Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-27

THERE was time for more; for, at sig
nal from the president, door at the side
near the dais was opened and a woman was led
in by two men, each holding her by arm.
They released her, and she stepped back pace
and stood against the wall, her hands pressed
against it on either side, bracing herself like
royal creature at bay.
1t was Anne herself and for moment |
stood. unable to move, scarcely able to breathe.
There was something almost unearthly about
her beauty and courage. The feeble 1amplight
seemed to strengthen and to concentrate itself
her face, colorless save for the vivid red lips;
on her eyes. wide and brilliant with Indignation;
on the brigh hair which shone like a queenly
crown. Wrath and scorn and defiance were ex-
pressed by the beautiful face, the tense figure;
but never trace of fear.
They were all looking at her, as was. in ST.
lence,-a curious hush which lasted only a
few seconds, in which could hear the beating
of my own heart. 1t sounded as loud as
sledge hammer.
The spell was broken by cry from the man
with the pointed beard next me, who sprang
forward toward her, shouting in English,
"Anne! Anne! 1t is I, your father!'
| was only just less quick. We reached her
almost together and faced about. shielding her
with bodies and covering those nearest us
with our revOlverS.
Father! Maurce!" l heard her sob. "Oh,
l knew. l knew you would come!"
What is this devitry?" shouted Anthony
Pendennis in French. How comes my
daughter here? She is a British subject and
you-you shall pay dearly"
He got no further. Our action had been SO
swift. so unexpected, that the whole crowd
stood still, as if paralyzed by sheer astonlsh-
ment, for few breathless seconds
"Spiesl Traitors Kill them all, shouted
the president, springing forward, revolver IN
hand.
THOSE words were his last; for he threw up
l his arms and fell as my first shot got him:
The rest came at all together, like mob OF
furious wild beasts. They were all armed, some
with revolvers others with the horrible niue
bludgeons they call killers, "a short heavy
bar of lead set on strong copper spring, no
bigger than an ordinary round office ruler but
more deadly at close quarters than revolver
flung up my left hand, tore down the lamp
that hung lust above us, and hurled it among
them 1t was extinguished as it fell, and that
gave us small advantage; for the other lamp
was at the far end and its faint light did not
reach us, but only served dimly to show us our
antagonists l felt Anne sink down to the
floor behind me, though whether shot had
reached her or she had tainted did not know:
When had emptied my revolver dropped
it, grabbed killer from the hand OF fellow
/ had shot pointblank, and laid about me with
that | suppose Pendennis did the same. AS
Lors had warned me, when it came to shooting,
there was no time for reloadlng; but the
killer was all right. wondered he hadn't
given me one. -
tremendous odds, and after awhile-though
whether it was five minutes or fifty, coudnt
say-they gave back bit. There vas quite
heap of dead and wounded round about us; but
| don't think Anne's father was hurt as yet. and
| felt no pain, though my left arm hung limp
and useless, numbed by blow from killer
which had missed my head, and something
warm was dripping down my right wrist
What now" heard Pendennis say in that
brief lull in the pandemonum.
"(,Od knOwSi We can't get to the dOOr- we
must fight it out here They're coming on
again On guard"
We swung up weapons: but before the
rush could reach us there was
a crash close at hand. The
door through which Anne
and her guards had entered
the chapel was thrown open
and big man dashed in
Loris himself, still in his dis u,
guise.
He must have grasped the Wiederse
situation at glance: for he
shouted, Back Back for
your lives! By the other
door, We are betrayed! The
soldiers are here! Save your
selves"
CHAPTER XXI .