Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1908-02-13
N. You would penetrate the strong.

s'Os" w " uVbDVIoEv u"b" 'bsoH
you who only this morning saw .
young girls life threatened and raised
no hand. II IL was cowardice that
made you hesitate, why should tho
coward play the hero 80 bravcly now?
Or was 1t that You are the ally Of tho
very man whom you pretend you are
anxious To confront empty haDdcd?'
II have done my best to- move you.
What do you want? ! am in your
hands"
u want tho truth"
II have told you tho truth. II ! lied
~ might avail me more" I said bitter.
~. "For the last time I cntreat you
] ave been proved a coward-twice.
But this was to be my chance. ! hoped
TO retrieve myself. But fate blocks
the way with a fool who cannot SEQ
when a man Is desperately In earnest.
F~crdinand's murder Ia certain II wo
lift no hand to save him. Listen: In
my pocket is the key to the little door
Just beyond you. Take IT.: let your
self into the hall: hide there and use
the evidence Of your own eyes"
And let you slip from my hands?
Not much What Is that"
He turned abruptly. The accom-.
plicc OF DR.. Starva who had been keep
Ing guard before the door was running
toward the ~passageway leading from
the village street. could hear dis.
tlnctly the carriage wheels rumble
over tho cobblc8t0nes."
"For the last time" I besought.
"Thcrc Is not an instant to lose"
SIN he hcsItatcd, looking cautiously
around the angle Of the wall ut the ap.
preaching carriage. His curiosity mndo
him negligent.
his was my chance. Ono arm
caught him about the neck: the other
reached for his weapon. Then
pushed him violently backward and
covered him. rctrcatlpg myself toward
IN. little door, the key In my hand.
stand back" I whispered flcrccly.
Now take you choice. Go to tho VII.
lagc; you cant go too quickly, you
stubborn Idiot. Come back with Ecnd.
armca; batter down the door. Or elso
cOinc with nc. You have accused mo
Of cowardicc more than once. Show
you arc n man. Quickly, your chOicC!"
heard him chuckling softly to HIM.
self In tho darkness.
We'll. I'm damned" he muttcrcd,
more than once. Lead on. MacduT."
As my key slipped into tho lock no
was at my side.
| pushed the littlo doOr open.
The hail was empty. but brilliant
with tho light Of a hundred candies.
No nook or Granny afforded M a safo
hiding place.
lcapcd up the staircase with Locke
at my heels. We had reached the gal.
Icry as the great door swung open.
Prince Ferdinand entered. DR.. Starva
and his ally crowding him close on
either side.
Tho prince stepped into the hall with
apparent confidence. But ~ he heard
the door clang behind him he turned
alertly to Dr. Starvn.
"Whcrc IL Madame dc Varnlcr?" no
demanded In French.
Madame dc WARMER ~ navoidabIy
detained, your Majesty. She has dele.
gated me 10 receive You. Be assured,
your MaIcsty'B welcome shall not DO
lacking In warmth, VIII your Majesty
pray bo seated? There are urgent
matters of state to be discussed"
lie pushed the prince brntally into a
chair, bending Ovnr him with n hidcous
smile that would have done credit To
tho devil himself.
Locke and ] were %crOuching behind
an antique rug that hung over tho gal.
Icry rail. lie graspcd my hand and
wrung II hard: II was an apology that
he had doubted me. and an assurance
that he was with me now heart and
soul. lie had seer enough already to
provo to him that ! had spoken tho
absolute truth.
We listened brcathIcgB; yes, and wo
could see as well. and with no danger
Of discovery. The rug was a museum
specimen, and In places was worn
through web and wool; II was a sim.
with our fingers.
perhaps y0u Majesty did not no.
tlcc the flag that flies at half-mast
owe the tower" tainted Starva. at
half.mast. your Majesty! .Ah. his
Majesty grows pale. friend BratInau."
Ills Majesty has imagination"
grOwlcd the other rufian.
! Gro BE CONTINUED
&GD&