Rock Island Argus., 1911-08-30

heavily to the 6oor. and upon his face
was fxed forever that same sardonic
grin that displayed all his snarling
! yellow teeth.
Kelvin. spent with his own efforts,
stood erect to breathe for a moment.
and in that moment a needle sharp
dagger was thrust into his side. he
tottered and fell. and above him knelt
Lillian Breed. while before his eyes
she held the dagger.
"'SeeP' she cried. ''rhis was your
emblem OF triumph! This was the sign
in which you were to conquerl This
was the instrument that twice threat
ened you and twice failed. but the
third time 1t wins. Phillip. you made
but one mistake. Had you put me at
your side as your empress IN this
sign" and she held the dagger point
| upward. I'VE would have conquered
the world. but you repudiated me, and
In this sign you diet"
A soldier struck the dagger from her
hand and bound her arms behind her.
as those OF Blsgg had already been
bound. Rensselaer,. unscathed. looked
down upon Phillip, with tears moisten-
ing his eyes.
Take him out carefully, boys" he
said, but get him into the air quick
lyP
AS they passed through the library
Rensselaer's eye happened to rest
again upon that motionless, gray hair
ed woman at the library table, struck
down by his own Gatling. and as he
recognized her he turned faint and al
most dropped his burden.
Here" he told one of his men. help
carry him i cannot"
He almost stumbled into the outer
air, and the men followed him with
Kelvin. and. covering him to the
breast with a sheet hastily snatched
from Breeds couch. laid the first and
last emperor OF America nat upon the
porch at the edge of the steps. where
the cooling breeze might blow upon his
brow. He lay pale and rigid under the
yellow porch light, and this yellow
light was in a moment more augment
ed by saffron glare that hared out as
the roof. from a fire in the attic. start
ed by the recent vandaIs, broke into
a blaze.
Charger came a sudden sharp voice
from the shrubbery.
Startled. in the glare of the burn
ing roof Rensselaer, saw a host OF men
with fixed bayonets suddenly spring
out Of the dark shrubbery at the north
west side OF the building and come
tearing down upon them.
Left face! Present armsg came the
sharp command OF Rensselaer,.
The word Fire" was just trembling
upon his lips when he recognized the
advancing leader. rushing with drawn
saber and pistol at the side of the
first line in the column.
Halt. For Gods sake. haltv' he
cried. waving the white sheet that be
had snatched from across Kelvin. "A
truce! For Gods sake. Rollins. halt
your men! This madness IS all overl
Kelvin Is deadr'
Within but few feet of what must
otherwise have been desperate strug-
gle the advancing column was checked,
and Rollins heard briefly from the sick.
ened Rensselaer, what had happened.
He strobe up the steps and stood be-
fore Kelvin with barred head.
"Only mistaken" he said In bene- /
dictiop and forgiveness. Then he turn /
ed to his own followers and those OF |
Rensselaer,. ''As president OF the Unit |
ed States. vice Kelvin. | have become !
your chief commanding of1cer." he told 4
them. Kelvin is dead. but the repub-
lie still lives. Blagg and his consort .
VIII die this morning, and with them 4
the rebellion Is broken. Some re- /
strtctiVe legislation to be carefully and 4
wisely considered must be made TO
keep down such appalling accumuIa-