Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-01
THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE.
By ROBERT AITKEN.
Tn John MBid Company

O
coed friend of ours. He and have fixed UP
| a plan to get you away. And now, II you
will-if you will change your costume for
that which I have brought you in this
suit case, I'll have you safely back at the
ha cenda with the real Fiji for company
by the time his excellency comes to pay
his morning call here. But you must not
put off a moment in the process, please.
If he should catch us by the way it would
be worse thap ever for us all. And don't
take any notice of what happens here.
She caught the case up and disappeared
with a nod of assurance ere he could
finish.
He turned aside and lifted a corner Of
| the great tiger skin which covered dim
corner of the anteroom. behind the chair
in which he had been sitting.
1.-The games afoot. old chap he whis-
pered. hurriedly. eff any trouble comes
to you through your connection with 1t,
| send up the signal and I'll do my best
to bring you assistance. We owe you
more than We can pay already. and
Challoner scowled denial "Oh, fiddle
sticks.' said he. I'm only amusing my
self in my spare moments. I've nothing
else to do till the Tiger returns
Meggs dropped the rug over him again,
turned the lamp lower and crossed swift
ly to the porch. Some one without was
coming quietly toward the pavilion. He
thrust a hand out through the curtains
and waved it in a manner which he
Soft footsteps once more sounded on the
sun-baked soil. and some one, STOPPING.
kissed his fingers.
He grinned i'm a most unladylike man.
ner. but composed his features ere he
pulled the screen slightly apart and Karl
Won Rudolf entered with a low rever-
ence.
The latter was in undress uniform. a
straight and slender figure with a boy 8
face but sadly lined and scanned by the
1 w ho of
him before his time. and wistful blue
gray eyes which betrayed disappoint-
ment as he peered in the semi-darkness
at the shy girl before him.
Your pardon for disturbing you.
ma m selle." he said in French. but you
resemble so very closely a lady"
Meggs simulated an eager interest and
nodded He signed to the soldier that he
should seat himself and made pretense
of listening intently for any sound from
sitting his scruples concerning the part
ne must play.
Won Rudolf, somewhat mystified, obeyed
nim. and lay YEARLY back in the rocking
chair. His legs shot out in front of him.
the chair tipped upward, and a cord
across his throat cut short the cry Of
anger and establishment to which he
would have given utterance.
Meggs passed hastily behind him. and.
with a scarf. blinded him most effectual-
~. ScCuIcu Ills WTlStS anu Ankles I'd lu0
arms and legs Of the chair and poured the
contents of the caraffe into his open
mouth. To gag him efficaciously was
easy, and after that he was quite power
less. Sight, speech and hearing were shut
off. The languor of drugged impotence
was already lOosening his straining
limbs.
Meggs had executed these maneuvers
at top speed. and he next turned his at
tention to providing the invaluable Chal-
loner with an alibi which should be un-
Improbable when he should. be discov-
cred there. as must inevitably happen.
since his professional duties forbade his
joining the rescue party. That gentle
man was still on his knees behind the
rocking chair. shaking with soundless
laughter.
by the holy poker!" said he, but that
was tricky turn, Jerry. 1t almost made
me explode to see you mincing about like
hen on hot bricks. with a love lock
over one eye.
I'm only sorry he went on. more
graveIy. that it's Won Rudolf and not
Ybarra we've had to put out of action.
But needs must when the devil drives,
and it was the only way.
Nov get busy. and don't forget to han