Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1918-01-10
The
By BURTON E. STEVENSON

Dan took one look into the shin
ing eyes, then put his arm about
her, dragged her to him, and kissed
her fiercely.
"Refreshment for the heroic
warrior on the field of battle he
explained, before she could pro
test. II don't think there's much
danger; but just the same you'll
stay we'll in the rear, like a good
girl! If Pachmann's upstairs, we
will surely hear from him: He's
certain to be annoyed"
Cant we do something for this
poor fellow?" she asked, her eyes
large with pity for the grooming
man.
"The police will call an ambu-
lance" said Dan. "There's moth
ing we can do" On the floor be-
side the wounded man lay his re-
%volver, and Dan stopped and
picked it up. "Now, remember,
Gunga Dinl" he added, ".your
place is so PAGES right flank rear!"
He started up the stair, eau
tiously at first, but more boldly as
no sound came from the upper
floor. At the stairhead he hest
tated. The upper hall was empty,
but just opposite him an open door
disclosed a dark room beyond.
Still there was no sound, and,
after a moment, he stepped to the
door and peered inside.
"That was where they put my
father" said Kasia. "He was ly-
ing on the bed in there"
Before he could stop her, she
brushed past him and sped across
the room. Then with a frightened
cry, she started back. Dan was
by her side in an instant.
"Look!' she gasped, and
pointed at the floor.
Dan saw a slim shape stretched
across the inner threshold then he
perceived that it was the body of
a man. Pushing Kasia before him,
he returned to the outer door,
fumbled for the switch and turned
it. Yes, it was the body of a man,
lying on its face, it's arms thrown
above its head. A strange odor
greeted him as he bent over it-an
odor which made him curiously
dizzy-but he managed to turn the
body over.
why, it's Pachmann!" he
cried, and stared down at him with
starting eyes.
1t was not a pleasant sight. The
admiral's face was distorted with
rage, his lips curled savagely away
from his teeth, his eyes were only
half closed, his hands were
clenched-and with it all, he was
breathing slowly and regularly, as
though asleep.
"He isn't dead, anyway said
Dan, and rubbed his eyes, fol
strange clouds floated before
them. "And he doesn't seem to be
hurt he added, looking again
II wonder what happened to him
he isn't a pretty sight, is he
And where s your father?"
He's not here" said Kasia
and following her gesture, Dar
saw that the bed was empty.
Together they fastened back te
the hall and looked into the Other
rooms. They we're all empty.
We'll, it beats met" said Dan
at last, and stared down into the
girls frightened face. "Youl
father isn't here, that sure. L
looks like he either gave Pach
mann his quietus with a solar pick
us, or else Pachmann just fell ovel
on his face and went to sleep. Any
way, your father seems to hav,
escaped. But where's the prince
Did they elope t%ogether?"
why didn't father stop ant
look for met" demanded Kasia.
And then a light broke owe
Dams face.
HE did--and found you gone
Don't you see,' he went on, ex
citedly, ssit must have been Will
we were fussing with that thicl
headed cop. And probably, whel
he didn't find you, he hurried Of
home sss"
But Kasia had already starte,
for the stairs.
Dan paused for a last look a
the recumbent figure. Suppos
the man should die-suppos
something had happened to til
Prince-there would be the Ger
man empire to be reckoned with
and the reckoning would be
serious One-serious for himself
Ifor Kasia, above all for Ward
Very thoughtfully he turne,
away, followed Kasia down tn
stair, passed along the hall an,
Through the open door. On tn
step he paused and looked up an,