The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-03-11

shoot youi" said the man, deree1y
Also, if you give the alarm before
have got safely away your brother S
life shall be sacrificed. He is already
a prisoner, and if I do not return with
in a specified time he will be killed.
/ Do you understands
The boys lips framed the word
YES" 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. 1t
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
rifling the dispatch box before his eyes
There was marine sentry on duty
outside the cabin door, and at that
moment the boy could hear his foot
steps dying away in the distance
It 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?
Q, the agony of those interminable
moments!9 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 si1enceI' And once
more covering the boy with his reyolv-
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 a shrill cry of Sentry! Help
help!" and flung himself upon the man
like wildcat. A puff of smoke, a
sharp report, and the boy staggered
back, then fell prone upon the deck,
and the count" as he dashed out of
he cabin, preeipitated himself into the
arms of the big marine artilleryman.
The sound Of the shot soon brought
men hurrying to the captains cabin,
ind the thief, in spite Of desperate
was quickly disarmed and
captured. Rough but kindly hands
hen gently raised the young hero and
aid him in his brothers bunk.
My brother-the Great Britain ho-
once-at .onee!" he gasped, with
effort, and then fell back
ainting.,
When the party from the Tremen-
ious burst open the door of the zul-
enoffs' room at the hotel they found
capt St. Aubyn gagged, bound and
tripped Of his uniform, but fortunate T.
Y uninjured. The countess had
own, and it was afterwards discovered ]
hat she and her confederates had left
he island that evening in q 2. & Q.
iner.
Cecil st. Aubyn, though dangerous
wounded, did not die, and was in !
air way of having his head turned {
hen at length he was well enough to 8
eturn to his duties on board. Chicago !
tribune.