The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-03-31
Chapter AZ
A TERRIBLE THREAT

" y
WHAT was that? q
w Margaret sprang up.
No doubt of 1t. this time! A CRY
and then a crash. No, a clatter.
Still sounding in her ears.
The cup! Someone had sent II
rolling, humping and gathering
across the stone floor.
] Merciful Heaven. helpi There was
q man-standing on the coping Of
the balcony - clearly silhouetted
against the moonlight and the lumi-
nous sky.
He was hanging on q rope--or
holding to it, as he stood on the
balcony Iedge-and he had kicked
the tin cup into the room as he
sought loothold.
Had she not gone. and drunk wa
ter, 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.
Weil--now he had found her
awake. Thank God for the pistol.
Rut she couldn't shoot the man in
cold blood. without word. Yet IL
sha waited much longer. her hand
certainly would begin to shake.
Could he see her now? Why didn't
he move? OF course, he was listen,
ing. peering. Should she fire, or
speak?
She would FIRE.
Heavens, no! II might not be
Raisnl. And II 1t were Raisul--and
she killed him-what would harp n
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 ip the lamp.
"Good evening. my dear. One
wonld almost have thought that you
were expecting me. Well. you will
be expecting me. after tonight,
though shan't have to come down
q rope"
stop! Stand still," cried Mar.
earet.
Good Heavens! A real pistol
What . desperate young woman!
New wonder where on earth you
set that thing. And I wonder
whether it's loaded. And wonder
whether you can use H."
rStopi" cried Margaret again.
stand still. II yon cross that mat.
III shoot you"
Raisul laughed,
well. WE'LL" he grinned. and
suddenly sobered.
love me, Margaret, have me.
win make yon heppy. swear II by
the Ninety and Nine sacred names
OF Allah. Love? What do these
Christian dogs know OF lovegs
$ And Raisul deliberately stepped
into the middle Of the mat. Just as
Margaret pertorce lowered her b.
ing arm,
"Shoot Margaret" he said, and
spread his arms wide. exposing bis
breast.
Margaret raised the pistol.
rShoot, Marsaret!" be repeated,
standing steady as q rock, smiling
uhfiinchingly.
What should she dor He was edg.
Ing nearer. Why didn't she shoot
him as he stood there smiling al
her? But how could she ktIf him
when only too well she knew the
terrible consequences.
sShoot Margaret" invited Raisnl
for the third time. "I.et me die are
At your feet. For how can man die
bester7" 's'S
And Raisul took another step
towards the bed.
.yPiease don't make me kin You,
Raisul." Margaret said. slave you
no deeency at alle You shane die
on the praying.carpet. But swear
TO God you shalt die II you step of
IL II you move another inch / shall |
be- justified in firing In selt.de-
fence"
.-You won't be kind9"
'sGo. viii yous@
An right, Margaret, all right, IN
So And when | eema back, Il will
be with his blood on my hands--on |
my hands and on your head, Mar. /
garet."
What de~you meang" whispered |
Margaret, and again. parferes, she
lowered the pistol. that he might
not see how she tremhled.
@Ahl What do I mean! Do You
know. hardly like to tell you ex,
aetly what I seaa Aayhow n viii
b something with boiling oil Ia H.
Bat tell you tkis--either I'll have