubyn gagged, bound and
stripped of his uniform, but fortunate
ly uninjured. The countess" had
flown, and it was afterwards discovered
that she and her confederates had left
the island that evening in p. & o.
liner.
Cecil st. Aubyn, though dangerous
ly wounded, did not die, and was in
fair way Of having his head turned
when at length he was well enough to
return to his duties on board.-Chicago
Tribune.