Evening star., 1941-09-21

VI Ills COIHpdIllOIl. 1HeH lne OtneT L
the plopping, mud-cushioned footf;
through the starless night.
A shiver, not caused by the
Warburtons cramped figure. Nor
was it born of fear; it was a mo-
mentary shaft of sanity soaring
through the warped perspective en-
gendered by the hunger and fever
of the last few days. This-hoWever
desperate their need - this was
crime
But it was too late to retreat now.
Already, he sensed, Montjoie. the
Frenchman. had moved through the
dakness to place himself in the path
of the oncoming rider Warburton
had given his word; he could not
abandon the Frenchman now; he
was expected to carry out the task
assigned him. So Adam Warburton
stumbled into the road also.
A blurred shadow lowered over
him. He reached out blindly and
shared one of the reins. The horse
reared and at the same instant the
night was rent by sudden scream
of pain. Warburton. clinging to the
bride of the now plunging horse,
heard the thud of a falling body and
the soft laughter of Montjoie.
"Montjoie-l" Warburt n
choked, so filled with sudden horror
that he did not know that the horse
had jerked free. Nor did he feel
the blow of the animals swinging
head that caught him on the shoul-
der and sent him to his knees.
He picked himself up from the
wet ground. stunned more by what
he knew Montjoie had done than
by any physical hurt. "You-you
stabbed him!" he cried. ut was not
in the bargain, Bartho, that you
should kill any one!"
Not in the Bargain.
The Frenchman's chuckle became
sardonic laughter. Don't be a fool,
Adam! What was I to do? Stand
there in the dark while he ran a
sword through one or the both OF
us?"
But you agreed-you promised
that we should harm no one! 1t
would have been had enough to rob
him-we could have repaid him In
A curse spewed from Montjoie's
lips. Damn you for a white
livered Englishman!" he snarled,
and Warburton could hear his ad-
vancing steps. II should have lett
vou to rot in Newgatel Another
whimper out of you and III rip you
open, too!'
Warburton clenched his muddled
hands and in another moment they
would have been at it with knife
and fist. but the incipient clash was
averted by a deep groan from the
side of the road.
He lives!" Warburton whlrleo
toward the sound. 20 Lord, grant
that he does not die!"
THE horse. Adam!" cried Mont
ioie. There may be lantern tied
to the saddle"
The cropping Warburton found the
riderless animal. His exploring
fingers soon located a small lantern
and flint box. Hastily he manipu-
lated flint and steel, and flame
caught the taper. The strengthen
ing light revealed the actors OF
that drama of crime and death:
Warburton and Montjoie. hollow
checked and unkempt-looking the
part of desperadoeS, indeed; the
nervous horse watching them with
wide eyes and lifted ears; and the
silent, still form at the edge of the
radius of the light.
Lets see how badly the fellow
is hurt" said the Frenchman. Fol
| the sake of your squeamish con-
science, Adam, I really hope he lives
but when you have been at this
game as long as I you will realize
that there was nothing else 1 could
do under the circumstances"
$50 Unnecessary"
The Englishman did not answer
the half friendly overture. Nor did
he relish the implication that he
would one day be as calloused a
bravo as Bartholomew Montjoie.
They bent over the sprawled body
| of the luckless horseman. The yell
low light disclosed a pale, bearded
face spattered with mud and rain
Montjoie dropped to one knee and
removed the tangled cloak from the
unconscious man, revealing rich
lace trimmed doublet and silken
hose and breeches. The heart OF
Warburton sank at sight of the
pink stain spreading over the lace
"a gentleman of quality" gruntec
Montjoie, as he tore open the doub-
let. The wound was mortal. En-
tering low, the long knife had trav-
eled upward, tearing through vita.
organs
Sound bubbled from between the
wan lips, and the eyes unclosed
ut was so unnecessary" whis-
pered the doomed man. II would
have given you-anything-" He
made a pitiful effort to lift him
self from the ground. II must &c
| Oh" he gasped.
Warburton leaned over the writh-
Ing figure. ''1s there anything I car