The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-01-12

CHAPTER XIV,

. night. and a nasty mist was
blowing up from the sea. Deppingham
kept to his room. although his cold
was dissipated.
Chase had been up nearly all Of the
night, fearful lest the islanders should
seize the opportunity to scale the walls
under cover Of the tempest. All
through the night he had been pos
sessed Of spirit Of wild bravado, a
glorious exaltation. He was keeping
watch over her, standing between her
md peril, guarding her while she slept.
His thoughts, however. did not con
template the princess fair in a state OF
wretched insomnia. with himself as
the disturbing element.
He looked for her at breakfast time
They usually had their rolls and cot
fee together. When she did not ap-
pear he made more than one pretext
to lengthen his own stay in the break
fast room. she's trying to forget
yesterday" he reflected.
Selim came to him In the midst of
his reflections, bearing a thick, rain
soaked envelope.
at was found, excellency, inside the
southern gate, and it is meant for
you," said Selim. Chase gingerly
slashed open the envelope with his
fruit knife. He laughed ruefully as he
read the simple but laborious message
from Jacob Won B!ttz:
where are your warships all this
time? They are not coming to you
ever. Goodby. You got to die yet too
~ pI{fu Nd
my wives too"
Chase stuffed the blurred, sticky let
ter into his pocket and arose to stretch
himself
There's something coming to you,
Jacob" be said, much to the wonder
Of Selim. "Selim, unless l miss my
guess pretty badly, We'll be having a
message, not from Garcia, but from
Rasula before long How are my ciga
rettes holding outT'
They run low, sahib. Neenah has
given all of hers to me for you, excel
lency, and l have demanded those Of
the wives of Won Blitz."
"Selim, you must not forget that you
are a gentleman. That was most I'M
gallant. But 1 suppose you got them:'
mo, sahib They refused to give
them up. They are saving them for
Mr.. Britt" said Selim dejectedly.
"Ah, the 6cklety of women" he
sighed There's a new word for you,
Selim-dcklety."
It was far past midday when he
heard from Rasula. He had seen the
princess but once, and then she was
walking briskly, wrapped In rain
coat, followed by her shiver:ng dogs
and her two Rapp-Thorberg soldiers.
Somehow she failed to see Chase as
he sauntered hungrily. almost implor
ingly, across the upper terrace, in plain
view. Perhaps, after all, it was not
the weather.
Rasulas messenger came to the
gates and announced that he had a
letter for Mr.. Chase. Rasula had this
to say:
We have reason to suspect that you
were right in your suspicious. The gold
en- plate has been found this day In the
cave below the chateau, just as you have
said. This much of what you have
charged against Jacob Won Blitz seems to
be borne out by the evidence secured.
Last night there was attempt to rob
the vaults In the company'S bank. Again
i 1OllO"cQ your ADVICE ana lAiO d lIdp LOT
the men engaged. They were slain in the
struggle which followed 1 have to In
form you, sir, that your charge against
Jacob Won Blitz does not hold good in
the case of the bank robbery. Therefore
I am impelled to believe that YOU may
have unjustly accused him of being i'm
plicated in the robbery of the treasure
chests. He was not among the bank
thieves. There were but three OF them
the Boer foremen Jacob Won Blitz came
l. ~ i0t, "a ir fsrh$
against the traitors. He was mercless In
his anger against them. You have said
that you Will testify against him. Sir. /
have taken 1t upon myself to place him
under restraint Notwithstanding his
lions against the Beers. He shall have
fair trial II 1t is proved that he is
guilty. he shall pay the penalty, We are
just people.
Sir, we, the people of Japat, will take
you at your word. We ask you to appear
against the prisoner and give evidence IN
support OF your charge. He shall be
placed on trial tomorrow morning at 10
o'clock. On my honor a man and a
believer assure safety to you while you
are among us on that occasion. I. Ra-
suia. will meet you at the gates and will
conduct you back to them in safety. IF
you are true man. you Will not evade
the call. RASJLA.
well, it looks as though Won Blitz
has spiked your guns said Depping-
ham. The dog turns against his CON
federates and saves his own skin by
killing them
'In any event" said Browne you
spoiled his little game. He loses the
treasure. and he didn't get into the
vaults. Rasula should take those
points into considera ton"
He won't forget them, rest assured
That's why I'm sure that he'll take
my word at the trial as gainst that Of
Won BlitZ." said Chase.
"You-you don't mean to say. Mr..
Chase. that you are going into the
town. cried Lady Agnes. wide eyed.
Certainly, Lady Deppingham. They
are expecting me-"
Don't be foolhardy, Chase They
will kill you like q rat" exclaimed
Deppingham.
''Oh. no, they won't" said the other
confidently. They've given their prom
ise through Rasula. Whatever e,Se
they may be. they hold a promise sa-
cred. They know III come. If don't
they'll know that | am coward. You
wouldn't have them think l am COW
ard, would you, Lady Deppingham?
The NEXT morning he cOoIlV set fort