Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-03-18
CHAPTER xv.-continued.
l uttered smothered ejaculation

There is more to come" she said,
"and / do not quite know how to tell
you. Tonight, when you are all here
at the ball, these two men intend to
force an entrance to your cottage. l
know this to be true-in fact, they
have already gone"
She paused abruptly and added in a
tone of real solicitude:
"Have / hurt you so very much?'
mo-" / fastened to reply; mo, of
course not. Why should l be hurt
He is nothing to me. But you must
prove it; you might be mistaken, you
know" .....
My head was swimming with the
sickening sensation often caused by
swinging too long, and scarcely knew
what l said, but felt vaguely that l
might in this way gain time, and that
time was valuable.
II will prove it," she said, catching
up a wrap and handing it to me.
would you believe me if you saw
with your own eyes? Then come with
me. You are quite safe-do not be
afraid"
was not afraid, but as walked by
her side through the quiet village and
down the familiar little path to our
cottage wondered dimly why she had
brought me there-why she had not
selected one of the others.
I'VE have nothing valuable" l said,
n 10 q lnn hot
You have my pearls" she returned;
''but of course you have never men
toned them"
l stopped short, horror-struck. What
had not done, by my thoughtless gos-
siping?
ooh, but did!" l cried. II did! I
told him about the safe and what was
in it."
"Ahi"
1t was short exclamation, pregnant
with meaning. Then she turned quickly
and took my hand in hers.
Never mind" she whispered; ''it
will be all right. Don't worry"
l tried to say something, but she
motioned me to be silent, for we were
approaching the cottage now, and she
stepped softly, as though fearing to
disturb some one. At the corner of
the house she paused, listened q mo-
ment, then beckoned me to come
nearer and pointed toward the kitchen.
At the outer door leading into the
cellar knelt two figures, men in even
ing clothes. l did not need the as
sistance of the moon, which just then
emerged triumphant from behind a
cloud, for recognized them at once.
NO use," said Mr.. Blake's even
voice; 'this door seems to be fastened
by an iron bar inside. We must try
the boathouse again. / suppose the
servant is inside"
Yes" replied Gordon Bennett; Il
saw her moment ago, when she
passed the window. l hope we'll have
Luck with the boathouse this time"
We shrank into the corner of the
house, and they passed so close we
might have touched them. AS they
disappeared down the steps leading to
the slip, my companion followed them,
still holding my hand and drawing me
after her.
Look" she whispered.
And / again saw the two men before
the boathouse, just as / had seen them
once before; saw them try the door,
and even set their shoulders against
it with an Intellectual effort to burst it
open. Lady Edith's face appeared
very white and haggard in the moon
light, and the light shawl she wore
rose and fell swiftly with her quick
breath.
1T holds!" she calculated. THE
door holds!"
Ii seemed to be a staunch door, in
deed, for, in spite of repeated efforts,
it stood impregnable, until at last
they ceased working over 1t and re-
tired to the end of the slip, talking
earnestly.
They have given it up" she whis-
pered, and her voice seemed to thrill
exultantly. "See, they are going away.
They are easily discouraged, are they
not?''
1t was quite true they were going
away. We saw them step into their
little boat and glide into the moonlit
water toward the end of the island,
which they must round in order to get
home.
You are safe for tonight" she said
II am almost sorry | told you, for
they will not return. and tomorrow
they cannot Let us go back TIC the
hotel and forget it,"
shook my head and watched the
little boat, now mere speck on the
sparkling water.