Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-11-10

dropped his struggling burden to meet
the attack OF the unexpected deliverer
he was felled to the earth by mighty
blow from the rife which his assailant
swung swift and true. His skull was
crushed rs if it were an eggshell.
Lady Agnes struggled to her feet.
wild eyed. half crazed by the double
assault. The next instant she fell for
ward upon her face. dead to al! that
was to follow In the next few min
utes.
There was no struggle Chase and
Selim We're upon the stupeiied island
ers before they could move. covering
them with their rifles The wretches
fell upon their knees and howlcd for
mercy. While Deppinsham was hold
ing his wife's limp form in his arms,
calling out to her in the agony of fear.
utterly oblivious TO all else that was
happening about him. his two friends
were swiftly disarming the glovelins
natives. Selim's knife severed the
cords that bound Bobby Brownies
hands. He was staring blanlily. diz.
ziiy before him.
Ten minutes later Chase WAS adj
dressing himself to the four islanders
Who. bound and gagged. We're tied by
their own sashes to trees some dis
lance from the roadside.
1--WE just thought Of a little service
you fellows can perform for me in re-
turn for what I've done for you. All
the time you're doing 1t. however.
there will be pistols quite close TO your
backs. Lady Deppinghnm is much too
weak to take the five mile walk We've
got to do in the next two hours-or less.
You are to have the homer of carrying
her four miles and II half ard you will
hive to get along the best you can
with the gags in your mouths. Two
Of you form Il basket with your hands
I'll show you how"
With Selim in the lead the little pro.
cession moved swiftly. but cautiously,
through the black jungle. bent on
reaching the gate If possible before
the night lifted Chase and Bobby
Browne brought up the rear with the
two reserve carriers in hand. Browne,
weak and suffering from torture and
exposure. struggled bravely along, de-
temined not tc retard their progress
by single moment of indecision.
In his heart Browne was now raging
against the fate that had placed him
in this humiliating, almost contempti-
ble position. He. and he alone, was
responsible for the sufferings that
Lady Agnes had endured. 1t was as
gall and wormwood to him that othel
men had been ordained to save her
from the misery that he had created
He could almost have welcomed death
for himself and her rather than to
have been saved by George Depping
ham
His wife! He could never be the
same to her. He had forfeited the
trust and confidence of the one loya
believer among them all. And nov
Lady Deppingham loathed him be
cause his weakness had been greater
than hers!
When he would have slain the fou
helpless islanders with his own hand
Ho,lingsworth Chase had stayed hi
rage with the single, caustic adjCra
ton:
Keep out OF this, Browne! You'v
been enough of a bounder without try
ing that sort of thing"
Tears were in Bobby Brownies eye
as mile after mile he Numbered alon
his heart bleeding itself dry throug
the wound those words had made.
1T was still pitch dark when the
came to the ridge above the parl
Through the trees the lights in the CHI;
teau could be seen. Lady Agnes opene
her eyes and cried out in tremulor
joy
you've iabored well and faithfully
Chase said to the painting islander
--apd I'm going TO reward you. T.
going TO set you free, but not We
Don't rejoice. First we shall tie, yc
securely to four stout trees just off Il
eoud Just us soon as we are insit
the walls Ill tiEd some way to let ye'
friends know that you are here"
He and Selim promptly mnrc,ea II
hewi.drred Islanders into the wood
Bobby Eraw'ne utterly exhausted. hi
thrown himself To the soft earth. Lad
DePpingham Mis standing. swayin
but resolute. her :.aZe upon the distal