The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1915-05-22

All this time, Yvonne was crouching
against the table. her Mortified gaze
upon the great red blotch that grew TO
terrible proportions as she watched,
She had not moved. she had not
breathed, she had not taken her hands
from her ears where she had placed
them at the sound OF the explosion
Blood! II is blood" she moaned.
and for the first time since the shot
was fired her husband glanced at the
one for whom the bullet was intended
An expression OF incredulity leaped
into his face, as IL he could not believe
his senses. She was alive and unhurti
His bullet had not touched her. His
brain fumbled for the explanation of
this miracle.
Blood she walled again, long,
shuddering word that came not from
her lips but from the very depths of
her terrorstricken soul.
Slowly Brood's mind worked out OF
the maze. His shot had gone straight.
but Frederic himself had leaped into
it's path to save this miserable crea-
ture who would have damned his
soul II life had been spared to him.
Ranjab crawled to his side, his eyes
covered with one arm, the other ex-
tended. Blindly the master felt for the
pistol, not once removing his eyes
from the pallid figure against the table.
His fingers closed upon the weapon
Then the Hindu looked up. warned by
the strange voice that spoke TO him
from the mind OF his master He saw
the arm slowly extend itself with
sinister hand directed straight at the
unconscious figure OF the woman. This
time Brood was making sure OF his
aim-so sure that the 1.-THE Hindu
had time to spring to his feet and
grasp once more the hand that held
the weapon.
Master. MASTER" he cried out.
Brood turned TO look at his man in
sheer bewilderment. What could all
this mean? What was the matter with
the man?
Down, Ranjab!" he commanded in
a low, cautious tone. as he would have
used in speaking to dog when the
game was run TO earth.
There is but one bullet left, sahib."
cried the man
Only one is required said the mas
ter hazily
You have killed your son. This bull.
let is for yourself"
Yes. Yes! But--but shel She
lives, She"
The Hindu struck mis- own breast
significantly Thy faithful servant re-
mains, sahlb Die. IL thou wilt. but
leave her TO RanJab. There is but one
bullet left. II is for you You must
not be here To witness the death Ran.
jab. thy servant. shall inhict upon her.
Shoot thyself now. II so be Il. but
spare myself the sight Of" He did
not finish the sentence. but his strong.
bony fingers went through the motion
thai told more horrible story than
words could have expressed. There
was no mlstaking his meaning. He
had elected himself her executioner.
A CHASTITY look OF comprehension.
fitted across Brood's face. For sec
ond his mind slipped from one dread
to another more appalling. lie knew
this man OF his He remembered the
story OF another killing In the hills OF
India. His gaze went from the brown
fanatics face TO the white, tender.
lovely throat OF the woman-and
hoarse gasp broke from his lips
NO! No! Not that" he cried. and
as the words rang out. Yvonne re-
moved her Mortified gaze from the blot
OF red and fixed Il upon the face OF her
husband. She Strengthened up slowly
and her arms fell Imply to her sides.
1T Was meant for me. Shoot.
James," she said. almost In a wills
per.
The Hindus grasp frightened at the
movement OF his masters
hand. His fingers were like steel
bands
Shoot she repeated. raising her
voice. Save yourself. for II he is
dead ! shall Kill you with my own
hands This Is your chance--shoott"
Brood's fingers relaxed their grip
on the revolver. a fierce. wild hope
took all the strength out OF his body
he grew faint with H.
God. he-he cant be dead I have
not killed him. lie shall not die--he
shall not" Flinging the Hindu aside
he threw himself down beside the body
on the floor The revolver as II
dropped. was caught IN the nimblc
hand Of the Hindu, who took two long
swift strides toward the woman who
nov faced him instead OF her husband
There was a great light inthls eyes a.