The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1916-02-18

| ~OS - oS8. 4AAo06A S4o
saw sunset family mirrored in the
dark waves like q pale reflection Of
the cold misery in my own breast
| CHAPTER xI.
The Ultimate Appeal.
Qn which I snatch success out Of thu
We lay at anchor half mile outside
the bay. All was silent aboard the
yacht, save the monotonous tramp OF
the guard on deck above my cabin. My
watch marked six o'clock In the after.
noon ard this was Wednesday. Five
days remained-only I'VE days of
grace. and on Monday Charles would
stand condemned, while was power.
less to save him. pictured him in
his dungeon In the Paris fortress. igno-
rant of my whereabouts; I wept to
think that my desperate flight to Cor
sica to procure the only witness who
could deliver him had ended in my
ignominious capture. Yet unless deliv-
erance came from some unguessed-at
quarter. hope must be abandoned.
dared not go to bed but paced my
tiny cabin In feverish despair. Out
side. through the closed portfolio. the
sea tumbled in rising waves. and the
yacht rocked and pitched as she
strained at her anchor. So heart-weary
was I. 30 helpless, that my fatigue in.
duced . period of merciful uncon-
seriousness into which I glided by i'm
perceptible degrees. to be tortured by
nightmares. Now I was in Paris again,
watching the condemnation of Charles.
One by one the military judges arose
and announced their verdict-guilty.
l saw him led forth to the parade
ground. to be stripped Of his uniform.
to have his buttons and epaulets torn
from him and his sword broken, while
outside the barriers a mob howled for
his death. The intensity OF my de-
spair awoke me.
What was that low tapping upon the
pane Of the portfolio?
Twas upon my feet now. fully awake.
staring with incredulity through the
dull, rounded glass, at q small boat
that rocked perilously beside the
yacht. / listened; the tramp on deck
had ceased. The sentinel was gone.
or sleeping upon watch. The tapping
came again. and. looking out, I per-
ceived the Greek Zeuxis, with com.
panion seated in the little boat.
strained at the portfolio fastenings
with all my strength. The rusty catch
slid back and admitted the fresh night
air. The head of Zeuxis was upon a
level with my own.
Then l knew that his words had not
been vain; he had come to settle his
score with my captor, Magniff. There
was no need of words; We both under
stood. l opened the portfolio to its
fullest extent. 1t was just wide enough
to admit of the Greeks passage.
He stood up in the rocking boat,
chung to the exterior Of the orifice with
both his hands. and then. needless OF
the swaying boat, which rose and fell
beneath him, raised himself and thrust
his head and shoulders within. He
caught at my too willing hands. a mo-
ment later and he had wriggled
through and stood up on the floor OF
my cabin. He looked back, nodded
and the boat pulled slowly away. He
had cut off his retreat, the single ave
nue. of flight.
In his teeth was the sharp knife that
had seen him flourish in the cottage
knew the mad determination which
inspired him, the hate which haC
transformed the cringing coward into
hero. l knew the deadly purpose fol
whose accomplishment he had armed
himself with that razor-keen blade. But
now, with Charles liberty at stake
and hope clutching me by the throat
what was the life Of Leopold Magnif
to me. Should not in duty let loose
this assassin upon the man who hae
shown me no quarter?
While I was struggling thus be
tween two motives Zeuxis. still with
| out a word. had crept like a cat to tht
locked door Of the cabin. He wrenchet
at it; then, with smile at the pitifu
weakness Of that defense which hat
, seemed insuperable to me, he inserted
: the thin blade of the knife into the
lock and forced back the tongue.
moment later and he had disappeared
from sight, leaving me tremulous will
t alternating terror and hope. l heart
/ his footsteps die away upon the car
, peted floor without. heard Leopold's
voice, cool. calm. penetrating, and thu
voice of the Greek as he ragged abov,
him, pouring forth q torrent of accuse
I tons, threats and objurgations. Their
, came rush of quick footsteps, thu