Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1907-11-06
CHAPTER xxxV-Continued.

Starva. Let all these candles be
snuffed except those in the candelab-
rum that stands at the head of the
staircase. Bring your man, Jacques,
to that point and no farther. We
shall see him; but he will not be able
to see us"
Fortune was favoring us indeed.
Locke and 1 silently bestirred our
eslves. Now at last had come the
moment for action. But still another
grumbied; and still fortune favored
US.
THAT is all very we'll" objected Ig-
natieff. And perhaps a traitor may
strike blow in the dark. I for one
refuse to crafty the curiosity of Kuhn
in this matter"
But Starva was determined to
have his way.
ITO prevent that" he answered,
leach of US will lay his weapons on
the table at the end of the hail.
There were cries of fierce dissent.
Starva silenced them with an angry
gesture
| "One moment, friends" he purred.
''You do not quite understand. When
we first came into this room / sug
gested that lots should be drawn, and
| he who was favored with the lucky
number should fire, concealed in the
| gloom, that none might be sure who
| had been chosen to snuff out Ferdi-
| Aand'S little soul. But since our
| friend Kuhn's loyalty has been ques-
toned, it is he who shall have that
honor x1yit7, r.
shall do the work. And lest an acct
dent should happen, or lest his cour-
age should fail hini, Bratinau and I
will keep our revolverS. / think there
is none to question CUR loyalty?'
Kuhn had grown fFightfully pale;
he trembled. But he spoke no word
by this arrangement" continued
Starva, the loyalty of Kuhn of Mace
donna will be established. And it," he
was glazing at Gingaja and Count
Piteschti," there are any mad enough
to dream of disloyalty at this late
hour, and harbor treachery, they will
be powerless.
Starva's ruse was hailed with
shouts of approval. Gornji, Ignatieff,
| and Gortschakoff strobe to the table
| at the end of the hall and flung down
their weapons defiantly Gingaja re-
luctantly followed their example
| Piteschti folded his arms defiantly,
standing motionless.
This is childs play" he muttered,
with pale lips.
Nevertheless" whispered Bratinau
in his ear, "you will obey, and quick
ly. By all the saints, Starva, I think
your plan has proved a wise one.
Come, sir, we are waiting. Or are
quette that you insist in taking prece-
dence over king?"
With gesture of despair Count
Piteschti walked slowly to the table
and left his revolver there
Now, friend Kuhn, we are waiting
only for you'll" cried Starva sharply.
81 have no arms" answered the
poor wretch with sob.
you shall be armed presently"
cried Gornji
Now, Jaques, you may go. Out
with the candles, Gornji and Ig-
natieff. The rest of you remain
quietly as you value your lives. You
will find your man defenseless.
jacques. But if he proves trouble
some, you have only to call and I
will come. You have taken care of
| Alphonse?'
Il have put him to sleep," he
| chuckled
AS Jaques lifted the tapestry Locke
choked him into silence. Together we
carried him struggling up the hidden
staircase and burst into the anteroom
OF the tower. Not until we had flung
him GREATNESS into the room of the
safe, and had locked the door. did
we answer Forbes frenzied questions.
Locke gripped his arm for Silence.
Quick, there is not moment to
lose. Have you arms?"
NO" growled Forbes, ready for &C.
ton.
In the first room to the right of the
corridor" painted Madame de Var
nier. I'm the drawer of the cabinet
near the door,"
Then come. And you two stay
here. There is mans work below
We stole silently down the stairs.
Locke and myself in the lead. to the
cabinet. where both Locke and Forbes
chose their revolvers.
Do you, Capt. Forbes, make your
way along the gallery until you come
to the spiral staircase at the end of
tne hau, l commanded, briefly.
when 1 appear at the main stairway
with Locke, reach the hall with no
delay. There is a table by the little
stairway; there are arms on it; let
no one approach that table until
Locke or myself have reached your
side. Now then, Locke, are. we ready?,
We had filed silently into the cor
r1dor. Forbes sped with caution to
his vantage ground. Locke was al
ready approaching the main staircase
when seized him by the arm.
I am going to fool Starva am
going to call for help. He will think
1t Jacques. As he comes, / shall