Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-18

,ion OF three exhausted sleepcrs. The
octorocn woman SAT ws;chirS them
The rumble ~ the distant drum WAS
no more. Yet she WAS SIM breathing
heINilN with the emotions reused i'll
her by its primitive call. All her be
ing WAS tmSling with the saNSSery
It's saVaGc:y excited.
Her glance styaNed from face 10 face.
examining each with suspicious craft.
Resting on Philips ,Ouutenance. il be
traycd contempt: for Juan Lopez II eN
pressed nothinr but absolute indifter-
encc. Tor the Princess julia il discio-
sed hatred the hatred II jealousy.
envy and fear.
Obscuvely in that scmiarticuls;e i'm
te!iiSeuce the princess personified all
that the octoroon had to fea-. Her
lcr0 and master. the swamp Adder. had
preferred this fair young thing. had
+ not hestateG 10 show his preference.
For this reason. and FOR this reason
alone, the octorooH had offered 10 aid
the Eirl's escape from the hulk or the
marcrore swamp. And now. since ulat
had been accomplished. the woman
wished 10 return. 10 rejoin he- chosen
ulate-!or She did not suspect that he
was dead. Withal. she began dimly 10
perceive tina; she might very possibly
have wasted her pains. So long as the
girl lived, the swamp Adder mus; de-
sire her She must he put irrelrieva biy
beyond his reach.
i.ackins weapon with which TO
take her i.ie-lackinG, FOR tha; matter.
} the courage to atteMp, 1.-THE octo-
room schened way 20 dispose OF her,
fashion OF eliminating her forever
: from the world OF whose terrors death
Was the leas; considerable.
Hisins no:selessiy. She stole from the
clesrinS. tottine away on the jungle
path.
An hour later she returned, but not
alone. \ second woman acconlpa = ed
her. woman OF tragic comeiiness. OF
Srea; stature. superbly fashioned.
raCnifcently poised. walking with the
long. free stride OF the Wild animal
whose liiheness and strength were hers
/ "a woman .fai.er than the "ctcroon
/ and a amer breed. whose face. once
/ beautiful. was still, strangely fascinat-
ine. though its pristine lovelincss was
: lost beneath "a mating OF scars and
seams wrought by long years o, v!o-
,cnt living.
The sleepcrs remained ss the octo-
room had lcf; them-as they mad fall
kueeIinE beside the princess. the
newcomer peered intentiy into her face
then looked round a, the octoroon with
a smile OF dread Significance.
From the folds Of the garment tina
crossed her bosom she drew :, little
phial. Uncori<inS this, she wettcd n
forchnser with the liquid it contain
ed. and moistened the lips Of tho
sleeper. Then. replacing the pniai. she
gathered the limp body UP in her arms
and with never sign Of effort rose
and strobe out OF the clearing, follow
ed by the octoroon.
A. the junction OF the jungle path
with that better-travcled way which
Philips party had pursued TIL thciJ
WEAKNESS had dictated halt, the TIVE
with Julia in her arms turning inla nd
the oesoroon retracinS her way TOWARD
the swamp.
Within half mile she checked
, drew back. and made wide circuit :,
avoid the spot where Count Ramon
Nictornc Savatz. Nicholas and the Gu
ban lay asleep beneath the open sky
Then plunging into the cancbrakc
she held on 10 the spot where the ca
noes had been abandoned, emba rG ec
in ono. and dipped an expert paddle
, The canoe slipped swiftly down tn,
cane walled waterway.
As it lost itself in The shadow,
depths OF The mangrove swamp. so tn
octoroon was forever los; TO tho Ike,
and those whom she had betrayed
, The first rays OF the morning su,
smoie bilndinSiy the upturned face
or Count Ramon dc Ioba Rouset
, against his viii. he sat up. Weakened tn
, others and ordered resumption Of tina
blind chase
Something less than an hour later
having passed unwittiugly tho juncl,
!. pa th-the party. following the beatc,
| way. debouched into a clearing oc
I cupied By Waited hut. The door o
{, tn" hut was tight closed. and it's sin
= ri" window blinded rs . siou, insid
, shutter but smoke Was ascending /,
faint whirls from its rude chimney q
: field stones held together By dric,
mud: and this circumstance inspire,
: Ramon 10 knock al the door and asi
: his way which ne did against tn. pro
4 tests of his guide, who averrcd THAT III
Il nut was tenanted solely by voodo
o witch OF the most malicious propcnsi
. ties, and eNpostulations failing 10 Dc
: ter Ramon from Interviewing III. wo
: man. exhibited such frigh, tha, he wa
: prevented from takius 10 his heel
- only by The readiness OF Nicholas I
use the rim. entrusted to his care b
iaInon.
II Before his l!fted Ismuckles could ia
summons on the door. II opened. an
The woman who had kidnapped JUL
&" stepped out, composed and smiling.
so Non are come At last. senor!
sh. sad IN monerel Spanish
II Utterly COMPOUNDED TO find himseI
: confronted by presence so cc!lec,e
o and commanding, the count stcppe
T. back precipitatelN.
e What 90 you mean" ne stammere,
d Il 10 not know you
d True" Tho woman assentcd "W
have never met until this hour. Y,
have been expecting YOU. kno'
u why YOU are here and whom YOU scei
II Shall prove that 10 you?"
= Ramon shrugged incredulousl'
II Don't bother me with YOUR hoku,
pokus,' he snapped IF wish merel
u 10 ask my way"
Then YOU do not care 10 10 show
+" now 10 find her whom YOU seek"
- The man stared.
l. princess julia is here he demand
cd sharply.
rhc woman shook her head. smilln
inscrutablN Not here 7 O. sho
you where she is."
! Then do 90
'd For u price. II mus, hc gold
Of Impressed against his Will. Eamo
~ hesitstcd. then threw side his doub
ID AMI. unhuttonins his shirt. disclose
a. = money belt from one or whose poke
- l.. produced All f.nellah sCN.reie