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Show == Pa Te last Sunday.) ul D en, In open a short while the door was pushed nolselessly an the woman put her head in. I had already set her down for the head of the firm, as the more courageous of the pair of rascals. She looked at us both for some moments and then entered and crept towards Volna. Not da to let her go too far, I shifted my pesition and grunted, as if uneasy in my sleep. This drew her attention and she stopped and stared at me. Next she moved to the table and took up the two cups one after another; glanced from them to us jn turn; UTAH, SUNDAY, orf clapped his hands to his face ¢ sank into my chair by the fire. The Copyright, 18, by Arthur W. Marchmont. iag looked his way and swore at him with a snarl of contempt Volna took out the jug and poured Come, now, What does this mean?” | the ecotfee back Into the cuns. “It means that if you don’t like it, you They both watched her intently as can clear out, the pair of you,” and she she dld this, turning now and then “Coming here | turned fiercely on Volna from her to me, with swift glances of with your Hes about being lost, and fear wanting to rob poor and honest folk, and | speculative “Now this is not drugged or then trumping up a lying accusation | poisoned, drink it; and I took one of Vho are you, I'd like to know.” the cups and held it toward the man, Her assurance was as brazen as her “Quick,”’ I eried, so sternly, that he courage was unquestionable. I own I trembled. His eyes were everywhere Was at a loss what to do. except on my face, and his lips moved “That won't do with me. Your one convulsively. chance Is to tell the truth,’ I said “Drink it, fool,” said the woman with “You're a man, aren't you, to call a | a sneer, woman a liar? Do you hear that, Ivan? | He stretched out his hand toward the And she went to him and shook him cup, and then, with a swift gesture, “Get up, pig; don’t sit shaking there struck at it and dashed it to the when you hear me abused by this thief of the night.” She hauled him to his| ground. “I knew {t. I need no more proof,” I feet, Volna took the opportunity declared of crossing to my side. mak“T'll drink it,”’ cried the woman, “You mustn't talk like that here,” he said with a sort of hang-dog manner Ing a snatch at the cup on the table. But I caught her hand, and Volna took “T’d rather talk to you than to the woman there. Now you—" (away the cup. “We'll go’ together and get the horses,” I said to Volna; and was in the act of opening the door when I started involuntarily as some one beat a loud peremptory summons on tho panel “Open the door there, open,” called a voice, Volna started and clutched my arm. “What shall we do?” If it was the police, we were caught like rats in a trap. “We must brazen it out,” I sald, “The papers?” she whispered. The knocking was repeated more loudly and insistently than before. “Open there, at once, I say ay.’’ “See if there’s fire enough to bum therm, “Who is there?” I called. “The police. Open or we shall break a They seized and held us both The man who took me_ snatched the revolver, which was still in my hand. “Ah, a police weapon,” he said, signifleantly, and showed it to his companion, who appeared to be In command, “Search weapons,’ ringing. them came both for the order, any more sharp an and the door. weapon I shut the light close her breath as to my breath- The ened. Pretend with her. aratta creak as she crept to up I heard d them. is going to happen; the woman has been in to make sure that we are asleep: and will no doubt be back in a moment.” I went back to my chair and waited, ready to resume fortable position Shortly again, under net afterwards conjecture, thing weighty was set down with a heavy bump just outside the door; most unaccountable rustling followed, and then the two whispered together, In the pause a pungent odor of paraffin came from the lamp they had. \ All sorts of weird conjectures crowded into thought as to the possible meaning of this development. Volna had heard it all and wilderment. looked at I motioned me in be- her to keep si- lence. Another journey was made to crgaky staircase. It was the man who went, and while he was away, the woman look in upon us. I saw to m surprise this time she wore her bonnet. As the man’s tread was on the stairs again she drew back and in a whisper Joud enough to reach us, she sald: “It's all right, you coward. They're both off fast enough. You can do it safely now. ed man first, mind.” The next moment wide open