The Washington times., 1910-09-24
CHAPTER XIV.
The Green Lantern.

- OR an instant the negrO's eyes.
- rolling around the room. hickered
over the faces Of Cadogan and
the girl, but Without intelligence
he did not seem aware Of their existence.
Their faces, their attitUdes-even the
sirI's as she knelt with[ifted pistol
seemed to convey no meaning TO him
His whole being was absorbed with
one thought, he sought one thing. and
not finding ii. his brute rage and lust
for blood shook him as its engines
shake a steamer.
Bat suddenly his eyes lighted up He
heard-and CadOgan and the girl hearG
at the same instant-the thud OF VIII
iug's feet as he descended.
The sound galvanized :he negro TO &C
ton. He pulled himself across the floor,
leaving a trail OF blood. TO the foot OF
the stairs, and there, crOuching in the
shadow OF the huge newell post Ike the
picture Of some malignant demon Emued
by the brush Of a medieval monk. he
waited the coming Of his prey.
Willing descended slowly. naturally
anxious 10 spare himself, the banisteTs
complained as he leaned his weight upon
them. and his alternate footballs were
heavy and light as he favored his hurt
limb.
The Iantern-wick was IN need Of trim
ming The flame diC<ered and died and
fiared EJIstily, throwing queer shadows
that wavered and few, dissolved and re-
nall Out Of doors a breeze was coming
up and the night WIS rife with sibilant
notes.-the CroaninE Of the awakening
surf. The yhivering of trees and under
growth. the cUesking OF ill-fastened
shutters. Waves OF cool air rolled
through the hall
In tEis atmosphere. SO Distressing IN
its influence. CadOEdn and the S1ri hung
OF a tragedy. feeling themselves chained
10 fnacIiOn as by a DaiDable force re
SiStieSs. eneTVating.
In his excitement the negro began 10
breathe more stentorously, with very
whistIinE sound: it seemed to be grow
ing darker. for he was all but invisible
in the shadow, only the white Of MS
bulgiuz eyes catching now and then a
glimmer Of light as they moved 1nces-
sanity IN their sockets
Willing dragged along the hall and
appeared at the head OF the stairs,
empty-handed, so far as the lantern y as
concerned he still carried his revolver,
however The girl drew a QUICK DFe&tl
Of relief as she saw his face and her
emotion was echoed in CadOEan's breast
His first glance downward discovered
them, and he exclaimed aloud with sur
prise, having the best reasons I0T not
expecting the girl 10 interfere. But he
said nothing, and began TO descend
keeping the muZZie OF the revolver
trained upon them with obvious slSnih-
canoe. OF the weapon IN the gil 8 nand
he took no account-if he saw IL HIS
attention was concentrated upon them,
and he moved on IL ignorance OF his i'm
pending danger.
And neither could warn him With
his sore and swollen tongue and bruised
lips, CadOgan was as yet Incapable Of
speaking above a whisper; the girl felt
as If paralyZed-
But the responsibility for his life was
abruptly taken out Of their hands by
the negro himself, who. rendered incau-
tious by his hot Impotence, OF perhaps
Welding 10 the weakening influence Of
loss Of blood, lurched against the post
The adventurer's eyes moved swiftly
from the girl 10 the negro He was
then half way down the stairs A sharp
click rang in the hush as the hammer
Of his revolver few back
Billy he cried, and added an oath
Instantly the negro came out Of con-
ceaIment Advised that he was disCOv-
cred, he no longer sought to delay the
end. There could be but one end for
him, and he sprang TO meet il with the
insane recklessness Of the Infatuated
animal that he was
Willing fired as he appeared. Prob
ably he missed. At all events. the shot
had no other effect upon the negro
than to inspire him to instant Tetalis-
ton That he managed TO stand at all
was astounding; that he should have
been able to swing the heavy club
round his head and send il crashing to