The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-12-05

with crashing blow upon Sir
Charles Venner's undefended head.
The glass shivered into fragments,
and the surgeon fell, without a
groan or cry, unconscious at my
feet.
l swung forward, uplifted to a
mental contempt for pain ina sud-
den rapture of establishment. Ma
rion, who had stepped back almost
to the farthest wall, faced the ne.
groes with little cooked pistol,
which did not waver in her grasp.
Her face was still ashen colored,
but her eyes were simply on fire.
IN. Jussieu!" said she, her voice
was like silver bell, take up
your master, if you want to live,
and carry him into the other eel
lar!"
Jussieu uttered a raucous cry,
and scrambled to his feet. STOPPING
quickly he seized the body of Sir
Charles and staggered off.
'Beudant!" said Marion, "lock
that door, quick!"
Beudant sprang to obey.
Now" said the girl, release NJ
Hume and take care not to hurt
him."
In moment l was free. But
could not move so much as a mus
Gle. had been four days in the
chair, and l was not only cramped,
but Ill, frightfully i'll. l shrieked
with pain and swooned. When l
awoke was stretched out at
length upon the floor, and Beudant
was kneading my half naked limbs
and body with all the strength and
science of skilled masseur. Ma
rion, seated at little distance on
the chair, kept the muzzle of her
pistol pointed at the negro's head.
From the adjoining chamber cur
ious babel of sounds proceeded. Sir
Charles Venner's voice, raised in
passionate entreaties and COM
mands, mingled with the noise of
continued digging. Was Jussieu try
ing to dig way out?
At Marion's command Beudant
took me in his arms. She opened
the door, and we passed out before
her, and mounted a flight of sbrick
steps into a kitchen above. Marion
bolted the door and followed us
like a shadow. / was carried thence
out into the night, across long
tagged yard into a stable, Marion
always close behind us, with Ian
tern in her hand. Drive to Lon
don, Beudant." she said quietly,
land if you value your life keep
your eyes before you'll"
Heaven preserve me from the
horrors of such another drive. At
every jolt and rumble of the phae-
ton felt as though l were being
torn apart upon rack.
Sometimes I felt her shiver, but
not often, for l kept as closely to
my corner as l could, and IL by
chance sh touched me, curses trem-
bled to my lips which l had work
to stifle.
Marion put away her pistol soon,
for the road was full of vehicles.
and Beudant was longer to be
feared. The girls face in the early
morning light was pitifully lined
and haggard. l watched her. bur
she kept her gaze set straight be-
fore. as though conscious Of my
stern regard. Every now and then,
too, she caught her breath, and
shuddered as though she were re-
Numbering, Our silence lasted until
became aware OF a certain chill
ing curiosity concerning her.
Now that you have broken with
your friends l muttered suddenly,
what will you dor
She did not move. yet she an
swered at once in tones of deep
humility: Whatever you wish,
monsieur!"
Whatever l WISH" I snsered.
What has my wish to do with
your"
II have used you very Ill, mon
sieur! l would make atonement,
though. II you will ct mel"
How"
"In any way you please"
would you marry me, mademoi-
seller"
Eyes, monsieur"
you conceive then that you owe
me extraordinary reparation?"
1.-THE geratest possible" she
answered very softly.
knew then that loved her still.
in spite of better cause for hate
than love; but SO deep was my bit
terness and sense of injury against
her that felt perfectly incapable
Of magnanimity.
81 need wife less than a serv-
ant who will nurse mel" l said
coldly.
II will serve you, monsieur"
l looked away and reflected
deeply on her words. / turned at
last, and said: