The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-10

And you believe those men
will know of this passage? will
discover no way in which to open
the door, and follow usf"
Not they. I doubt n de Saule
has ever before been here. and
the others, even II they suspect.
will say nothing. Shall we go
ong"
yes. IL is over there can
see the glimmer of a star through
the opening"
But where could the other
man have gomez" she urged, her
mind still hopeful of finding him
to be her brother. Was there
some other passage?"
Il found none" confessed
when | came this way before.
but there must be one I did not
search with care. for was fol-
loving Gospele, but l am certain
the man is not here. Shall we ex-
plore the roof"
The pressure of her hand an
swered me. and | arose to my
feet, gripping my sword. I stepped
ahead, feeling the clasp of her
hand on my sleeve, and stood
/ . W II TUG OBCAAA6s 1aA ~
the night was, a dim CLEAN of far
off stars. peering through riffs of
cloud. gave faint illumination.
The startled girl cIutched me In
terror, staring about at the odd
shadows. | had a glimpse of her
| face, and its expression of de
spair and appeal served to steady
my own nerves.
'Tis nothing but the flicker of
the stars, Mademoiselle," ] whis-
| pered quietly. We are alone
see. nothing moves"
"Oh, but 1t does novel" she
sobbed. Look over yonder! IL
comes herei"
I. saw the thing now, my gaze
following her pointed finger, and
my heart seemed to stop it's beat
ing. Saint Christopher What
was it! For the instant l could
not tell, so strange, so bizarre was
the figure; then a star CLEAN
caught 1t In a spectral ray-it
stood upright, encased in ancient
armori With a great broad-sword
in its handl
| MademoiselIe sank to the roof
| giving utterance to one sharp cry,
and hiding her face in her hands.
| Scarce knowing what | did, or
why, l took a step forward. my
sword drawn, fronting knew
not what fats
| aalAnd the thing-real or unreal
| spirit of the dead, or vision of
the living-came straight toward
me, its sword held high.
l stood erect, alert and ready,
my blade thrust upward to ward
the blow. The great blade was
poised to strike; the hands that
held IL now so close l was sure
/ they were of flesh and blood
| Anger took the place of fear in
my heart, and | took step
| forward, driving my point at
what l took to be a crevice in
the armor.
must have missed, for the
| blade struck solid. The huge
| broadsword fell with a elang at
my feet, and the armor-elad figure
staggered back. But l knew now
faced a man by the smothered
French oath which burst from his
lips.
flung myself at him, the
weight of hrs body hurting the
| fellow back. We went down to-
gether, l on top. He lay notion
less, his arms outstretehed. Yet
surely the fellow could not be
| dead. The blow dealt had not
penetrated the mail. His uncon-
seriousness must arise from the
violence of his fall, and heavy
| pressure of the armor.
Confident that he was helpless
| TO do further harm I arose to my
knees. and glanced about to dis
tinguish Mademoiselle.
At my movement she spoke.
Monsieur? Your are not hurt7"
by not so much as a scratch"
answered. THE man was so
burdened he could not fight"
"A man! That was a mani"
so | make it. But he seems
smothered. and possess small
knowledge how he is fastened to-
gether. Can you come here,
Mademoisellez"
She came forward quickly.
"You think him dead2"
mo, but likely to be, unless we
loosen this helmet and give him
air. This is the clasp here, is IL
not? this leathtr thingi Faith,
tits as hard as iron"
Her hands helped me. and the
prisoner stirred, and gave utter