Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-12-13

dark and damp and well like and
apparently never swept, for its
pavement was Uttered with rub
bish. Again she caught herself
listening, her head half turned.
But she heard no sound. 1t must
be past the middle of the after
noon; she should be getting home
to set their rooms in order, for to-
night Dan was coming II 4
And again she was listening,
rigid, breathless in her chair.
There was no sound; but suddenS
ly, with nerves a culver, she
sprang to her feet, crossed the
room and swept back the hangings
at the door. She was surprised
to find that the door itself had
been closed. She turned the knob,
but the door did not open; she
shook it, but it held fast. And
then she realized that it was
locked.
1t was a moment before she I'M
derstood. Then, very quietly, she
crossed the room to another door
and tried it. She had expected it
to be locked also, but to her sur
prise it opened. Beyond it was a
bed room, also with a window
opening on the walled court, and
beyond the bedroom was a win
dowless bathroom. There were no
other doors.
She returned to the outer room
and again tried the door, testing
it cautiously but firmly with her
whole strength. Yes; there could
be no doubt of it-she was locked
in. She went to one Of the win
dows, raised the sash and looked
out. 1t was at least a 12-foot drop
to the tagged pavement Of the
court. That might be managed
with the help Of the bed clothes,
but there remained the high wall
and the threatening iron spikes.
Below her, she could see that a
small door opened from the court
into the basement Of the house, but
it had no other exit.
She found the fresh air welcome,
and sat down, at last, before the
open window. She was much
calmer than she had been; now
that she was face to face with
danger, the feeling of oppression
vanished and her courage rose.
She was a Pole, she had been
trained in a hard school, she was
not afraid. No, she repeated pas
sionately to herself, she was not
afraid; and how she hated that
smooth tongued German, with the
cold eyes and smiling lips! Treach-
erous! Treacherous!
eff you will come this way"
said Pachmann, and Ward tramped
after him up the stair to a room
on the second floor.
The prince was already there,
standing at the window, hands in
pockets, staring modify out.
BE seated, Mr.. Vard,' said
Pachmann. MY dear prince,
will you not sit DOWN."
The prince flung himself into a
chair.
And now, Mr.. Yard" went on
Pachmann, sitting down very de-
lihcrately face to face with the in
ventor, "our answer is ready for
YOU
Every we'll; let me have it."
snapped Ward, twitching with I'M
patience.
I'VE refuse to accept your con-
ditions."
For an instant there was silence,
then Ward leaped to his feet, his
face livid.
$50 you have been playing with
mel" he cried. "Well, / sus-
pected it! And you shall pay!
Oh, you shall pay!'' and he turned
blindly to the door.
Zone moment!!" called Pach-
mann, and his voice had in it a
ring Of command which Ward had
never hearl before. "Sit down. l
have still something to say"
Il do not care to hear it."
"That is nothing to me. You
shall hear i'll"
With a glance of contempt,
Ward strobe to the door and
turned the knob; but it did not
open. He wrenched at it madly,
but it held fast. In two strides
he confronted Pachmann.
"What is the meaning of this ?''
he demanded.
"The meaning replied the adj
miral sternly, lis that you are a
prisoner here until L choose to re-
lease you. Now will you sit
down?"
Ward stood for a moment, his
face deadly white, his hands
clasping and unclasping convuls-
iivply Sfaripo dovun into Doob