San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-24
snuff from among Doomsdorf's pc
sonal supplies.

| SNAut ouPpiiNSs
XXVIII.
Talking in an undertone, not to
be heard through the log walls, Bess
and Ned made their hasty plans for
deliverance.
Here, in the cabin they occupied
the assault must be made. The rea-
son was simply that their plan was
| defeated at the outset il they at
tempted to master DoOmsdorf in the
squaw's presence.
The plan. on perfection, was really
very simple. As soon as Lenore
came, she would be sent back to the
| cabin to bring Doomsdorf. She
would need no further excuse than
that Bess had asked to see him
Ned's knowledge Of the brute's psy-
cholosy told him that.
Ned would be waiting in the
newer cabling when Lenore and
Doemsdorf returned. He would i'm
mediately excuse himself and pass
out the door, at the same instant
that Bess extended a chair for
Doomsdorf. And the instant that he
was seated Bess would dash a hand
full of the binding snuff into his
eyes. ... 90.
Ned's axe leaned just without the
cabin door. Doomsdorf would notice
it as he went in: otherwise his suspi-
cions might be aroused. And in his
first instant of agony and blindness,
Ned would seize the weapon, dash
back through the door, and make
the assault.
They had scarcely perfected the
plan before Lenore appeared, on the
way to- her cot. Just as instant she
halted, her face and golden head a
glory in the soft light as she regard
ed their glittering eyes.
Ned moved toward her, reaching
for her hands. For a breath he
gazed into her lovely face. "Bess
wants you to go-and tell Dooms-
dorf-to come here" he told her. His
voice was wholly steady. every word
clearly enunciated; if anything, he
spoke somewhat more softly. and
evenly than usual. "Just tell him
that she wants to see him."
She took her eyes from his, glanc-
ing about with unmistakablc appre-
hension.
Her searching eyes suddenly
turned in fascinated horror to Bess.
Standing near the open door. so that
the dust of the snuff and thus con-
vey a warning to Doomsdorf, she
was emptying the contents of the
snuff-box into her handkerchief. Her
eyes cleaned under her brows, and
her hands were wholly steady.
Lenore shievered a little, her hands
pressing Ned's.
"What does it mean"
"Liberty! That's what it means, if
the plan goes through" For the
first time Ned's voice revealed sup.
pressed emotion. Liberty! He spoke
the word as devout man speaks Of
God. ats the only chance--now OF
never" he went on with perfect cold.
ness. "You've got to hold up and do
your share-I know you can. If We
succeed-and we've got every chance
its freedom escape from this
island and Doomsdorf. II, we fail.
it's likely death-but death couldn't
be any worse than this. So we've
nothing to lose-and everything to
GAIN"
Overswept by their ardor Lenore
turned back through the door.
Her instructions were simple. The
easiest task Of the three was hers.
Bess took one Of the crude chairs,
her handkerchief-clutched as if she
had been weeping-hn her lap. Ned
sat down in one of the other chairs,
intending to arise and excuse him.
self the instant Doomsdorf appeared
His muscles burned under his skin.
1t was only about so yards to the
cabin. If Doomsdorf came at all, it
would be In the space of a few sec.
onds.
The door of the cabin closed be-