Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-12
PRINCESS MARTHA
BY PERCY BREBNER.
oopyrE 4 SOM
BY PERCY BREBNER.
CHAPTER III.
The Woman in the Silk Mask.
Copyright. 1906. 7. ]. Mcbride 4 SOM

which Ellerey regretted he had not put to
his host, and some misgivings arose in his
mind whether he had not been led to prom
Use service which might be contrary to the
oath which he had taken to the king. The
scheme to enlist his help had evidently
been carefully considered and prepared
with the result that he had pledged himself
to some hazardous task of the nature of
which he was entirely ignorant. Not clue
had been given him, and were he DESTROYS
of turning traitor he realized that it was
not within his power to do so. Not word
of information could he speak. and who
would believe that alone, and apparently I'M
attended, the queen had visited the Alt
strasse at midnight? That she had done so
for the purpose of speaking to him proved
to Elerey that her need for him was ur-
gent; that she had explained nothing point
ed to the fact that she was not inclined to
trust him fully at present
Il judge there is work for my sword, he
said, as he drew his cloak closer round him.
ut would seem there is employment for my
wits also. At least, have my wish; part
to play which holds possibilities. A queen.
a designing Frenchman. and an amu,dous
captain of Horse, who may be fool Well.
the drama may prove exciting. We shall
seer
Desmond Ellerey was, after all, an adj
venturer of the better sort, perhaps; driven
10 the lie Dy force OF clTCunlStdnceS-yet
still an adventurer. His position proclaim
ed him one. He looked for reward from
the country which had purchased his sword,
and had no inclination to fritter away his
chances of espousing any cause but the win
ming one. At the same time he was an
Englishman; birth privilege carrying with
it weighty responsibilities. which he could
not away with as easily as he had cast
aside his country. There were few ties to
bind him to England. He had become that
a familv-the black
sheep. He had run deeply into debt; fact
that had grievously told against him when
he had to face the accusations which had
ruined his career. In withdrawing from
England he had probably left only two
friends Sir. Charles and Lady Martin, who
would ever trouble to send a kindly thought
after him. His going Lad aroused the keen
est satisfaction in the breast of his brother.
Sir Ralph Ellerey, tenth baronet of the
name, who was quite ready to believe the
very worst that was said of Desmond, re-
that it was little more than he eX-
pected. Sir Ralph's cast of mind was per-
haps narrow and ungenerous, but since the
sympathy so usually shown to the open
handed spendthrift was not forthcoming in
this case. it must be assumed that popular
opinion condemned Desmond Ellerey and
sympa thized with Sir Ralph. 1t had been
easy. therefore, for Desmond to become a
stranger to his native land: it was impos-
sible for him to forget that he was an Eng
that a peculiar code of honor was
QemanQeu OF MIN Dy the Idct.
The AltStraSse was deserted as he passed
through it, the lights were out in most Of
the houses, and silence was over the whole
city. The sky was black with clouds. giving
promise of heavy rain before morning if
the wind dropped. Ellerey walked quickly,
his ears alert and his eyes keenly search
ing every shadow on either side of him. At
tacks in the street for the purpose Of plum
der were of,too general occurrence to make
a lonely walk in Sturatzberg safe or desir-
al a quarter
help would be slow in coming.
AS he turned out of the Altstrasse. a
woman coming hastily In the opposite direc-
ton ran against him. and. with a faint cry,
tightly round her. showing nothing of her
dress and little of her figure. and the hood
of it was pulled so low down that little of
her face was visible.
breath, which came in spasmodic pants after
her running. Help, monsieur, if lou be a
man.
How can I serve your
'.Ah, a soldier!' she cried. seeing the cloak
he wore Quick! There is no time to de-
lay. While we speak, murder is being
done"
'Where?"
armed? All. but they are towards. and
only attack defenseIess women!'' And she
plucked him by the arm to compel him to
follow her. She did not appeal in vain.
hand. that he might help her pace. he ran
with her, their footsteps resounding along
the silent street.
AS they ran. he tried to get a better
view of her face. but in vain He noticed
that her cloak, which tapped outward with
every step she took, revealed rich white
skirt beneath, and there was the rustic of
six. She kept up bravely with him, SEEM
ing to gain new courage in his company.
She led him round two corners, across a
dark square. and to the open door of house
in a small street beyond.
Quick They are within. Straight up
the stairs to the first floor"
Ellerey released his hold of the girl; in
deed. she pulled her hand away that she
might not detain him from dashing to the
rescue. and. as he touched the stairs, he
heard the door close with a loud reverberat-
ing slam behind him.
Quickly" she cried after him.
The house was dark and quiet. douby
quiet it seemed now that the door had
closed Not a sound came from the rooms
above, as Ellerey went up the stairs. If
come too late.
He had reached the top of. the stairs, had
stretched out his hand to feel his way by
the wall, and had paused to listen for a
sound or to discern glimmer of light %
guide him, when suddenly the air about him
seemed to break into life. and before he had
time to turn and throw his pa.-- against the
wall strong arms were about his shoulders
one man in the darkness. and kicked him
self free from a second, who went rolling
down the stairs. uttering curses as he
struck the balustrade heavily. making it
crack to breaking point Another received
his heel Squarely in the face, and dropped
with a thud upon the floor a thud that al
most had the sound of finality in it. Mean
while the man he had seized wrenched him
self free, and another pair of arms were
flung round Elerey's waist. obviously to
prevent his getting at any weapon he might
carry. Ellerey strained every nerve to free
himself from this assailant and to get his
back to the wall. striking out right and
left. now hitting a mans neck or shoulder,
now landing a heavy blow between eyes he
could not see. anon beating the air only.
How many his adversares were he could
not determine. The air was full of painting
breaths and growing imprecations, of sway
ing bodies, and heavy blows, which were
for the most part, wide of the mark Every
moment Ellerey expected to be his last; ex-
pected to feel the sharp thrust of blade,
or TO fall into sudden oblivion before the
sound of the revolver shot had time to reach
his ears. Yet he still lived: fighting, strug-
Cling, being slowly spent by the odds
against him. Why did these murderers not
end it? Were they fearful of injuring a
in the darkness. were they de-
sirous of not injuring him too severely?
Indeed. ii seemed so. Had he fallen into a
trap, baited with the frightened woman
who had petitioned him for help? The
thought that he could have been such a
fool that so transparent device should