The independent-reporter., 1910-03-10
CHAPTER xxx.
TILE TWO WORLDS.

into the past, and now the
white people of the chateau had
come TO the eve Of their last
days stay on the island of Japat. The
probationary period would expire with
the sun on the following day. the an
niversary Of the death Of Taswell
Skaggs. The six months set aside by
the testator as sufficient for all the re-
Quirements of Cupid were to come to
an inglorious end at Z o'clock on March
%. According to the will, If Agnes
Ruthven and Robert Browne were moi
married to each other before the close
of that day all of their rights In the
estate were lost to them.
Tomorrow would be the last day OF
residence required. But. alack, was II
to be the last that they were to spend
In the world forsaken land2
No later than that morning q steam.
era small Dutch freighter-had come
to stop off the harbor, but 1t turned
tail and fed within an hour. No one
came ashore The malevolent tug
went out and turned back the landing
party which was ready to leave the
ships side. The watchers In the cha.
teau knew what-it was that the tugs
captain shouted through his trumpet at
q safe distance from the steamer. The
black and yellow flags at the end OF
the company's pier lent color to a
grewsome story. The hopeless look
deepened in the eyes Of the watchers.
Hollingsworth Chase alone maintain
ed a stubborn air of confidence and
unconcern.
Don't be downhearted, Bowles," he
said to the moping British agent.
You'll soon be managing the bank
again and patronizing the American
bar with the same old regularity"
There had been several vicious as.
saults upon the gates by the infuriated
islanders during the day following the
rescue of the heirs. Some powerful In.
1uence suddenly exerted itself to re,
store them to state Of calmness.
They withdrew to the town, apparent.
ly defeated. The cause was obvious
Rasula had convinced them that death
already was lifting his hand to blot
out the lives of those who opposed
them.
Bobby Browne was accomplishing
wonders In the laboratory. He seldom
was seen outside the distilling room
His assiduity was marked, If not com.
mented upon. Hour after hour he
stood watch over the water that went
up In vapof and returned to the crystal
liquid that was more precious than
rubies and sapphires.
Drusilla kept close to his side dur
ing these operations. She seemed
afraid or ashamed to Join the others
She avoided Lady Deppingham as
completely as possible. Her effort to
be friendly when they were thrown
together was almost pitiable.
As for Lady Agnes. she seemed
stricken by an unconquerable lassi.
tude. The spirits that had controlled
her voice. her look, her movements,
were sadly missing. More than once
Genevra had caught her watching Dep.
bingham with eyes that spoke vol
umes, though they were mute and
wistful
From time to time the sentjnels
brought to Lord Deppingham and
Chase missives that had been tossed
over the walls by the emissaries Of
Rasula. They were written by the
leader himself and In every instance
expressed deepest sympathy for the
plague ridden chateau.
"There's a paucity of real news In
these gentle messages that annoys
me-" Chase said after reading aloud
the last of the epistles to the princess
and the Deppinghams. II rejoice In
my heart that he isn't aware Of the
true state of affairs. He doesn't ap-
preciate the real calamity that con-
fronts US. The plague7 Poison? Mere
piffie. II he only knew that am now
smoking my last-the last-cigarette
on the placer
81 believe you would die more GER
tainly from lack Of cigarettes than
from an overabundance of poison"
said Genevra. She was thinking Of
the stock she had boarded up for him
in her dressing table drawer. under
lock and key.
II say. Chase. can't you just see
Rasula's face when he learns that
we've been drinking the water all
along and haven't passed awayr
cried Deppingham.
"And to think. Mr.. Chase, we once
called you the enemy" said Lady
Agnes In low, dreamy voice.
II appear to have outlived my use
fulness In that respect" he said. he
tossed the stub Of his cigarette over
the balcony rail. "Goodby!" he said,
with melancholy emphasis. Then he
bent an inquiring look upon the face
of the princess.
EYES," she said, as If he had asked