The Indianapolis times., 1924-03-08

actress" He smiled upon her. Then
this house. 1t is not mine. It is
tenanted by a ruffian named HOLES;
it was taken by him few days ago
in his own name 1t was he who
brought you here by force. Well,
well, if there must be a scape-goat.
perhaps he viii do as well as another.
And. anyhow, he is overdue for the
gallOws on quite other crimes. He
brought you here by force So far
we shall not contradict each other.
What follows? How came here into
that mans house? Why, to rescue
you, Of course, and 1 stayed to com
fort you in your natural distress. The
facts Will prove my story. My grooms
viii swear to It. It will then be seen
that in charging me you are schem-
ing adventures. returning evil for
good. seeking to profit by my unwary
generosity. You smile? You think the
reputation bestowed upon me by a
scandalmongering populace will
suffice TO give that tale the lie. I am
not II your opinion; and, anyway.
am prepared to take the risk. Oh,
would take greater risk for you, my
dear
She shrank before him in sheer ter
ror. Then, conquering herself, stiffen-
ing in every limb. she drew herself
erect. Majesically, a very queen Of
tragedy. she flung out an arm in a
gesture Of command
He found her magnificent, in the
poise Of her graceful body. the ivory
pallor Of her face, the eyes that glowed
and burned and looked the larger for
the deep. dark shadows IN which they
were now set Suddenly, with an al
ward to seize her.
She slipped aside and away in panic
before his furious onslaught. overset-
ting the high-backed chair in which
she had lately been sitting.
The crash Of it's fall seemed to pene-
trate to the slumbering mind of HoI-
les, and disturb his Inconsistencies
For he stirred a little, uttering a faint
moan.
| Beyond that, however, her flight &C
complished nothing Two yards away
the wainscot faced her She would
have run round the table, but, before
she could turn to do so, the Duke had
seized her.
Helpless in his arms she lay.
/ Over that white throat he now bent
his head like some evil vampire But
I his fevered lips never reached it In
the very act offbending, he paused.
and stiffened-
Behind him he could hear the foot
steps of his grooms re-entering the
chamber. But it was not their coming
that imposed this resaint upon him.
that dilated and bulged his eyes with
horror, that fetched the ashen paIIor
TO is cheeks, and set him suddenly
I trembling and suddering from head
to foot.
For a moment he was as a man
paralyzed. His limbs refused their
office; they seemed turned to lead.
Slowly. where he would have had
them swift. his arms relaxed their
grip of that sweet body. Slowly they
uncoiled themselves, and slowly he fell
back before her. crouchfng forward
the while. staring ever, his jaw fallen.
his face the face of a man in the last
extrembity of terror
Suddenly he raised his right hand
to point with a shaking finger at her
throat. Hoarsely, in a cracked voice,
he spoke.
THE tokens, The tokensi'
The three grooms, entering at that
moment, checked and stood there
just within the theshold as If sudden
/ ly turned to stone.
4 The awakening HOLES, on the
ground. raising himself a little, and
thrusting back the tun.bled hair which
was being matted to his brow~hy
blood from his cracked head, looked
dazedly round and up to see the
1 Dukes shaking, pointing hand, to
hear the Dukes quavering voice, this
time. saying yet again
THE tokens!'
/ His grace fell back step by step,
gasring with dread, until suddenly he
swung about to face his men,
Back " he bade them, his voice
shril'. Pack, Away. out of this. She
is infected. My. Godi She has the
plague, The tokens are upon herr
A moment still they stood at gaze
with him. They craned forward, to
look at Miss Fraduharson. leaning