and the door was pushthey both entere stealthily. CHAPTER Ix. A Very Tight Corner. The suspense of the two or three moments which followed the entrance of the pair constituted an ordeal not to be forgotten. That est proof of her courage she could have given. It was less nessed the despite her band, for attempt come T had witvisit, and, me. former whisper to her hus- to the conclusion that to be made on our lives. Moreover, as a But] Volna knew nothing of this. Ihad only] been able to whisper a hurried and very| indefinite warning to her, calculated, despite my assurance, to work up her no had trying woman's ominous was fears to a high strain. They stood still for some moments: the man slightly in front of his wife, who set a candle she was carrying down behind her. The faces of both then caught the red gleam from the emb ers of the fire; and so evil looking a couple I hope never to see again. thin, cunning face The man‘s long, was strained and intense, and his narrow, treacherous eyes glanced from me to Volna and back from Volna to me, as if In doubt which to attack first. Jus t behind him stood the tall, gaunt and the woman Inclting angular form him; her eyes gleaming with excite ynent, her lips parted and drawn in a Enarl to one side, and every line, cica trice and seam of her scarred, repulsive features the brought ruddy looked gleam a veritable into of strong the hog log relief fire. of evil, by She utterly detestable. deadly and loathsome, “The man first,’’ she whispered, jogging her accomplice, ed half round to. her, frrit- Bee ably, and then Lee e@ was car- y a length of cor to creep slowly toward m e ore began as she confessed after4] Volna, She it no longer. could endure aa aprang up and called me In another momen t I was on my feet; papers; I “You hear that, Ivan. Strike that. You deal with him, and after the wench.” She pushed him toward him I'll for look me and seemed for the moment to infect him with some of her own dcsperate cour- age. ' "If you “No, don’t like it, go,’ they the fury. shan’t go he said. now,” interrupted ‘We daren’t let them go now, you fool. You know, 9 on.” He still hung back, however, and then she suddenly wrenched open a drawer and took out a formidable looking choper “Here, Ivan, now will you do it? Down with the man and leave the wench to me. It will be death if we don't do it and get away.” The remnants of his courage awoke when ho felt the weapon in his hand, and I heard Volna catch her breath at the look which gradually stole into his beady, cruel eyes, as he looked at me. by the woman's taunts and the fear-thoughts which her words had started, he took a couple of stealthy steps toward me, while the woman went round the table to reach Volna, Just as he was raising his weapon to rush at me, I whipped my revolver out and covered him. “Drop that, you murderous devil," I cried, in a ringing tone. With a cry of fear he started back and let the chopper fall on the brick floor, In a moment I had possession of it, and handed my pistol to Volna. "If she moves, use it,” I aaid. But the sudden turning of the tables had knocked the fight even out of the virago of # woman. The man no longer counted. He stumbled back and cowered against the wall, getting as far away from me as possible, and just stared at me, beside himself es Pree Now we can talk,” I sa id. “We didn't mean anything,” the woman, “We frighten you, so were that “No, no, that is for the police,” I said. At the mention of the police an angry oath leapt from her lips, and she strove desperately to wrench her hand from my grip to get the cup. I had to use some violence to thrust her back. Foiled in the effort to destroy the traces declared only trying to we might get of the mastered drug, her; her and rage being completely unable to vent it upon us, she turned upon the man. With a running accompaniment of till his teeth then clouted ro only were all whining, canting, fawning tone. “You won't answer, eh? Well, give your man a chance. Now you, wanted to see you V'll tell me what was that rope for you brought in 7°” The silenced woman tried her. The to man reply, but I at me ,| glared speechless and helpless. “Your only chance fs to tell the truth .} You were going to tle me up with it? Confess.”" “No, no, pallid “You one for lips. no,” he had two my sister gasped ropes; through his one for me and here. “No, no, no," he repeated. “You know I speak the truth. But if you won't confess that, tell me why you drugged that coffee you gave me.” The woman broke out again, declar. ing by mad to all the ask such saints a that I must question. The be man only gazed stpidly at me In silence, “Let him drink it then,” said Voina. And the woman's start at suggestion told me that it ome. the shrewd had struck “Yes, that’s the test.’’ I agreed “Will you get that jug?” readily. asked. It was tore at him with her nails like a fiend Incarnate, until he fell huddled up on the floor, howling to her to stop. Volna opened the door and went out to escape the din and repulsive sight, and then called me hurriedly. I moment the whole infernal scheme of the two was made clear. The heavy burden which we had heard set down outside the door and which had so puzzled as set me was the mysterlous me wondering. petroleum; shavings, the as explained, rustling and meant well had a cask half full of other a huge heap of chips hay, ated with petroleum. “They as which to bind ready us In satur- our sleep fire the house. I did not think there could be such fiends,” said Volna, trembling. It was too obvious to question. The heap of shavings laid ready for lghtIng told its own story; and the petroleum thrown into the room where we were to have been left, bound aid unconscious, nothing could have saved a, Volna clung to my arm, faint and cold with the horro w of it. 1 “Let us go,” she whispered. ig was why the woman was dressed to go out. I see it now. That fear of hers of the police, the noise wo heard outside; they were expecting the police and meant to fly on our norses, I went back into the room. “T have found out all your infernal scheme. Get out of here, and keep out of my sight, lest I take the law in my own hande,” and I drew the revolver again to emphasize my words. The was seemingly afrald to move; so I dragged him to his feet, hauled him to the door and flung him down in the passage. “Upstairs with you, and if I catch so much as a glimpse of you I'll shoot you like the :nurderous skunk He you are."’ crawled away from my slunk up the creaking sta ing in every limb and casting glances behind him. feet and 2, ak frightened “What are you going t> do?” asked the woman, coming to the door. “Hold your tongue,” I thundered. “Go to the villain you egged on to do this thing. Quick, or——" She was scared by a rage, and went without another “Shall I change?” asked Volna. . I nodded. “And bring me my things, I'll I stop on heard guard the wrangling in neither made down, and in were ready. here.” two muttering and the room above; but any attempt to come some few minutes we about as tight a in an {fll-naturedymood vised for us, corner could as police not to lay the outset upon too much the fact fate have CHAPTER xX. The Hag to the Rescue. I knew enough of the methods rattled like castanets, and kicked him and safely out the room. I’m tried to do all I could for you, giving Such devils ought not to be allowed to you food and—" es ts “That'll do. Go to that end of the! But it was obvious that we dared not room.” She obeyed me. ‘Now answer| run the risk of denouncing them my questions. Why did you come steal“Let us go,” said Volna again. . “Thea ing into the room just now—before this very air of the place makes me faint time?” and il.” right and to fetch the lamp. I’ve done my best for you,” she murmured in a “Wait a moment. There is a mistake here,” I said, “You've made it, then, in letting us net you here so easily; and they both laughed. hat is the charge against us?” I abuse and reproaches as the cause of the trouble, she selzed him and shook him and see the difference. You “Don't more de- of the emphasis that they at had blundered. The police are pretty much the same all the world over. Charge them with blundering, and they will exhaust every charge; and have resource to disprove in the meantime, you are getting the who badly squeezed. Moreover, I was not certain that it was a blunder. I hoped they were after the villainous couple who lived in the ouse, and that in the haste and confusion of the moment we had been mistaken for them. But it was quite possible Volna and I had been tracked, and were really the prisoners they sought. In any case it was highly dangerous for us to bé-In their hands, and we should need to keep cool heads to get out again, without the fact becoming known that we were fugitives. ; As it was, only an accident prevented the incriminating papers from being immediately found. Just the luck that I had told Volna to try and burn them and had not taken them back from her. he search to which she was subjected was little more than formal; but my