Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1909-11-18

Come, Fritz Won Ravenstein," the
Princess answered. suddenly calming
herself, becoming rigid like some
snake that is suddenly hypnotized by
the voice Of an Indian charmer.
Come, and will show you something
smore!"
Her white and jewelled hand
clutched the purple velvet of his coat,
and she drew him to the opposite wall.
Then, still holding him with her left
hand, with her right she tore the cur
tain away from what was hidden.
Look there!" she cried. Fix your
eyes upon that"
The young man looked and shud-
.dered. Two other young men, watch
ing this mad and terrible scene like
statues frozen by the horror Of it all,
looked also.
And this is what they saw In the
full electric beam curtain showed a
picture of the Duchess of London in
all her radiant beauty, glancing out at
them as II she was ready to step out
of the picture and come down to end
this scene Of horror.
Look! Look" the Princess cried,
her voice now. rising into an insane
scream Of dreadful hatred. Look,
Won Ravensteinl That is the dread
full woman who took him. That is the
mother of this thing in the cage! May
the curses OF God fall upon her! May
she never see again ---','
AS she screamed out this, something
more noble than any feudal tradition
asserted itself in the young man. He
rushed up4to the wild ! stately figure
in its crimson gown, swaying and
shrieking with the hate of madwom-
an, and caught her by the arms.
Princess" he said, you must come
away! You must come away! There
is an end to everything. | thinkI
think
She flung the courtier from her with
the strength Of madness. One white
hand, flashing with diamonds, went up
to her hair. She withdrew long sill
yer pin and with an awful panther-like
movement began to circle round the
steel cage toward its gate.
Fritz" she said, in quiet, rising
voice, which was exactly like the slow
escape of steam from an oyercharged
boiler. Fritz, think you are right.
Perhaps it would be better to end it
now. will take this pin. First of all
I will push 1t into his eyes-and then
all over
There was roar of terror. and an
ger, sound which echoed and re-
echoed In the still and brilliant salons
of the palace, as Grant, and Marriott
threwssf from themselves hypnotism
which had bound their limbs and froz-
en- their hearts with horror, and burst
into the chamber with cleaning revol-
ve1s in their hands.
Grant rushed at the Princess. He
lscaught her wrist in his strong left
hand, twisted the shining pin away
from it, and forced the dreadful WON
an upon the floor. Then, mad as he
was, he lifted his right hand and
drought itSdown with terrible force
upon the writing face. If.
Even as he did SO he. fell upon his
knees. and gasped at what he had
done. III
The Princess lay mot Grants
hands went up to his face and Gov
sered his eyes, 81
Il have hit a wonan!'s he, said, in
thick, gutteral accents. 81 have hit a
woman! Heaven forgive me. ] have
hit, a woman
Then he also sank Imply upon the
floor and seemed to sleep.
Won Ravenstein had been kneeling
j against the wall. His whole face had
BECOME mask Of blank and idiotie
terror, but when Michael sank moan
ing by the side of the woman in red
velvet, something automatic
Impulse within him reasserted itsel1
and gave strength to his impulse and
purpose to his movements.
He leapt straight at Basil Marriott
blending all his limbs together, as {
stohe goes from catapult.
In second the two men were
Hooked In a terrible embrace. They
isswayed land staggered over the stone
door grooming and straining without
a Word. 1900 ]. g
Basil's open right hand was pressed
against the Germans chin, and mo
lment by moment his right arm grew il
strength, and he felt the head of his
adversary gradually pressing back
pressing back towards that breadth
instant when there would come
Slight sclick and lifeless form ane
blnke spine would fall beneath tlat
terrible onslaught 5 ssS f5;sS
Is Round and round the prone figure:
OF Michael Grant and the Princess thu
srightfnI contest spun and cireled, am
l theh sndd enly the little creature Al
he cage woke UP, and a tiny voice hi
and etched itself into the silence 8
\ The figh 4,
her. mother want mott
The piteous wailing voice struss
Basn like blow He relaxed Ill
nanscles for a singl moment. aud ..
4 he did 80 the strong young German
d onicer gaye ~ gasp Of relief, twisted
Il7aWay 4 re eel, st aggsFeS