Putnam patriot., 1909-12-03
CHAPTER xxx. THE TWO WoRIns

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 l~lWo days and nights crept slowly into the past, and now the white people of the chateau had o come 10 the eve of their last days stay on the island of Japat- The probationary period would expire with the sun on the following day, the an niyersary of the death of Taswel. Skaggs. The six months set aside by the testator as sufficient for all the re quirements of Cupid were to come 10 an inslorious end al o'clock on March 29. According to the will, if Agnes Ruthyen and Robert Browne were not married to each other before the close estate were lost to them.
 Tomorrow would be the last day of residence required. But, alack. was it to be the last that they were to spend in the world forsaken land?
 No later than that morning steam. er-a small Dutch freighter-had come to q stop of the harbor. but 1t turned tail and fed within an hour. No one came ashore. The malevolent tug went out aud turned back the landing party which was ready to leave the ships side The watchers Ill the cha teau knew what it was that the tugs captain shouted through his trumpet at a safe distance from the steamer. The black and yellow flags al the end of the eompany's pier tent color To grewseme story. The hopeless look deepened in the eyes of the watchers.
 HoIlingsworth Chase alone maintain ed a stubborn air of confidence and unconcern.
 Don't be downhearted, Bowles," he said to the moping British agent You'll soon De managing the bank again and patronizing the American bar with the same old regularity"
 There had been several vicious as sauts upon the gates by the infuriated islanders during the day following tke rescue of the heirs. Some powerful in fiuence suddenly exerted itself to re. store them to state of calmness. They withdrew to the town. apparent iy defeated The cause was obvious Rasula had convinced them that death already was lifting bis hand to blot out the lives of those who opposed thsIn.
 Bobby Browne was accomplishing wonders in the laboratory. He seldom was seen outside the distiiling room His assiduity was marked, if not com. mented upon. Hour after hour he ftood watch over the water that went I'D in vapor and returned to the crystal liquid that was more precious than rubies and sapphires.
 Drusilla kept close to his side dur ing these operations. She seemed afraid or asha med to join the others. She avoided Lady Deppingham as completely as possible. Her effort to be friendly when they were thrown together was almost pitiable
 AS for Lady Agnes. she seemed stricken by an unconquerable lassi tude. The spirits that had controlled her voice. her look. her movements. were sadly missing More than once Genevra had caught her watching Dep bingham with eyes that spoke vol umes, though they were mute and wistful.
 From time to time the senttnels brought to Lord Deppingham and Chase missiyes that had been tossed over the walls by the eInissaries or Rasula. They were written by the leader himself and in every instance expressed deepest sympathy for the plague ridden chateau.
 There's a psucity of real news in these gentle messages that annoys me- Chase said after reading aloud the last of the epistles to the princess and the Deppinghams- "1 rejoice In my heart that he isn't aware of the ,rue state of affairs. He doesn't ap- preciate the real calamity that con fronts us. The plague? Poison? Mere ntf1e If be only knew that l am now smoking my last-the iast-cigareue on the place."
 aI believe you would de more cer- tstnIv from lack of cigarettes than from an overabundance of poison. .sia Genevra. She was thinking of The stock she had boarded up for him in her dressing table drawer. under lock and key
 II say. Chase. can't you just see pasnIa.s face when he learns that w.,ve been drinking the water all along and haven't passed away r cried Deppingharn-
 -Apa 10 think. MT. Chase. we once ~.,isd von rhe enemy. said Lady -nes Tn a low, dreamy voice
 q anpear to have outlived my use .r,nsss in that respect he said He tossed fbe stub of his efzareue over the balcony rail -Goodby" De said v-Ifh melancholy emphasis Then be ,s,t an iaquiring look upon the race Of the princess.