Putnam patriot., 1909-11-19
CHAPTER XxviI.
THE rUEsuu.

~ fEPplNGHAM sprang to his feet with a fierce oath on hts lips. HU His usually lusterless eyes were - gleaming with something more l than despair There WIS the wild l light of uRmistakshie relief Tn them 1 It was ns if horrid doubt had been
 sealed from the soul of Lady pepplng hams husband.
 We must followr' shouted his lord ship. preparing to lower himself into the jagged opening. We may he in timer'
 "Stop. Dcppingham.' cried Chase. leaxsng to his side. Don't rush blind ly into a trap like that They've got an hour or more start of us. Moth ing will be accomplished hy rushing into an ambush. They'd kill us like rats Rasula is s sagaclous scoundreL He'll not take the entire responsibility. Tbere will i,e n council of all the head. men. It will be of no advantage to them to kill the heirs unless they are sure that WV won't live to tell the tale. They will ec slow now that they have the cAssf sbstaciss to victory in their hands.-
 If they will give her up to me I will guarnatee that Lady Agnes shall re linquish all eiaim to the estate.s an nounced the harassed husband. They wcai't do that. old man. Prom ises won't tempt them.' protested Chase we've got to do what we can to rescue them I'm with you. gentle. men. in the undertaking-frst. for hu- manity's sake: second. because I am your friend last. because l don't want my clients to lose all chance of winning out in this controversy by acting like confounded asses. It isn't what Sir John expects of me" i. In the meantime the anxious coterie in the chateau were waiting eagerly for the return of the searchers. Dru- silla made one remark, half uncon- sciously, no doubt. that rasped in the ears of the princess for days It was the cold, bitter. resigned epitome of the young wife's thoughts: Robert has leyed her for months" That was all.
 Mr. and Mrs. Saunders. thankful that something had happened to divert at- tention from their own conspicuous
 plight. were discoursing freely in the center of . group composed of the four Englishmen from the bank.
 "It's a plain out and out elcpement." said Mrs. Saunders, flaming herSelf vigorously.
 But, my dear" expostuiated her husband, blushing vtvidly over the first public use of the appeliation.
 "where the devil could they eiope tor
 .I don't know. Tommy. but elopers
 never take that into consideration. Do
 they. MT. Bowlesr
 At last the four men appeared in the
 mouth of the cavern. The watchers
 below fell into chilled silence when they discovered that the missing ones
 were not with them. Stupefied with apprehension, they watched the men descend the ladder and cross the
 bridge.
 .sThey are dead" fell from Drusilla
 Browne's lips She swayed for an in- stant and then sank to the ground un- conscious.
  In the conference which followed the return of the searchers 1t was set ted that three of the original party
 should undertake the further prosecu- ton of the hunt for the two heirs. Lord Deppingham found ready voiun- feers in Chase and the faithful Seiim. They prepared to go out in the hills before the night wns an hour older. Selim convinced Chase that the willy Rasula would carry his captives to the mines. where he was in full power. You're right. Selim- If he's tried that game wen beat him at it. Ten to one if he hasn't already chucked them into the sea they're now confined in one of the mills over there" They were ready to start In very short time. Selim carried a quantity of food and a small supply of brandy. Each was heavily armed and prepared for stifY battle with the abductors I've seem constantly to be saying roodby to each other" Thus spoke inc princess to Chase as he stood at the top ot sbe stf-t~ ~hfB"s iSf FrstAA~ The darkness hsd the wan, desEsairfn9 smile that gave fhe lie to her sprightly words.
 And I'm always doing the unezpect- ed thing-coning back This time may vary the monotony by failing to return
 T should think you could vary if more pleasantly by not going away she said. You wifi be carefu3T
 .sThe danger Is here. not out there" l he said meaningiy.
 You mean naf But. ike all dan ger. I sean shall pass. In few Gays [ shall say rondby foreyer and sal away
 -How much better 1t wouid be for