Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-09-22
CHAPTER XVII.
CHASE COMES FROM THE CLOUDS.


I~fOR many minutes the watchers
In in the chateau stared at the
IN burning bungalow, fascinated.
s@-y petrificd. Through the mind Of
each man ran the sudden, sharp dread
that Chase had met death at the hands
of his enemies.
Genevra felt her heart, turn cold.
Then something seemed to clutch her
by the throat and choke the breath out
of her body. Through her brain went
whirling the recollection of his last
words to her that afternoon, They'll
find me ready if they come for trou-
ble." She, wondered if he had been
ready for them or if they had sur
tprised him! She had heard the shots.
Chase could not have fired them all.
Was he now lying dead in that blaZ-
ing She screamed aloud with the
thought OF it!
Cant something be done?" she cried
again aud again. without taking her
gaze from the doomed bungalow. She
turned tiercely upon Bobby Browne.
his countryman. Afterward she re-
called that he stood staring as she had
stared. Lady Deppingham clasping his
arm with both Of her hands. The
glance also took in the face of Dep
bingham. lie was looking at his wife,
and his eyes were wide and CLASSY, but
not with terror. ut may not be too
late!" again cried the princess. There
are enough of us here to make an eff
fort, no matter how futile. He may be
alive and trapped up
You're right!'' shouted Browne.
Hes not the kind to go down with
the first rush. We must go to him.
We can get there in ten minutes.
Britt! Where are the guns? Are you
with us. Deppingham"
lie did not wait for an answer, but
dashed out of the garden and down
the steps. calling to his wife to follow.
.Stop!' shouted Deppingham. 1--WE
dare not leave this place! II they have
turned against Chase. they are also
ready for us. Pm not coward.
Browne. We're needed here that's all.
It's too late to help Chase. They've
got him. poor devil! Everybody inside!
Get to the guns If possible and cut off
tae servants quarters. We must not
let them surprise us. Follow me!'
There was wisdom in what he said,
and Browne was not slow to see 1t
clearly. With a single penetrating
glance at Genevra's despairing face,
he shook his head gloomily and turned
to follow Deppingham. who was hllr-
rying off through the corridor with her
ladyship.
Come" he called. and the princess,
feeling Drusilla's hand grasping her
arm. gave one helpless look at the fire
and hastened to obey.
In the grand hallway they came
upon Britt and Saunders. white faced
and excited. The white servants were
gathering down the stairways, filled
with alarm, but there was not one of
the native attendants in sight. This
was ominous enough in itself. The
sound of q violent struggle in the lower
corridor came to their ears. Loud
voices, blows, n single shot, the rush
Aho VI 4SStt tlC l'uAltlAS, VI ihCu III uSJCO
combat-and then. even as the whites
turned to retreat up the stairway. a
crowd Of men surged up the stairs
from below, headed by Baillo. the ma
jor domo.
stop, excellenciesw he shouted
again and again. Bobby Browne and
Deppingham were covering the retreat.
prepared to fight to the end for their
women. although unarmed. 1t was the
American who first realized that Bnillo
was not heading an attack upon them.
Baillo and score of his men had re-
fused to join the stablemen and gar
deners in the plot to assassinate, the
white people. AS a last resort the con
spirators contriyed to steal into the
chateau, hoping to fall upon their vic
Tins before Baillo could interpose. The
major domo, however, with the willy
sagacity Of his race. anticipated the
move. The two forces met in the