Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-09-03


the heavy chests To their shoulders and
started for the door.
CLOSE der door. Ian" comma ded
Won Blitz from the passage. I've VIII
light der fuse ven We hal got beyond
der first bend. vaty Look! by tam.
Won OF you swine has broke der fuse
Wait! We will fix him now"
The door was closed behind them
but the listeners could hear them re-
pairing the damage that Selim had
done 10 the fuse
Led by Selim. the four made rush
for the door leading into the chateau.
They threw II open and passed
through. Tying as II for their lives
No one could tell how soon an explo-
sion might bring disaster 10 the re-
eion: they put distance between them
and the powder keg. Selim paused
long enough to drop the bolts and turn
the great key with the lever. AT the
second turn In the narrow corridor he
overlook Chase and the scurrying
women.
lis there nothing TO be dopeT' cried
the princess. Can we not prevent the
explosionl They will cut Off our means
Of escape in that
II know too much about gunpowder.
princess" said Chase dryly. Ito fool
with #. It's like a mule. II kicks
hard. Cad, It was hard to stand there
and hear those brutes planning 1t all
and not be able TO stop them!'
The princess was once more at his
side. lie had clasped her arm to lead
her securely IN the wake of Neenah's
electric lantern. She came TO a sud
den stop.
And pray. Mr.. Chase" she said
sharply. as II the thought occurred TO
her for the first time. why didn't You
stop them? You bad the advantage.
You and Selim could have surprised
them-you could have taken them with
out a struggle"
He laughed softly. deprecatingly. not
little impressed by the justice Of her
criticism
NO doubt you consider me COW
ard" he said ruefully.
"You know that do not" she pro-
tested I'll cant understand your
motive; that is all"
You forget that | am the represent
alive of these very men. am the
trusted agent of Sir John Brudney.
who has refused TO supplant me with
another. can't very well represent
Sir John aud AT the same time make
prisoners or corpses Of his clients
even though | am being shielded by
their legal foes I'll not have Won
Blitz saying. even to himself that
have not only stolen his wives. but
have also cast him into the hands OF
his Philistines. IL may sound quixotic
to you. but think thar Lord Depping
ham and Mr. Browne will understand
my attitude"
But Won Blltz has sworn TO Kill
you" she expostulated. with some heat
'You are wasting your integrity.
must say. MIR. Chase"
Would you have me shoot him from
ambush 2" he demanded.
"Not at all You could have taken
him captive aud held him safe until
the time comes for you to leave the
island"
"He would not have been my cap
tive In auy event could do no more
than deliver him into the hands OF his
enemies. Would that be fairI"
But be Is thief
NO more 50 than Taswel Skaggs
and John WycLholme. who unquestion-
ably cheated the natives out Of the
very treasure we have seen carried
away. am not a constable nor a
thief catcher am soldier OF the
defense. not an officer of the crown, at
this stage of the game. Today shall
contrive to send word 10 Rasula that
Won Blltz has stolen the treasure
chests. Mr. Won Blitz will have sad
time explaining this little detection to
his friends. We must not overlook the
fact that Lady Deppingham and Rob
ert Browne are quite willing TO take
everything from the islanders. Every
thing that Taswell Skaggs and John
Wyckholme possessed In this island
belongs to them under the terms of the
will"
They were at the top Of the second
flight OF stairs by this time and quite
a distance from the treasure chamber
His coolness the absence OF any sign
of returning sentiment was puzzling
her sorely. Half an hour before she
had been carried away. rendered help
less. by the passion that swayed him
Now he spoke and looked as II he had
forgotten the result OF his storming
Strangely enough. she was piqued.
When they came into the well light
ed upper corridor he proceeded ruth.
essly to upset all of her harsh calcu-
ations He stopped suddenly, STEP
ping directly In front of her. AS she
Drew mp in surprise he reached down
md took both of her hands In his
For the moment she was too amazed
- oppose this sudden action. She