Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-18
CHAPTER x1v-tcontInuedJ I.

CHAPTER XIv-(Continued).
nE NETzE stood nearest me, as have
~ indicated. He, too, seemed suddenly
reused from trancellke state His words,
think, were Russian they had the intona-
tion of an oath. lie stood erect enough,
clutching his left shoulder with his right
hand. Our eyes met, and he nodded blank
ly, evidencing uncomprehending surprise at
the appropriateness of our meeting
From his my eyes Travelled on to the
others TO Julia, who remained as il trans
fixed upon the spot where she had stood
when first De Netze had raised the alarm !;
to Mrs. Morchester, apparently similarly
thunderstruck to Sevrance who seemed to
have slipped and now was rising from
kneeling posture; to Grady, halted in the
edge of the shadow, his revolver still poised
for Use and. finally, to my dearest enemy.
Won Holzborn. who had fallen back against
the railing Of the landing. and, l thought
had all but tainted with the pain of his
wound.
AS l looked, however, he Strengthened
himself up with an effort and attempted to
walk toward Julia. lie seemed to have
overestimated his strength, for. after step
or two, he tottered and would have fallen
but for Sevrance, who sprang forward and
caught him gently.
Won Holzborns head dropped back upon
my friends breast; his eyes rested upon
Sevrance's face 1 heard him say, however,
feebly:
"Ah. Mr.. sevrance We are well met.
hcin' And your friend Mr. Tralll?'
us here" Sevrance informed him.
"Mr. Trail" he said calmly, this Is
unlSind OF you, sir l had fanced that
you would warn us. give us some chance
for our lives. A dastardly attack. sir upon
my word !"
It was the one false move that ever
knew the man to make If he thought, as
II was apparent he thought, to shift against
us suspicion as the authors Of the assault
he failed signally. Julia, for one could
never have been turned against me by
such Insinuations; and his own associate
De Nctze. spoke up in my defense.
You are mistaken, my friend" he said
quietly. I'VE owe to Messieurs Traill and
Sevrance our lives. They saved us. 1t was
the Secret Chapter that struck through
these others"
Won Holzborn glanced swiftly toward
Julia, reading her eyes. She was looking
toward me with such an expression of hope
and relief and pride that he could not mis-
| read II,
81 beg your pardon, gentlemen" he
gasped, IT dare say l am n trife light Of
the head. This cursed wound - And he
groaned again convinctngly Let me
down. I beg of you, Mr.. Sevrance," he
went on "I cannot stand. l fear they've
done for me at last"
you can do nothing" he insisted. ut is
not n case for-what you call it?-'first aid
to the injured l am mortally hurt-Netzc.
mon anil"
II am here"
Hail the Myosotts. Tell them to send
Doctor Chine"
l looked toward Hearts Desire and found
her attention still fixed upon me. And now
I felt myself amply rccompensed for the
| danger we had braved for her sake.
Her lips moved. as did she. falterlngly I
caught the bare whisper of my name.
breathed rather than uttered Gordon y
And in that instant I was by her side, my
arms ready haven for her dear and weary
form.
| believe that other word was spoken
at that time !, at least, heard no more
than my name. But Julia's eyes were elo-
quent enough. Lifted out of herself by the
strain and terror induced by the fearful
experience just past, she forgot self for
the moment; and. II not in words. surely
by her looks and In her attitude, as she
seemed to droop like tired child, toward
me, she gave herself completely into my
keeping. into my protection. In another
breath. | verify believe, she would have
been in my arms. regardless of convention,
regardless of Won Holzborr-recltless of all.
But the German intervened. Wounded
and spent though he was he had lost not
jot of his clear sentence, not an atom OF
his calculating composure Nor. / believe.
had he lost n look or a gesture that had
passed between Hearts Desire and my
self; and when the time was ripe for
interference, he spoke. with an affecting
weakness of voice:
Julia :"
fancled that Julia qulvered under the
reproach OF his tone Her eyes fell before
mine, and she turned away with a little
sigh
The man stared up at her through mar
moved eyelds
Julia" he said again family.
She knelt by his side.
what can do?" she asked unsteadlly.
"You 4re--are badly hurt?"
could see that she infused feeling into
her words with effort.
"I am dying" sad the man clearly "I
am-done-" His lids dropped over his
eyes again. lam very cold" he added
almost inaudibly
In an instant she had gathered his head