Evening star., 1928-05-12
Continued from Yesterdays Star.)
INsTALLMENT XII.

~ TARCOURT threw the door wide
open, and stood facing the troop
ers, one hand raised as If in
- surrender.
Capt. Allodei" he shouted,
recognizing the officer. THANK heaven.
you have come! 1t is I-Starcourt!
Don't you know me? Gavan Starcourt!"
The officer stared, his eyes wide and
incredulous.
"starcourt9 AliveP Alive - and
herc?"
ALIVE? OF course, am" cried the
other. But do not waste time talking
| to me, Abode There is no one here
but these two women and me. Don't
waste time here"
But Abode was rushing up to the
doorway, his hands extended.
This is unbelievable! Why, man."
| he almost sobbed. I'VE have looked upon
you as dead. But how come you to be
| here, with this gang Of"
Il was taken prisoner" broke In
| StarcOurt hurriedly Captured. Brought
here by the-by the brigands. You
| shall have the story later, Dirke. Ride
| on. man! There are more OF
| them"
| But the men were shouting his name
| to those behind 1t went in ringing
| tones from mouth to mouth, far down
| into the fields, UP into the wood where
| men still were shooting and clear to
! the gate in the mountain:
"Starcourt! Sta1court! Starcourt!"
What is the meaning Of all these
J dead men in front -" began Allode,
| gazing about him in beWilderment
| Have you been barricaded in this
house, shooting them down single
For the first time he took account Of
| the slender, dropping figure supported
| by StarcOurts arm. And beyond, IN
| the door, was a tall woman who was
crying.
Up to this instant, Gerane had been
i staring past Abode and his men at the
secene that stretched before her in the
, lower meadow. Everywhere were SOL
| diers--hundreds and hundreds OF them
| Nothing but horsemen! Not sign OF
I a man on foot. not single figure wear
| ing the we'll remembered fur coat ana
| the bushy capt. Little black splotcnes on
/ the snow--that was all. she knew
what they were. Her head sank. The
mighty. boastful robbers of Droon Forest
| where were they now? She was alone
alone with the soldiers OF the crown
| S,sarcourt's men. His people! Her
| enemies! And suddenly she chung to
| him tightly. like frightened child.
| Starcourt's mind worked rapidly.
she is also a prisoner" was his reply
to Capt. Allodc.
At this juncture up rode the COM
handing officer. colonel from the post
! at Fort Ganlook He rushed to star
/ court, his eyes blazing with JOY ana
astonishment.
Can 1 believe my eyes?" he cried.
/ ITS true, then! You are alive
! and" .,
| Let me go with Matilde, Gavan, >
said Gerane. lifting her head. You ana
YOUR friends will find US In there Wnen
| you want us"
He released her instantly. and she
| drew back into the house with Matilde.
/ who Is she?" inquired the colonel.
| staring after her. his hand still grip.
ping Starcourt's. His eyes had narrowed
Suspiciously.
Gavan did not answer at once.
Whose house is this. Col Starcourt?
Starcourt sighed. 1t was the nome
of Jonifer Davos. He is lying in there
on the floor. dead. Killed by his own
men. See for yourself-these are dead
robbers out here You came just IN
time. We were surrounded BY
His own men? eeAoteNnxlerSfaRd
| And he is dead--in thereqs ~A
1T is too long story to tell now,
| colonel" said the other. Grasping the
officers arm. he led him away from the
door. so far as I know. there are
none but women in these houses-wom
en- and children and few old people.
| He pointed. There is not soul IN
sight Go slow, colonel These women
can shoot. Tell your men to be care
| full And you. too. Capt. Allode. You
have the situation in hand-go slow"
| The colonel gave sharp command
and then turned toward the house.
/ Come with me, Col. Starcourt," he
said brusouely. IT would see this
| DavoS.'
"One moment, please. Let me look
In and see Tiff she is with him" said
| Gavan. laying hand on the others
| arm.
Il want to shield her from anything
! anything unpleasant, colonel. she Is
| the daughter Of Jonifer Dawes.
Good heavens. mani"
| And she is to become my wife. sir
| ON the fifteenth OF this month. You
| NAV well look amazed It is hard to
grasp. The daughter of the scourge OF
| the Inn OF the Hawk and Raven 10
/ become Lady Starcourt------ Wait here,
| colonel. / win not be second"
| Gerane was not visible. He oeckoned
! and the officer entered the room. fol-
lowed by three or four SubordinateS.
Leading them to JoniferS body, he
| threw aside the covering.
| Here is Jonlfer Davos--Joniter the
! Hawk--the man you and l and scores
OF others before us have hunted for
| years
He left them gazing down upon the
still face of Jonifer. Going 10 the cur
| tanned door, he called quietly,
Are you there. Gerane? Are YOU
all right, deareSt?"
She answered promptly. without a
/ quaver in her voice
l. II will be ready to so with YOU when
! you give the word. You have only TO
| call"
He reioined the group at the opposite
| end of the room,
Now is as good n time as any, Col
| Shira2. to give you a brief account OF
| what has happened here in the past -
| hours. he said.
"you say that Is Joniter Dawes, I
| shall have To take your word for IL,
| Col Starcourt."
1t Is Jonifer Davos. l knew him
| we'll Before we so any farther, 1t
may interest you TO learn Of something
| that no one at castle or tower or
citadel even suspects He was y direct,
! lineal descendant of the Duke of Droon,
He was the great-g'andson Of the nrst
| duke"
| With this introduction. he rapidly
sketched the story, beginning with his
own capture,
II will give you fuller account
| later. Shlrag~~-but that Is for another
| day, Here lies his nephew Peter, and
| yonder IL Jahn CriSpo The Woman With
| JoniIer's daughter came here cap
| tive over 20 years ago in company
pearance YOU VIII recall, Jonifer mar
| rled the Baroness HAsenStahl, and YOU
| have lust seen their daughter, may
| add that she IL neither Thief nor a
fohhcr, II She were anything but what
| she Is, the lovelieSt and rareSt giGl have