Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-12

feebly on the floor. The rest stood about
uncomfortably. hypnotized By an inde-
Unable alarm.
Il fear you did not dream. Miss
Caruthers." the rajah said. at last. The
rope has been cut-the chain unlinked.
Some wicked harm was intended TO us
ALL"
mot to us ALL" STAFFORD observed cool
ly. II think you Will admit. rajah. that
whoever the murderer was. he would
have chosen q more advantageous mo-
ment II he had intended general damage.
Ny life was the one aimed at. and l arm
all the more convinced that ! am right.
because this is the third time within
twenty-four hours that have escaped by
miracle from accidents which were not
accidental
The rajah started sharply around.
"How?-what do YOU mean?" he de-
manded.
Yesterday my boat on the river was
plugged. Today native tried to Brighten
my horse over the ravine. This'--point-
ing to the chandelier-'4s the third at
tempt
do you know OF any one who could
have a grudge against you?"
mo
"Or against-your family"
There was a slight hesitation in stat.
ford's manner. He frowned as man
does who has been pressed with an un-
pleasant question.
Nehal Singh made no further remark
He stood staring straight ahead into the
half darkness. and every eye in that UNI
easy assembly fixed itself on his face, as
though striving to read from his express
sion the conclusion to which his mind
was cropping. For his exclamation after
Stafford's first announcement had he
trayed that sudden suspicion had flash
ed before him. and they waited for him
to take them into his confidence. But
IDrv -ot& 41 L. s,z L. ,,AI - h1.
forgotten their existence. and the silence
grew tense and painful. All at once Mrs
Berry, who was clinging TO her husbands
arm. uttered a scream which acted like
shock of electricity on the overstrained
nerves of those who stood about her.
Look! Look she cried. Mis-:
Caruthers Is on fire, oh, help. Help"
She turned and rushed like frightened
sheep to the back of the hall. crying in
coherent warnings to those who tried Il
bar her headlong flight. 1t was a catas
trophe upon catastrophe. How IL hap
pened no one knew-possibly some half
extinct candle had done the work. In al
| instant Lois white silk dress had become
| sheet of fame. which mounted witt
furious rapidity to her horror strickeI
face. In such matters IL is only the ques
| ton OF fraction of a second as to who
RECEIVERS his wits first. Almost on tn,
| top Of Mrs. Berry's needless scream Bea
| trice had sprung toward the doomed CIR
| with WIFI 1uleHllOE SI1e HaTQly KNEW
but before she was in reach of danger
| Adam Nicholson thrust her to one side
and folding Leis in his arms, flung hel
| to the ground.
"A rug-a shawl-anything!" he shouted
Mrs. Carmichael tore the long wraI
from her shoulders, and dozen willing
hands lent what assistance first occurred
to them. But Nicholson fought his enc
my alone
Stand back" he commanded. STAND
back.
They obeyed him instinctively, and stood
helpless. watching the short. desperate
struggle between life and death. Scarcel,
| moment elapsed before the flames died
down-one last tight drawing together OF
Mrs. Carmichael's wrap and they were
extinct. Nicholson stumbled TO his feet
the frail. unconscious burden in his arms
Please make way" he said. IT do not
think she Is badly hurt, but she must he
| taken home at once. Stafford. go and
see IL the carriage is there
His own face was singed, and one OF
his hands badly burnt, but he did not
| seem to notice his own injuries. Col. Car.
| michael, who had entered the hall with
him at the moment Of the accident
helped to clear the road. His features ir
the half light were gray with the fear OF
those last few moments.
You have saved our little girl! he
said, brokenly. to Nicholson. You have
| saved her life. God bless you for 1t
ADAM
That's all right" was the cheerful an
swer. You know. colonel. Lois and
were always helping each other out OF
scrapes. and l expect 1t was my turn
He looked down at the pale face agains
his shoulder, and there was an uncon
| scious tenderness in his expression which
| touched the shaken old mans heart.
'She will be glad to hear 1t was you
Adam he said. You were always hel
| favorite''
They had reached the great doors
which the rajah himself had flung wide
open, when Travers sprang up the steps
to meet them. He was disheveled, breath
less and exhausted. as though with hard
running. and his eyes, as they flashed
from one to the other Of the little pro.
| cession. were those of madman.
What has happened?'' he demanded
What has happened? OH" He caught
sight Of Lois in Nicholson's arms, and his
cry was high and hysterical. like q
frightened woman's.
Stafford seized him by the shoulder and
dragged him back into the now empty
hall.
Control YOURSELF he said. roughly
Don't behave like a fool She is al
right, but they won't want you interior
ing. especially If you can't keep your
head"
They won't want mel" Travers ex.
claimed. staring at him. He then broke
into a discordant laugh. why my good
Stafford. they'll have to have me, whether
they want me or no. Lois is mine-rnine
l tell you: and that fellow, Nicholson
had better look to himself"
You are beside yourself Travers
Nicholson saved her life. What do you
mean by saying she is yours?"
She is to be my wife. Who can have
more right to her than | have?"
The two men stared at each other
through the semi-darkness. One by one
the lights at the side of the hall were ex-
tinguished by the softly moving servants
The hushed voices Of the departing guests
died away in the distance.
Your wife!' Stafford repeated. slowly.
"Since when is that TrayerS2n