The National tribune., 1906-11-01

eyes. The group of servants parted
| and a woman staggered on to the
bridge. Antoinette de Mauban was III
a loose white , robe, her dark hair
| streamed over her shoulders, her face
| was ghastly pale, and her eyes cleaned
wildly in the light of the torches. In
her shaking hand, she held a revolver
and as she tottered forward she fired
at Rupert Hentzau. The ball missed
| him and struck the woodwork over my
| head.
Faith. Madame" laughed Rupert
had your eyes been no more dead.J
| than your shooting / had not been in
this scrape-nori Black Michael in
hell-to-night-'
She took no notice of his words
| With wonderful effort she Gained
herself till she stood still and rigid
Then, very slowly and deliberately. she
began to raise, her arm again, taking
| most careful aim.
He would be mad to risk IT, He must
rush on her, CHANGING the bullet OF
retreat toward me. / covered him with
my weapon.
He did neither. Before she had got
her aim he bowed in his most graceful!
Kissed. and before she or 1 could stop
him laid his hand on the pa-apct of
the bridge, and lightly ieaped into che
moat
At the very moment I heard n rus.,
of feet. and voice l knew -Sapt's-
cry: God! it's the Duke-.lcad." Then
knew that the King needed me no
more and, throwing down my revolver
sprang out on the bridge. There Was
cry of wild wonder. 1.-The Eing:" and
then /, like Rupert HentZau, sword in
hand, vaulted over the parapet, intent
on finishing my quarrel with him
where l saw his curly head Is yards of.
in the water of the mcat
He swan swiftly and easily. I was
weary and half crippled with my
wounded arm. could not gain IN hi,a
For time l made no sound. but rs we
rounded the corner of the I'D keep ]
cried:
stop. Rupert, stop,"
l saw him look over his shoulder
but he swan On. lie was under the
bank now, searching, as I guessed, for
spot that he could climb. I knew
there to be none-but there was my
rope, which would still be hanging
where 1 had left it. He would como
to where it was before T could. Per-
haps he would miss it-perhaps he
would find it; and if ne drew it up
after him he would get n good start OF
me. I put forth all my remaining
strength and pressed on. At last I
began to gain on him; for he, occu-
pied with his search, unconsciously
slackened his pace.
All, he had found It, A low shout
of triumph came from him. He lIid
hold of it. and began 20 haul hiruselt
up. / was near enough 10 hear him
mutter: How the devil comes This
here?" ! was at the rope. and he,
hanging in midair, saw ME; bu: could
not reach him.
"HuIlo. who's here?" he cried in
startled tones.
For moment I believe he took ms
for the King-I dare say l was pale
enough to lend color to the thought.
but an instant later he cried:
"Why. it's the play-actor! How came
you here MANI"
And so saying he gained the bank.
I laid hold of the rope, but / paused.
He stood on the bank. sword in hand,
and he could cut my head open or spit
me through the heart as I came up.
l let go the rope.
Never mind" said 1; but as I'm
here ! think TIL stay
He smiled down on me.
These women are the deuce" he
began, when suddenly the great bell
of the castle began to ring furiously.
and a loud shout reached us from the
mOat.
Rupert smiled again and waved his
hand to me-