The evening world., 1914-02-07
AUTH on or

ing and lashing himself into q raEe.
ignoring all pretense Of respect and
discipline for his own superiors.
what are you waiting forf" he
shouted, insolently, turning on Buck
hurst. II toll the truth, and II this
man can AFFORD to pay hundreds of
francs for telegram he must bs rich
enough to pluck. tell you!"
You say he bribed your asked
Buckhurst, gently.
Yes; I've said II twenty times,
haven't II"
"And you took the bribesf"
"Parbleui"
"And you thought II you admitted II
and denounced the man who br1bOd
you that you would help divide q few
millions with US. you roguef" sug.
gested Buckhurst admiringly.
The wretch laughed outright.
"And you believe that you deserve
we'll Of the communeT" said Buck
hurst.
Tho soldier srinned and opened his
ahot him through the face: and, as he
fell. shot him again, standing
wreathed in the smoke Of his own
weapon.
The deafening racket Of the revol-
vera the smoke. the spectacle Of the
dusty, inert thing on the floor over
which Buckhurst stood and shot,
seemed to stun US all.
IT Think" said Buckhurst, in a
pleasantly persuasive voice. that
there will be no more bribery In this
battalion" He deliberately opened
the smoking weapon: tho spent shells
dropped one by one from the cylinder,
Clinking on the stone floor.
Mono more bribery" he unused,
touching the dead man with the care
fully polished toe of his shoe. Be
cause" he added, reloading his re-
yolver, 81 do not like It,"
He turned quietly TO Mornac ant
ordered the corpse to be buried, ana
Mornac, plainly .unnerved at the
murderous act OF his superior. re-
peated the order, cursing his meu to
cover the Quaver in his voice.
AS for you," observed Buckhurst,
glancing up at us whore We stood
epeechicss together. you will be
Judged and sentenced when this
drum head court decides. Go into
that ROOM"
The Countess did not move.
Speed touched her arm; she looked
up quietly, smiled. and stepped across
the Threshold Speed followed; JAG
queline slipped in beside him, and
then turned on Buckhurst. who had
Just ordered his soldiers to surround
the house outside.
"As a matter Of fact" said, when
the last armed ruffian had departed.
II am the only person in this house
who has interfered with your AFFAIRS.
The others have done nothing to
harm you"
"The court will decide that" he
replied. balancing his revolver In his
palm.
eyed him for an instant. "Do you
mean harm to this unfortunate
woman?" asked.
MY friend" he replied. in q low
voice, 'you have very stupidity upset
plans that have cost me months to
perfect. You have. by stopping that
train, robbed me Of something less
than twenty millions Of francs.
have my labor for my pains: I have
this mob Of fools on my hands, may
lose my life through this whim of
yours; and II I don't, have II all
to begin again. And you ask me
what ] am going to dol"
His eyes glittered.
"If l strike her strike YOU. Ask
yourself whether or not will strike"
All tho blood seemed to leave my
hoart: l Strengthened up with an
effort.
There are some murders" I said,
that even you must recoil at"
II don't think you appreciate mo-"
he replied, with . deathly smile.
He motioned toward the door with
levelled weapon. I turned and en-
tered the tea-room, and he locked
the door from the outside.
The Countess, seated on the sofa,
looked up as ! appeared. She was
terribly pale. but she smiled "A my
heavy eyes met hers.
"ls 1t to be farce or tragedy. mon
sieurf she asked. without . Eemor
In her clear voice. ~.
I could not have uttered word to
save my life. Speed. pacing the
room. turned to read my face; and
think he read It. for he stopped short
in his tracks. Jacqueline, watching
turned sharply toward the window
and peered out into the darkness.
Beyond the wall Of the garden the
fog, made luminous by the torches
Of the insurgents. surrounded the
house with circle of bright. ruddy
vapor.
Speed came slowly across the room
with me.
"Do they mean 70 shoot us7" he
"Messieurs." said the Countess,
with q faint smile, "your whispers
arc no compliment to my raco. Pray
honor me by plain speaking. Arc we
TO dio?"
We stood absolutely spssohlsss be-
fore her.
"Ah, Monsieur scarlstt," she said.
graveiy, do you also fau me
at tho end? You, too--oven
your Must I toll you that We
os Trecourt fear nothing In this
worldr'
she made . little gesture, exquisite
iy imperious,
I stepped toward her; sha waited
for me- 70 seat myself beside her.
"Are We TO die?" she asked
"Yes, madame"
Thank you" she said, SOFTLY.
looked up. My head was swim
ming SO that ] could scarcely soc
her. scarcely perceive the deep. steady
tenderness In her clear eyes,
DO you not understandT' she