The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-05-10
Chapter AT A TERRIBLE THREAT

Margaret sprang up. e48
 No doubt of it, this time! A cry and then crash. No, a chatter Still sounding in her ears. The cup! Someone had sent it rolling, pumping and clatterine lacroSS the stone floor.
 Merciful Heaven, help! There was a man-standing on the cop- ling of the balcony-clearly silhou- cited against the moonlight and the luminous sky.
 He was hanging on a rope-or holding to it, as he stood on the balcony ledge-and he had kicked the tin cup into the room as he sought foothOld.
 Had she not gone and drunk wa tier, and left the cup there in the middle of the coping-he would have got into the room in perfect silence, and found her there asleep.
 Well-now he had found her awake Thank God for the pistol
 But she couldn't shoot the man in cold blood, without a word. Yet if she waited much longer, her hand certainly would shake.
 Could he see her now? Why didn't he move? Of course, he was listening, peering. Should she fire, or speak?
 She would fire.
 Heavens, no! It might not be Raisul. And if it were Raisul-and she killed him-what would hap pen to them all, as soon as the Kaid knew? Things unthinkable.
 The man stopped and stepped down into the balcony.
 "Well?" said Margaret quietly, and turned up the lamp.
 Good evening, my dear. One would almost have thought that you were expecting me. We'll, you will be expecting me, after to- night, though I shan't have to come down a rope"
 Stop! Stand still" cried Mar garet. e..
 Good Heavensl A real pistol! What desperate young womanl Now I wonder where on earth you got that thing. And I wonder II its loaded. And I wonder whether you can use it."
 "Stop!" cried Margaret again.
 stand still. If you cross that mat, I'll shoot you"
 Raisul laughed
 "Weu. we'll" he grinned, and suddenly sobered.
 Love me, Margaret, have me. l will make you happy. swear 1t oy the Ninety and Nine sacred names of Allah. Love? What do these Christian dogs know of love?'
 And Raisul deliberately stepped into the middle of the mat, just as Margaret perforce lowered her arching arm.
 Shoot, Margaret" he said, and spread his arm wide, exposing his breast.
 Margaret raised the pistol
 Shoot. Margaret" he repeated, standing steady as a rock, smiling unflinchingly.
 What should she do? He was edg- ing nearer. Why didn't she shoot him as he stood there smiling at her? But how could she kill him when only too well she knew the terrible consequences.
 Shoot Margaret" invited Raj sul for the third time. Let me die here at your feet. For how can man die better?"
 And Raisul took another step to- wards the bed.
 .1Please don't make me kill you, Raisul." Margaret said. Have you no decency at all. You shant de on the praying -carpet. But l swear to God you shall die if you step off it. If you move another inch l shall be justified in firing in self defense"
 "You won't be kind?"
 Go, will you?"
 All right, Margaret, all right, I'll go. And when come back, 1t VIII be with his blood on my hands on my hand and on your head, Margaret"
 what do you mean?" whispered Margaret, and again, perforce. she lowered the pistol, that he might not see how she trembled.
 "Ah! What do I mean? Do you know, I hardly like to tell you ex- actly what I mean. Anyhow it will be something with boiling oil in it. But I tell you this-either I'll have his lips or yours. Do you get the point? Either I have your lips with mine, or I'll have his lips with knife. Thatn spoil his beauty, won't it, Margaret. That's what I tell you Margaret, and think you know whether I am a man who keeps all his promises-when they are threats"
 Neither of them had yet men toned name.
 Margaret had shrunk back in horror.
 Yes, I know. All very horrid. Look here, Margaret, love me, and | he can on m see him safe out of