The independent-reporter., 1910-02-17
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE PURSUIT.

N 1EPPINGHAM sprang to his feet
with a fierce oath ON his lips.
nU His usually lusterless eyes were
- cleaning with something more
than despair. There was the wild
light of unmistakable relief In them.
1t was as If horrid doubt had been
scaled from the soul of Lady Depplng.
hams husband.
1--WE must followw shouted his. lord
ship, preparing to lower himself into
the jagged opening. 1--WE may be In
timer
"Stop, Deppinghamr' cried Chase,
leaping to his side. "Dont rush blind
ly into a trap like that. They've got
an hour or more start of us. Moth
Ing will be accomplished by rushing
into an ambush. They'd kill us like
rats. Rasula Is a sagacious scoundrel.
He'll not take the entire responsibility.
There will be council Of all the head
men. 1t will be of no advantage to
them to kill the heirs unless they are
sure that we won't live to- tell the tale.
They will go slow now that they have
the chief obstacles to victory In their
hands,"
"If they will give her up to me l will
guarantee that Lady Agnes shall re-
linauish all claim to the estate" an
nounced the harassed husband.
"They won't do that, old man. Prom
ises won't tempt them." protested
Chase. We've got to do what we can
to rescue them. I'm with you, gentle
men, in the undertaking-flrst, for hu-
manity's sake; second, because / am
your friend; last, because don't
want my clients to lose all chance OF
winning out In this controversy by
acting like confounded asses. 1t isn't
what Sir John expects Of me-"
In the meantime the anxious coterie
In the chateau were waiting eagerly
for the return Of the searchers. Dru-
silla made one remark, half uncon-
sciously, no doubt, that rasped In the
ears of the princess for days. 1t was
the cold, bitter, resigned epitome Of
the young wife's thoughts:
Robert has loved her for months"
That was all.
Mr.. and Mrs Saunders, thankful that
something had happened to divert at
tention from their own conspicuous
plight, were discoursing freely In the
center Of group composed OF the four
Englishmen from the bank.
"It's a plain out and out elopement,"
said Mrs. Saunders, tanning herself
vigorously.
But, my DEAR" expostulated her
husband, blushing vividly over the
Hrst public use Of the appellation.
"where the devil could they elope to"
81 don't know, Tommy, but elopers
never take that into consideration. Do
they, Mr.. BowlesY
At last the four men appeared In the
mouth of the cavern. The watchers
below fell into chilled silence when
they discovered that the missing ones
were not with them. Stupefed with
apprehension, they watched the men
descend the ladder and cross the
bridge.
"sThey are dead" fell from Drusilla
Brownies lips. She swayed for an In
slant and then sank to the ground un-
conscious.
r. .,o o,r,o..n.. which followed
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