The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-12-05
in MANY
|(slJISE.S.
Copyright 1905 by Newspaper Enterprise Association

when they returned Marion had
some coy in her face.
"You Mould have known It,
child" Sir Charles was saying. II
did not use bald words, because I
trusted your intelligence. "A long
voyage was the term / used. 1t
bore one application only in my
mind. You must perceive how ut
terly impossible 1t Is that he should
live. Why, II we kept him prisoner,
he might escape-10, 20 years
hence even, and yet he still could
ruin us!"
She bowed her head before him
and appeared to think.
"And unless M. Hume confesses
that he lied about the packet,
must behold his torture and listen
to his screams!"
"Unhappily, my child"
Perhaps, perhaps, m'sieur-if he
withstands the torture and persists
to lie, you will then torture me?
You do not see, though l see. He
has planned that you should bring
me here for his revenge. There
fore, he will not tell the truth! Will
you torture me, m'sieur?"
my child. you are fool. 1t Is
the truth that l am seeking. l
would give you the jewels, If you
needed them. But this shall not
do-permit this man to triumph
over me, in one iota! Why, Ma
rion--(his voice broke)-he once
obliged me to shake hands with
him!"
thrilled to hear him, for I saw
he spoke the truth, and l under
stood at last how utterly he had
brooked the way that / had used
him.
Marion left the surgeons side,
and came very close to me. Agar
Hume" she murmured, II have
used you i'll, but how Ill did not
dream till now. AS God hears me
/ would never have betrayed you
II had known 1t could have meant
what 1t has meant, and means!"
go on!" said /, your voice Is
very sweet"
"You loved me once" she whis-
pered.
II did, indeed"
by the memory Of that love l
implore you now to speak the truth
and forfeit your revenge. am
only woman, monsieur: surely
my punishment is great enough in
knowing that l have brought you to
your DEATH"
I'm not dead yet, mademoiselle.
You reproach yourself too soon."
But you will diet" she cried.
when 1t is written"
She gave a little moan. For
Gods sake" she pleaded. "for
Gods sake. M. Hume"
"Sk Charles" said I, II thought
myself a liar till l met this woman
and selfish, too, beyond COMPARE
son. Did you ever hear the maxim
invented for the ruling Of my life?
1t was this: First person para
mount But look at her! She
dwarfs and shadows me so mucn,
without maxim but her woman
hood, that can only keep my dig
nifty by noising my defeat. Here
am l, bound. helpless. i'll, and
threatened with a painful death
because of her. But she has jewels
which she sets before my agony,
and she would spare herself the
shame of witnessing that agony.
Wherefore she tries to fool me to
the end, not caring what l suffer,
SO that her eyes and ears are not
offended"
Very WE'LL" she cried in voice
grown hoarse and desperate. TOR
ture him! Torture him. That is
all have to say!"
Sir Charles glanced from her to
the negroes. Light the stove" he
said.
The wretches disappeared behind
my chair, and I heard one strike
q lucifer.
Within a few minutes Jussieu re-
appeared, bearing an iron plate,
upon which was arrayed a brace of
steel avis, set In wooden handles.
Tho points glimmered blue and red.
Jussieu set his plate upon the floor,
and, taking one of the avis in his
hand, glanced up at his master.
"One moment" cried Marion.
She darted to the rack and seized
q half-embtied champagne bottle
which Beudant had opened. Dis
daining the cup, she raised the bot
tie to her mouth, and, bending back
her head, drank deeply.
Sir Charles and l exchanged
glances Of amusement. A little later
Marion recovered her position, but
she continued to hold the bottle.
She was snow white, and her eyes
were dull and turgid. II am ready!"
she declared.
The surgeon stepped to the side
OF my chair. and, presenting his
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