The evening world., 1914-02-07

! am not afraid. Speed. / shall drop
into the sea-"
ITO your DEATH" I said.
Possibly. m'sieu. It is n good death,
however. ] am not afraid"
"Close the window" muttered
Speed. They'd shoot her from the
wall. anyway"
Again the child graveiy asked per-
mission to try.
mo" said Speed. harshly, and
turned away. But in this instant Jac-
queline hung open the window and
vaultcd into the garden. Before I
could realize what had happened she
was only a glimmering spot in the
darkness. Then Speed and followed
her. running swiftly toward the foot
, Of the garden, but we were too late:
a slim. white shape rose from tho top
through tho ruddy torch glare into the
blackness beyond.
We heard a soldiers startled cry. q
commotion. curses. and astonished ex-
ciamations from the other side OF the
wall.
ut was something. 7 tell you!"
roared a soldier. Something that
jumped over the cliff"
TT was an owl. idiot" retorted his
comrade.
IL tell you I saw IT," protested the
other. In a shaking voice.
Then you saw n witch OF Ker- VI" |"
bawled another. Look out for your
skin in the first battle. It's death to
see such things
looked at Speed. Tie stood wide.
eyed. staring at vacancy.
could she do IL 2" I asked, horrified.
hn vx,h
Soldiers were beginning 10 Chamber
UP the garden wall from the outside: !:
torches were raised to investigate.
AZ we shrank back into the shadow
Of the shrubbery I stumbled over
something soft-Jacqueline's clothes.
lying in circle as she had stepped
out Of them.
Speed took them. followed him,
creeping back to the window. where
we entered in time TO avoid discovery
by wretch who had succeeded IN
mounting the wall. torch In hand.
Ono or two soldiers climbed over
and dropped into the garden, prowl-
Ing around, prOdding the bushes
with their bayonets. even coming "a
press their dirty faces and hands
against our window.
They're all here!'' sang out ono.
"It was an owl. tell you'll" And he
menaced us with his rife In pan
tomine and retired, calling his COM
panions to follow.
"Where is Jacqueline?" asked the
Countess, looking anxiously at the
little blue skirt on Speeds knees.
"Havo they harmed that childf"
told her.
A beautiful light grew In her eyes
a. she listened. did i not warn you
trot vra protnna kpnw how 70 die ~
she said.
| looked DULY at Speed, who sat
Ly the window. brooding over the
little woollen skirt on his knees.
stroking It, touching the torn hem.
and at last folding II with unaccus-
toIred and shaky hands.
There were noises outside our door.
loud voices, hammering, the sound OF
furniture being dragged over stone
floors. and scarcely noticed II when
our door was opened again.
names; a file Of half drunken SOL
dlers grounded arms In the passage
way with q bang that brought US to
our feet as Mornac. flushed with
wine, entered unsteadtly, drawn
sword In hand.
Pm damned II ! stay here any
longer" he broke out angrtly. IN
see whether my raBcals can't shoot
straight by torchlight. Hero. you!
Scarlet. ] mean! And you. Speed ;
and you. too. madame; patter your
prayers. for you'll get no priest. Lieu
tenant. withdraw the guard at the
wall. Here, Captain. march the bat
talon back TO Paradise and take the
servants!"
A second later the drums began to
beat. but Nornac. furious. silencsd
them.
They can hear you at seal" b.
shouted. do you want a boatload
OF marines at your heels? Strike out
those torches! Four will do for the
garden. March"
The shuffling tread of the insur-
gent infantry echoed across the gravel
courtyard; torches behind the walls
were extinguished: blackness snvsl-
oped the cliffs.
well" broke out Speed. hoarsely
"goodby, Scarlet"
He held out his hand.
"Goodby," | said. stunned.
I dropped my hand a. two soldier
placed themselves on either side Of
wen. seodby." ~ repeated aim
lsesly, and tAsn. DomembesinS. y
vent - ~ Countess aad eRssSd ~
hard, lE.,l
. IA e. - IS lssT, - e: ";s = =, !: