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

~EOR many minutes the watchers
~ in the chateau stared at the
III burning bungalow, fascinated.
ss1J petiied. Through the mind of
each man ran the sudden, sharp dread
that Chase had met death ut 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-
bic" She wondered If he had been
ready for them or if they had sur
prised him! She had heard the shots.
Chase could not have fired them all.
Was lie now lying dead in that blaz-
ing She screamed aloud with the
thought Of it!
Cant something be done?" she cried
again and 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. He was looking at his wife,
and his eyes were wide and CLASSY, but
not with terror. 1T 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 so 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:"
He 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. I'VE
dare not leave this place! If they have
turned against Chase. they are also
ready for us. I'm not a coward,
Browne. W'e'rc needed here, that's all.
It's too late to help Chase. They've
got him. poor devil! Everybody inside!
Get to the guns il possible and cut off
tse servants quarters. We must not
let them surprise us. Follow mel"
There was wisdom in what he said,
and Browne was not slow to see it
clearly. With single penetrating
glance at Genevra's despairing face,
he shook his head gloomily and turned
to follow Deppingham. who was hur-
rying off through the corridor with her
ladyshlp.
Come" lie called. and the princess,
feeling Drusilla's hand grasplng her
arm. gave one helpless look at the fire
and fastened to obey.
In the grand hallway they came
upon Britt and Saunders. white faced
and excited. The white servants We're
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 violent struggle in the lower
corridor came to their ears. Loud
voices, blows, n single shot, the rush
ing Of feet, the painting of men in fierce
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, cxccllencies. he shouted
again and again. Bobby Browne and
Deppingham were covering the retreat,
prepared to fight to the end for their
women, although unarmcd. 1t was the
American who first realized that Buillo
was not heading an attack upon them.
Baillo and Il score OF his men had re.
fused to join the stablemen and gar
deners in the plot to assassinute the
white people. AS a last resort the con
spirators 'contrived 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 thu
move. The two forces met in the