The independent-reporter., 1909-12-16

of me, What are you doing for them
Come. Mr.. Chase. may | not dress
them for you? am capable / am not
afraid Of wounds. We have had many
Of them in our family, and fatal ones
too" She was earer now and earnest.
He shook bis head with smile on
his lips. Il thank you. They are bet
ter. much better ard they have been
quite properly bandaged already"
"Neenah""
YES" he replied gently. She seem
ed to search his mind with quick, In
tense look into his eyes. Then she
smiled and said. "Fll promise not to
bruise the wounds II you'll only be SC
good rs to shake bands with me-"
He took her slender hand In b,
broad white swathed palm and press.
ed 1t fervenly regardless OF the pair
which would have caused him to
cringe II engaged In any other pursuit
There was no longer any doubt as
1c the intentions OF the disappointed
islanders. Won Biitz and Rasula had
convinced them that their cause was
seriously jeopardtoed. They were made
to see the necessity for permanently
removing the white pretenders from
their path.
Deppingham, on account Of his one
time position an the British army, was
chosen chief officer of the beleagnered
Citadel" A strict espionage was set
upon the native servants despite Bail
los assurances OF loyalty. Lookouts
were posted in the towers, and a cease
less watch was to be kept day and
night. Chase on his first visit to the
west tower discovered a long unused
searchlfght of powerful dimensions.
Fortunately for the 'besieged, the cleo
tric light plant was located In the
chateau grounds and could not be
tampered with from the outside.
Britt was put in charge of the night
patrol Saunders the day. Selim un-
der orders had severed the long rope
with a single rife shot. No one could
hope to reach the chateau by way OF
the cliff.
guard the women from attacks from
the inside. The window bars were
iocEed securely, and heavy bolts were
placed on the doors leading to the low
'er regions. 1t was now only too ap-
parent that Skaggs and WyckholmC
had wrought we'll in anticipation Of a
rebellion by the native shareholders.
Each window had its adjustable
CRATES: every outer door was protected
by heavy iron gates.
BY nightfall Deppingham's forces
were in full possession of every ad-
vantage that their position afforded.
Chase came from his room, still stiff
and sore, but with fresh. white band
ages on his blistered hands. He asked
and received permission to light Gig
arctic and then dropped wearily into a
seal near the princess who sat upon
the stone railing. Her trim. graceful
figure was outlined against the dark
ness. A delicate, senuOus fragrance
eXhaled from her person. filling him
with an indescribable delight and Ian
guor; the spell of her beauty was upon
aim. and he felt the leap of his blood.
'"If I were you," he said at last,
reluctant to despoil the picture, 81
wouldn't sit up there. 1t would be q
very simple matter for one Of our
friends to pick you off with a shot
from below. Please let me pull up a
chair for you"
She smiled languidly. without trace
of uneasiness I'm her manner.
Dear officer OF the day, do you think
they are so foolish as to pick us off In
particles? Not at all. They will dis
pose Of us wholesale, not by the piece.
BY the way, has Nsenah been made
QUITE .comfortalbleT'
~ believe SO. She and Selim have
the room beyond mime, thanks to Lady
Deppfngham."
Agnes tells me that she Is very in
teresting-quite like a princess out OF
q fairy book. You recall the princesses
who were always being captured by
satisfactorily rescued by those dear
knights admirable? Did Selim steal
her in the beginningF
You forget the pot of sapphires and
the big ruby"
'They say that princesses can be
bought very cheaply."
Depends entirely upon the quality
of princess you desire It's very much
like buying rare gems or old paintings,
I'd say. Speaking Of princesses and
ogres. has 1t occurred to you that you
would bring a fortune In the market2'
"Mr. Chase!'
"You know. it's barely possible that
you may be put In a matrimonial SHOP
window If Won Blitz and his friends
should capture you alive. Ever think
of that p
Good heavens! You-why, what
horrible thing to sayr'
You won't bring as much In the
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