San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-22
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You think the reputation bestowed
upon me by scandalmongering popu-
lace will suffice to give that tale the
lie. l am not of your opinion, and,
anyway. l am prepared to take the
risk. Oh, l would take greater risks
for you, my dear"
She shrank before him in sheer ter
ror. Then, conquering herself, stiff
fleming in every limb, she drew herself
erect. Majest;cally, 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
most inarticulate cry, he sprang for
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 its fall seemed TO pene-
trate to the slumbering mind of HOLES.
and disturb his Inconsistencies. For
he stirred little, uttering a faint
moan.
Beyond that. however. her flight ac-
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 an evil vampire. But his
fevered lips never reached it. In the
very act of bending he paused, and
stiffened.
Behind him he could hear the foot
steps of his groOms re-entering the
chamber. But it was not their CON-
| ing that imposed this restraint upon
him, that dilated and bulged his eyes
with horror, that fetched the ashen
pallor to his cheeks. and set him sud-
denly trembling and suddering from
head to foot.
For q moment he was as maj
paralyzed. His limbs refused theil
office; they seemed turned to lead
Slowly, where he would have hac
them swift, his arms relaxed theil
grip of that sweet body. Slowly
they uncoilpd themselves. and slowly
he fell back before her. crouchins
forward the while, staring ever, his
jaw fallen. his face the face of mar
in the last extremity of terror.
Suddenly he raised his right hand
to point with shaking finger at hel
throat. Hoarsely, in a cracked voice
he spoke.
The tokens, The tokens"
The three grOOms, entering at thai
moment, checked and stood there
Just within the threshold as if sud
denly turned to stone.
The awakening HOLES. on the
ground, raising himself a little, and
thrusting back the tumbled hair
which was being matted to his brow
by blood from his cracked head
looked dazediy round and up to see
the Dukes shaking, pointing hand
TO hear the Dukes quavering voice.
this time, saying yet again:
The tokens :"
His grace fell back step by step
gasping with dread, until suddenly
he swung about to face his men.
Back be babe them. his voice
shrill. Back Away! Out of this She
is infected My God. She sas the
plague. The tokens are upon her."
A moment still they stood at gaze
with him. They craned forward. to
look at Miss Far1uharsOn, leaning
faint and limp against the wainscot
her white neck and shoulders thrown
into dazzling relief against the darl
in this horror which they fully shared
brown of the background. and from
where they stood they could MAKE
out quite plainly stamped upon tn
white loveliness of that throat tn,
purple blotch that was the brand ant
token of the pestilence.
As the Duke reached them. thel
turned, in sudden dread of him
Might he not. himself. already carry
upon him the terrible infection? Witt
wild cries Of terror they fled befor'
him out Of the room. and out OF TIT
house. never needing the command
which, as he precipitately followed
he flung after them.
CHAPTER XXI.
Urder the Red Cross.
Colonel HOLES and the woman IL