The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1906-03-27
- Our Daily Story.
When Roderick Changed His Mind

tonight and with her father and
friends. She will leave-in my com.
pany. But we need the help of
friend"
"You honor me with the word. I
am altogether at your service. sir"
replied Carroll. His cheeks burned
with the falseness of the words. A
plot had been revealed to him; he
had already made up his mind to
prevent its consummation.
AS they quilted the restaurant,
Roderick Carroll noticed, for the
second time, the livid-faced man
whose eyes were still fixed upon
the prince.
The curtain rose for the last act
of the play. Carroll stepped softly
from the box which held Anthony
Stone, his daughter, and three
friends.
"They are coming?" asked the
prince quickly.
within Is minutes" answered
Roderick.
Roderick lighted cigar. He was
strangely calm. 1t was expected of
him that he would accost Margaret
on the theater steps, and draw her
aside. But what he really meant to
do was to take Margaret's arm, and
quietly conduct her to her own car
riage. He wished to enjoy the
princes discontinue.
Suddenly the glass doors of the
portico were swung open. The peo-
pie were beginning to emerge. At
that moment Roderick noticed, min
Cling with the gathering crowd up
on the pavement, the man whose
pallid face and menacing eyes had
attracted his attention in the res
taurant. Whatever emotion he felt,
however, was dissipated by the
sight of Margaret and her father
, leaving the portico. Carroll stepped
forward
"You?" whispered Margaret,
turning very pale.
yes" said Roderick. "It's all
right. Come quickly"
Had he heard properly? Was
that his own voice which had
spoken? He felt Margaret's hand
tighten upon his arm. Where was
he taking her? To the princes car
riage? Then what of his revense?
The self imposed questioning
flashed through his brain. Either
the sweet, appealing face, or
sense of honor that would assert
itself, had changed, in half a sec
ond, his plan. Before Carroll quite
knew what was happening, he found
himself with Margaret at the car.
riage of the prince.
Dearest and best!" he heard a
voice murmur. 1t was answered by
another--a hoarse, strangled tone,
that brought Roderick's wits rush
ing back.
Death for you! Take that"
Margaret uttered cry. The
prince stepped back hastily from
the revolver levelled at his heart
by a man with a palid face and
the eyes of mailman. A leap, and
Roderick was between the two. His
right fist shot out even as the pistol
cracked. Down wont the would-be
assassin; and down went Roderick. |
with bullet in his shoulder.
There was a great uproar, a surg.
Ing wave of people, loud cries OF
anger and alarm. No one noticed
the girl who hastily entered clos
ed carriage, nor the man who STEP |
ped in after her.
Il am glad did it," mutters Rod. |
erick Carroll, with a sigh.
He feels, with his right hand. his |
left shoulder. where a bullet is
likely to remain all his life. Then |
he replaces in an open drawer two
letters. One is from Margaret; a |
letter from the prince of Baronia,
frankly acknowledging double
debt of life and happiness, and ex-
tending a hearty invitation to the
recipient to visit the princes coun-
try, his court and his English wife |
There Is also a decoration in the |
drawer, the highest that Baronia
can bestow.
Eyes, I'm glad l did It," repeats
Roderick land this time he smoth.
ers the sigh.