Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-01
CHAPTER XIII.
A Losing Hazard.

Beatriz drew back, regarding him with
a blind bewilderment He would have
paid in his hearts blood for the right to
take her into his own arms, and hold her
safe there from her enemies and his But
that might not be.
II don't-I can't-who are you?" she
asked. DULY Where have you come
from? How long have 1 been here?''
He had seen that in her heavy eyes
which helped him to understand.
I'm Jerry Meggs." he repeated. dis
tinctly. setting all his dead dreams be-
hind him for her sake. I've come from
Phil Corbyn to take you back to him.
He's at the hacienda and none the worse
Of the, blow the priest dealt him. You've
been here for close on twenty-four hours
and much has happened in that time. I
think you must have had some opiate to
make you sleep so long"
The cloud lifted from her mind while he
spoke. She had swiftly recalled the past.
recollected how little cause he had to run
any such deadly risk for her sake. She
could see from his face that his feelings
toward her had undergone no change
since that day on which he had told her
in London that he was hers to dispose
Of body and soul. The simplicity of his
self-sacrifice touched responsive chord
in her heart. His life was hers. without
need of words. though she had naught to
give in exchange. She held out both her
hands to him with an impulsive gesture
of gratitude.
Jerry" she said. very softly. you're
more than generous"
She could make him no better return.
and even that he would have disclaimed.
: Hush hush" he answered. Il only
seek to see you happy. There's nothing
out of the way in that. Say no more
now. We're not alone
She glanced about her. but there was
no one else visible within the canvas
walls.
Tell me-" she begged in a low voice.
chow you come to be with Phil. What
has happened?"
II must be very brief" he responded.
II reached his side a couple of hours ago
with the rest of the force he has got to-
gether to rescue you. Dennis O'Dare
fixed me up to play Fiji. and 1 came trip
ping across with a line from Corbyn to
say that you would be sure to require
your maid. The pickets passed me quite
readily and Won Rudolf sent me in here
at once He's just been at the door beg
ging few words with me. I answered
that I would see him in twenty minutes
or so, and that he must be careful not to
disturb you. Something is going to hap
pen then. and I'll trust you not to make
single sound, whatever you see or hear.
"Ybsrra's on his way back here from
Alta Cruz, where he went vest erday to
talk to Quentin Sariol. who has been plot
ting against him. He's bringing a priest
with him, too. The one who came with
you has disappeared.
"Now's our time. therefore. The coast
is as clear as it ever will be. and if you
feel all right again. we'd better"
Eyes, I'm quite wide awake now" she
assured him. "They must have drugged
my drinking water, think. I drank
some just before daylight. 1t seems so
short q time since-I saw dawn across the
threshold. But how-what chance is
there Of our escaping?"
where's the glass you drank from?'
he asked, eagerly. in reply. She brought
out from the inner room cut glass
caraffe still half full. and an empty
tumbler.
Meggs held the former up to the light
and then shook it. It's contents clouded
over.
They're third-class criminals, and
clumsy ones at that" he commented more
cheerfully than he had heretofore spoken.
"Do you know Mr.. Challoner?"
She shook her head in surprise.