The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-11

even to guess what manner of person
he might be.
Already the foam was flying into the
air as he gathered speed. He turned
round and holding the wheel still in his
left hand raised his right hand to the
skies. He ignored altogether the three
men who stood watching him. His eyes
sought an open window.
"My word" he cried. "T have kept
my word. You hear, Rachel?"
There was no sound save the beating
Of the engine of his boat. The three
men stood gazing at him from the bal
cony. And then they heard suddenly
the crash of breaking glass above them.
Splnters of ii fell all around.
They looked upward. Through a great
jagged space In the window Of the room
above q woman seemed to have dragged
herself upon her side. She lay there,
raised a little on her left hand, while
with her right she lifted a long. strange
looking pistol to resting place on the
fancy ironwork of the balcony.
And what about mine. Henri?" she
cried.
There was a binding flash. sharp.
metallic report and the dull spit of "A
bullet In the waves. The man gave a
cry and crouched over his wheel. Again
and again came the report and the flash.
by heaven, she's hit him" Sydney
whispered hoarsely.
The man gave suddenly a hideous
start. Quivering all over. he fell back
from his wheel. The boat swung round
before he could grip it again. The
woman's teeth were parted; her face
was set in awful lines: her eyes looked
steadily from the end Of the barrel of
her pistol toward the man at whom she
fired.
Twelve more" she cried. "Good-by
Henri. This is the end. / kiss the
bullet"
The man in the boat half Jumped up
and again he was hit He staggered
lost his balance and fell over with a
cry.
Sydney tore off his coat and waist
coat. The woman looked down and 1t
seemed as though she had seen them
for the first time. She was laughing
She leaned over the balcony and her
voice was soft.
DO not be foolish, young English
gentlemen" she called out. He is
dead-dead in many places. Would you
dive fifty feet for a corpse? Come up
here and I will show you something"
1T is Rachel" Mr.. Laxworthy whis-
pered. "She is right, sydney. The man
Is scarcely worth saving. Let him
alone. Come"
They found the door Of the villa open.
The little hall inside was all confusion,
as though some sort of struggle had
taken place there. They mounted the
stairs. On the threshold of the front
room Sydney. who was leading. hesi-
tated.
1T is Rachel herself" he muttered.
The woman of death"
Mr.. L.axworthy pushed by.
"She will not hurt u.s." he said.
He threw the door open. The woman
was still half crouching upon the floor.
Her legs were tied together with rope.
the end Of which was attached to the
bedpost. One arm was bleeding with
the effort she had made to disengare
herself. Nothing remained Of that ter
rible expression with which she had
them with soft. almost an inviting
smile. The pistol lay smoking upon the
carpet by her side.
MY friends" she said. "your arrival
is opportune. I am very glad to see
YOU. You wish to take a villa. perhaps
I see the card in your hand. II IL an
admirable residence, this-a tranquil.
dyllic spot. where nothing happens.
where one. may rest-as he will rest"
She pointed toward the sea. Mr.. Lax
worthy came over and cut the cords