Evening star., 1914-08-02

be too late!
CHAPTER XXI
D OBERT." she shrcked @Robertl Quick-he will
= kill you He is hiding in the wardrobe!'
The door that had been ajar shut sharply. The
coward had shrunk back frightened by the ghostly
voice. which seemed speaking in the air to betray him.
4Lock the wardrobe doorsl Lock the murderer in!'
she cried. 1T is I-Daura. Oh, Robert-quick,
quick, if you love me-
She saw Troy, fully dressed stride the room
and the big key that fastened the doors of the
wardrobe. He moved quickly without hesitation, turn
ing neither right to left Then when the thing
was done, he turned that she could his full face.
He searching for her, mystifed, wondering, yet
Enthusiastically prompt in action.
"We have found way up through the caves, Conal
and T. she called to him Il came to save you. We
knew of the danger. Now looking for the spring
that be here Emmons has found it; for it is he
who hid in the wardrobe to kill you
Almost she spoke her little cold hand, cropping
against the thick oak which lined the ebrasure in the
wall, inadvertently pressed something which moved.
She found herself falling forward with the giving way of
panel in which the two little spyholes cut.
The whole wall seemed to be gliding into the
Light all around her. she stumbled to her knees.
She could longer Robert for it the back Of
the carved bed that had moved, and thus moving it
formed high screen with each side open. In an in
the girl up had slipped through the space at
the right OF the great black screen and in the roo
Thank God we're in tirne!' she gasped. II should
have died if we'd been too 1ate.
He caught her, she would have fallen again; and
in freight and candelght which mingled strangely
with the dawn he her, pald, disheveed her hair
falling her dress and stained with seaweed, drip
ping with He forgot the prisoner in the ward
robe forgot Conal McFingo forgot everything except
the girl who cung to him shivering and weeping like
frightened child. There blood on the hand that
cuched his sleeve, blood the white arm, and the
H. 4
the ball.
"Good heavens! you have hurt YOURSELF" he cried.
@What have you come through to save me9"
Il don't know, she sobbed. @But I'm not hurt really.
It's only scratch. And nothing matters if you'll be-
lieve love you Did you dream could for anyone
else when knew there like you in the world9
Love me-oh love me, and this my hearts blood,
l should laugh with joy! Will you believe me now?7
He held her close. a believe you and always
he said 3Never again will doubt This makes up
for everything"
Even the sacrifice of Tevenge?'
"For that-and all the rest-and for worlds more, if
there were more"
4Then nothing part again, if you forgive me
with all your heart"
@But there's nothing to forgive.
3Its like you to say that-though 1t was who sent
George away with Annira tonight. l know now from
Cona something Of the story you would never tell me.
l understand you as l couldn't understand before.
Emmons told Conal everything, and tempted him to
murder, through his jealousy. | know why Enmons
hated George That's part of your story for believe
En1nons and the doorkeeper at the mint and
the same George himself spoke OF the to me; but
he said that Emmons, described him, exactly
the opposite of who owed him grudge. believe
Emmons is certainly Morton in clever disguise. If
YOU disgusting yourself, wouldn't you try to look
the exact opposite of your real self? But shall find
surely whether IN right not when that wardrobe
is opened. 1t is Emmons you have locked in there
him peer out at you, between the doors Another
instant and should have been too ate for he would
have stabbed you the back, like the coward he is.
Hoding breast TROY qazed the ward