The Washington times., 1911-07-11
THE TIMES DAILY SERIAL STORY
THE GRAY WOLF
Iv X. SCRIBNER
Copyright. 1911. The Frank A Munsey Company.

haps, after all II would be better Tor
you if / put a bullet in your head; you
would think so If you were acquainted
with the dungeons in the castle yonder,
You will be taken to one Of them when
the captain returns. And-there Will
be something else besides the dun
geons.'
Then a surprising thing happened. 1t
was only bluff the man was working,
but McGregor uttered little gasp or
terror.
have hSa4 of what you do in these
countrieA8 he cried in Choked voice.
You have probably heard only half.
If it is not slow death by fire. there
is" The fellow paused; there was
McGregor uttered a stifed cry. l
heard a heavy object crash down upon
the bed above me. and l realized that
the wretched man. frightened out OF
his Senses had either swconed or
thrown himself down in fl OF abject
terror. The Brescian in the chair
would learn what he desired to Know,
and l would crawl from my hldng place
covered by the muzzle of his revolver
NV own was in my pocket and in
stinctively my hand went 10 II; puI
my strongest desire was to shoot the
wretch groveling on the ped covering.
l heard Herr Halfenstein push pacK
his chair and cross the room; the lower
portion of his legs appeared between
the bottom of the bed and the moor
A wild desire seized me 70 grasp MS
ankles.
He leaned over the bed and began to
shake the covering Scotchman.
Get up!" he commanded gruf1ly.
l saw he was sure of his prey: he
would wiring McGregor as Dry as
sponge.
For the second time he shook the
fellow, making the springs rattle. ]
could hear McGregor roll over. And
then the second surprising thing hap
t.n1 NV
range of vision; the bed groaned and
rocked in an astonishing manner. There
was a muffled oath. a. stned exclama-
ton, and a shower OF dust descended
upon me.
/ turned as swiftly as possible in my
narrow quarters and thrust my head
beyond the shelter OF the mattress.
Above me the senseless piece OF funi-
ture appeared to be imbued with mar
velOus activity. A pillow was hurled
violently to the floor; the counterpane
followed. Then from the midst Of the
tumult arose a choking voice:
Lend a hand, sir. He is trying to
use his revolver"
l dove forward and scrambled to my
feet. During the instant IN which
was getting my bearings l stared
blankly at the scene which was being
enacted before me.
tie Scotchman and Herr Halfenstein
were rolling about upon the bed. In
one hand the Brescian grasped his re-
volver but McGregor had msraged to
pin the arm and the man could not
bring the weapon into play.
And suddenly II dawned upon me why
the valet had lost his nerve so unex-
pectedly. 1t was trap to catch his
bait unsuspectingly. AS he leaned over
the bed McGregor had turned quickly
and pulled him down.
As I started to take 4 hand in the
IL
partially freed the hand which held the
revolver. He tried to turn tho muzzle
against McGregor's body. ! Jerked my
own weapon from my pocket. The
heavy butt descended full upon the
head OF the Brescian. Herr Hdlfenstein
crumpled up motionless upon tha bed.
and McGregor. gasping like fish out
of water, leaned against the Dashboard.
looking at him.
You did it neatly. Mr.. Morgan could
not have done 1t better" he stam-
mered.
am a man OF peace, and II lushed sud ]
denly in upon me that I had killed the !
man: at least knew l had struck
without mercy, and am something OF
an athlete.
McGregor evidently read MY thoughts:
he left the friendly support OF the
Dashboard and leaned over. When he
Strengthened he had the fellows re-
Volver in his hand.
You didn finish him, and m half |
sorry, sir, for 1t would have been justi-
fable; he would have shot me. an un-
armed man. And he'll come To present.
ly; the only man in Brescia who can
swear Mr.. Morgan was the party who
took the train from Paris
IF his head is not broken" I sug-
gested.
of the revolver hit him OIL the temple
it would have been another matter;
but now he'll come around. perhaps in
hal an hour, perhaps sooner. 1t would
have been safer otherwise"
There was a note Of regret in the
little Scotchman's voice.
Then il is our business TO see he
does no mischief" I answered.
That is what / was thinking OF, Sir
prevent him from doing mischief" Nc
Gregor added.
I threw a hasty glance around the
room. Again McGregor read what was
There is a closet yonder, sir. II
might answer for time. At least until
they become alarmed and make a
Search" said he.
A Continuation of This Story Will
BE Found In TOmOrrOw's