The Southern herald., 1916-09-29
CHAPTER XXI.


Toward Dawn.
In the condemned cell Richard Far.
quhar stood with his back against the
wall, his arms folded, watching the
yellow streak of light that filtered
through the narrow barred window
and fell slantwise across the darkness
to the iron door opposite He knew
that the light came from an overhang-
ing lantern outside, and that beneath
sentry with fixed bayonet kept
guard
Footsteps sounded on the passage.
The light still burned steadily. Morn.
ing was not yet come. Nor could he
hear voices or the familiar clash Of
bayonets. The footsteps were swift,
stealthy. The jarrlng turn of the key
In the lock sounded subdued, as though
the strength Of the will behind It had
hushed sound itself. Farquhar faced
about firmly. If this were death, then
it came under strange guise. The
light from the window spread out and
mingled with the dingy reflection from
the passage, then narrowed once more,
leaving the darkness on either hand
the more impenetrable.
"Nameless Take these clothes
Change instantly"
"Who are your"
Il will introduce myself later on.
Do as tell you"
A shadow moved and came out into
the line of light. Farquhar caught a
glimpse of the gaunt hard-lined face
frozen now into impressive resolution.
He tossed the bundle of clothes back
on to the floor.
"Goetz, you fool, do you think 1
would do 1t? It's useless. I'm not
going to have you shot in my stead"
"Plg-headed Engllshman, do you
think l should ask you to do anything
so sensible? Get into these clothes If
you don't want to be strangled? Name
Of heaven, Don Quixote may not 1t oc-
cur to Sancho Panza to accompany you
on your little expedition into freedom?
"The thing is impossible"
But even in the half-llght he had
caught the blaze in the usually cold
and arrogant eyes. 1t fred his blood.
1t was like blast of northern wind in
the fetid closeness.
1T Is not impossible. Your friends
are here-your mother There are
horses waiting for US both outside the
Notifications. Tomorrow we shall be
in Oron. God, man-if you had seen
her face when gave your message!
VIII you let that little woman break
her heart over you"
Farquhar tore Off his tunic.
"Who has the watch?
Bertrand. He went over to the
canteen five minutes ago. As I know,
he will not be back yet a while. At
the worst we have three minutes to
spare"
"Glve me that coatr'
Neither man had raised his voice
above a whisper. Goetz's laugh was
inaudlble.
"Ah, das ewlg weibliche! Are you
ready"
"Ycs."
"Then come"
The iron door swung back smoothly.
In the neighboring cell there was a
sudden hush; as though warned by
some instinct the rough voices died
down into dull murmur, through
which the two listeners heard other
sounds-a harsh command, heavy ap-
preaching footsteps. Goetz closed the
door. He set his back against 1t, and
in the pale light falling aslant his face
Farquhar saw that he was smiling
savagely.
II demand a hundred pardons.
miscalculated. Our friend Bertrand
has deserted the bottle a minute too
soon. 1t is scarcely credible. No
doubt he intends to pay you a farewell
call. In which case accept my profuse
apologies, Nameless."
"Who goes with Bertrand on the
round?" Farquhar asked almost with
Indifference.
Harding. He knows. He will do
all he can. Be quiet now-they are
in the next cell"
The drunken shouts subsidized sud
denly into a cowed sullen silence. They
heard the sergeant's savage abuse, this
iangle of keys, the clang Of an iron
door slammed Violently TO. Instantly
the chorus broke out afresh.
To BE coNTINUEDS