The Red Cloud chief., 1910-02-24

cheek as she bent close to the little
window. and she sighed deeply as In
relief at beholding d scene of peace.
Arthur Holbrook still stood with
bowed head by the table. his back to
his brother, and I felt suddenly the
girls hand clutch my wrist. She with
her frcsher eyes upon the scene saw,
before grasped IL, what now occurred.
Henry Holbrook had drawn n revolver
from his pocket and pointed Il full ut
his brothers. back. We two at the
window saw the weapon flash mcnac.
ingly; but suddenly Arthur Holbrcok
flung round as his brother cried:
i think you are lying to me, and |
want those notes. want those notes.
! want them now, You must have
them. and | can't 20 to Patricia until
] know they're safe"
He advanced several steps and his
manner grew confident IA he saw that
he held the situation In his own grasp.
| would have rushed in upon them but
the girl held me back.
Wait. Watt" she whispered
Arthur thrust his hands into the
side pockets of his flannel jacket and
nodded his head once or twice.
'"Why don't you shoot, Henry? ?"
II want those notes." said Henry
holbrook. You lied to me about
Them. They were to have been de.
stroycd. | want them now, tonight"
IF you shoot ME you will undoubt.
odly get them much easier" said Ar
thur; and he lOungcd away toward the
wall, half turning his back, while tho
point of the pistol followed him. But
the fact is, | never had them; Giles.
pie kept them"
Threats cool quickly, and | really
had not much fear that Henry Hol.
brook meant to kill his brother: and
Arthur's indifference to his danger
was having It's dlsconcerting effect on
Henry. The pistol barrel wavercd;
but Henry stoadied himself and his
clutch frightened on the butt. | again
turned toward the door, but the girls
hand held me back.
Wait" she whispered again. THAT
ma Is a coward. He will not shoot"
The canoe.makcr had been calmly
talking, discussing the disagreeable
consequences of murder in a tone OF
h"alt-banter, and he now stood directly
under the foils. Then in "a flash he
snatched one of them, flung Il up with
an accustomed hand, and snapped 1t
across his brothers knuckles. At the
window we heard the slim steel hiss
through the air, followed by the rattle
OF the revolver as 1t struck the ground.
The canoe-maker's foot was on 1t in
stantly; he still held the foil.
Henry" he said in the zone of one
rebuking IA child, You are bad enough,
but ! do not intend that you snail be
a murderer. And now | want you to
90; | Will not treat with you; | want
nothing more to do with youi l re-
peat that ! haven't got the notes"
He pointed to the door with the
foil. The blood surged angrily in his
face; but his voice was in complete
control as he went on.
Your visit has awakened me TO a
sense of neglected duty, Henry. [
have allowed you to prosecute our sis
ter without raising q hand! have no
other business now but to protect her.
Go back to your stupid sailor and tell
him that ii ! catch him In any mis-
chief on the lake or here | shall GER
tainly kill him."
lost any further words that passed
between them, as Henry, crafty
threatening. walked out upon the deck
to his boat; then from the creek came
the ~thrcshing of oars that died away
in "A moment. When | gazed into the
room. again Arthur Holbrook was
blowing out the lights. ..r..
u am grateful; | am so grateful"
faltered the girls voice; but you
must not be seen here. Please go
now had taken her hands, feeling
mat was about to lose her; but she
freed them and stood away from me In
the shadow ID
We are going away--we must leave
here! ] can never see you again" she
whispered.
In the starlight she was Helen, by
every test my senses could make; but
by something deeper l knew that she
was not the girl l had seen in the
window at st. Agatha's. She was
more dependent, less confident and
poised; she stified a sob and came
close. Through the window | saw Ar
thur Holbrook climbing up to blow out
the last light.
y could have watched myself, but
| was afraid that sailor might m
and 1t was he hat fred at you in the
road. He had gone to Glenarm to
watch you and keep you away from
here, Uncle Henry came back to-day
and sent word that he wanted to see
my father, and l asked you 10 come to
help us"
Il thank you for that"
And there was another
stranger, back there near the road;
could not make him out, but you will
be ca~refnl--please! You must think
very III OF me for bringing you into all
this danger and trouble"
CTO BE C~ONTINUED)