The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1920-08-17

IT'S still too light. Otto. Go an
see what YOU can find In the laruerA
will you? I'm hungry"
They sat down to table, but Vorski
stood up again at once:
Don't look at nue., my girl Your
eyes worry me. what do you expectf
My conscience doesn't worry me
when I'm alone, but It gets worked
up when fine pair OF eyes like
yours go right through me. Lower .
your lids. my pretty one"
He bound Veroniques eyes with
! handkerchief which he knotted BED
d hind her head. But this did not say
lsfy him; and he unlocked a muslin
curtain from the window, wrapped
her whole head in It and wound It
round her neck. Then he sat down
again to eat and drink
The three Of them hardly spoke and
said not a word Of their trip across
the island, nor OF the duel of The
4 afternoon. In any case, these were
details which did not interest Veroni-
que and which, even n she had paid
attention to them, would not have
aroused her. Everything had become
Indifferent to her. The words reached
her ears but assumed no definite
meaning She thought OF nothing but
dying.
When Il was dark VorsSi gave the
signal for departure.
4 At half-past eight the grim process
sion set out with Vorski AZ the head,
carrying a lantern. The accoInpliceS
followed with the litter. b.
The clouds, which had been threat
ening all the afternoon had now
|. gathered and were rolling, thick and
black, over the island. The night was
falling swiftly. A stormy wind was
, blowing and made the candle flicker
In the lantern.
= "Brrrr!" muttered vorski. Dismal
, work! A regular qolgotha evening"
"It'll be done, i'm be donei that
i is to say, we shall have ono more
murder on our conscience. But :"
But what?"
What about the treasurer"
| "Ah. the treasured You've got it
: out at lastl Well, make your mind
I easy; your shares of 1t are as good
! as In your pockets"
I Are you sure OF that2"
"Ratherl DO you imagine that I'm
r staying here and doing all this dirty
a work for fun?"
They resumed their progress. Az.
-, ter n quarter OF an hour a few drops
! OF rain began to fall. There was a
> clap of thunder The storm still APP
= peared to be some distance away
They had difficulty in completing
. the rough ascent: and Vorsh had TO
I. help his companions.
$ AT last!" he said. Were there.
Otto, hand me the flask. That's 1t.
:, Thanks"
They had laid their victim at
the foot OF the oak which had had
. it's lower branches removed. A flash
9 OF light revealed the inscription.
~. an" Vorsk picked up a rope,
) which had been left there in readi-
i ness, and set ladder against the
$ trunk Of the tree:
: "we'll do rs we did with the sis
J. ters Archgnat," he said. "Tll pass
It the cord over the big branch which
i we left intact. That will serve as
d pulley" =
IS Ho interrupted himself and
le Jumped to one side. Something eX-
10 traordinary had Just happened,
"what's THAR" he whispered what
sr was Il? Did you hear that whistling
1t sound?"
/ ear. One would have said II was a
70 bullet"
Is you're mad"
is 81 heard g. too" said otto, land It
'e seems TO me that 1t hit the tree"
W "What tree?"
"The oak, Of course! II was as
d. n, though somebody had fired at u.s."
70 "There was no report"
'e "A stone. then; a stone that must
have hit the oak"
o. wen soon see" said vorski.
q, He turned his lantern and at once
T., let fly an oath:
5a Damn It! Look there, under the
y lettering"
Sd They looked An arrow was fixed
NJ at the spot 10 which he pointed. IT'S
featherod end was still Quiverlng.
"A IAN arrow" gasped Conrad. How
is 1t possible? An arrowl"
I'd And Otto spluttered:
IN Were done fort It's us they were
aiming att"
ut "The man who took aim at us can't
n be far off," Vorski observed. Keep
r. your eyes open. Wen have a look t"
is He swung the light in circle which
lr penetrated the surrounding darkness
.ai stop" said Conrad. eagerly. "A
/. little more to the right. DO you seer"
AZ yes, yes, l see"
y Thirty yards from where they stood
IT, in the direction of the Calvary OF the
49,. Flowers, just beyond the blasted oak
}" they saw something white, a figure
l., which was trying, - least so II
W. seemed, TO hide behind a clump OF
y, bushes.
ne TITS that hlthy mongreli" growiec
nix VorsK. And some one with him.
AT Damn IT," swore Vorsld He,
4" laughing at us. Suppose we Aired al
Hes too far. The bullets wouldnt
lie reSlch him"
nd IAN the same. we're not goinl
IN. to"
e." The unknown individual led then
ed to the end Of the island and ther
to down TO the entrance Of the tunnel
It. passed close to the PRlory, skirted tn,
west cliff and reached the foot bridge
let some or the planks OF which wet,
lly stiu smouldering. Then he brancheC
ne OF, passed back by the other side o
he the house and went up the grass
slope.
From time to time the dog barl6e,
II gayly.
ny Vorsld could not control his rage
for However hard he tried he was un
rt. able to gain an inch of Ground: ant
ar- the pursuit had lasted fifteen min
IN utes. He ended by vituperaung TN
III enemy:
no stop can't your Show yourself
-.