pockets were all overhauled, and my papers taken out and examined. I was not so foolish as to resist; but I began papers, by to feel money, pretty the leader, “How you and indignant all, get were this?” when retained he asked, holding up the police revolver. peared to attach great {mportance to my possession pf It. This interested me greatly. That I had taken {t from the police agent the Devil's Staircase would certainly be known; and if he was in search of us, it was a sufficient proof that we were the persons wanted. I had to get at that indirectly. “If you will permit me, I will give you an exact report of what has happened here, and that will account for everything.” “All I want is a plain answer to my question. No long, roundabout, lying ry.” He unfolded them. English,” he said. “You can read the “I names, at “How am I to know asked immediately, he suggested. “There are twenty proofs in those papers that I am an Englishman, as Well as on myself. See, the pocketbook there has the address a London maker. Here, the tab cn my coat has my tailor’s name in London. Don’t you hear that I speak with a foreign accent?” He examined tab on my the pocketbook and the coat, and appeared to be “They seem right, but you stolen them," pe said, grudg- may have inly. I pressed the advantage. Picking out a couple of Sylvia's letters, I showe him they were in English, and addressed to me, “That is not he suspiciously. said, “Robert Robert—that in England {s B-o-b," ts shortened ley Court, my can tll Great Malverton. mother—‘My dear son, It js from Robert.’ You read that?” and I stuck at him un- I had deepened the tmpression. Then I told him briefly what had happened in the cottage, pointed to the heap of soaked shovings, the cask of petroleum. This was not done two ropes without and many a in- terruptions from the woman, who voeiferously denied the whole story. “You say you were to be drugged? How do you know?" I told him of the attempt to make the man drink a cup of the coffee. This appeal to him, and he smiled grimly, “Have Volna you still got it and the cup you handed saved?” {t to him. that,” ‘Why cutter,” and that we should I asked. we had wish to I ha rob a wood- - “Besides, our horses are outside in the shed.” “They are our horses,” asserted the woman, “Go and look at them. See if a woodcutter, Just a week hore from Silesia, as-she _— 00." says, would and saddles. possess two such ani- One is a side saddle, for it I must He. So I did it boldly. “Most fortunately I got the revolver here,” I « u're a cool hand,” was the sneer“But It won't do you any good to lle to me." e sent his man out, and sat silent. Matters were going better, so I left him to absorb the points I had made. “Will you drink that coffee?” he asked the woman suddenly, very “Fortunately, I mean, because it ed my Ife and that of my sister We were attacked——” “Do you mean there are any others in the house?” he broke in. “Certainly I do. he two wretches who appear to have been living here are in a room above.” Both the man and his wife had kept “Why should I drink the poison we refused before?” she cried, and pointing her scraggy finger at Volna added: There quiet as Was no mutes help all this time. But they had evidently been listening, for at that moment the door above the two came out. “Is that the police? was opened and ste rniy. “She made police?” cri the woman. and. the blessed Virgin Praised. We've been nearly that the “Heavens, bove murdered let her drink it.” that the horses were two good ones and that the saddles were soaked, as-if they had been exposed to the fury of the storm, thus bearing out my story. But at that point I made a serious blunder. Is it; “You see," I said, and he nodded tn agreement. Then his man came back and reported As he turned to listen to hig man’s report I picked up the Passports. He saw me, and snatched at the rest of the papers. “You mustn't touch those,” he sala, I enough of your tomfoolery."' in the letter of credit fg and with a scoff showed him. don't mean there. mean on husband. She broke out into “Eh me me, those cords,” he said to until they manage to sneak have to confess we fooled a sort of sneaking hope that the woman got away despite her villainous attempt on us.” “What a fiend of a woman!” “Her fiendishness it was that saved us from heaven knows what-trow! Was cudgelling my wits to know how to get out of the mess. She was a cunning devil, too, in her way.” “And the man, too. A man!” “She was the man in that house. Say what you will, {t was awfully smart to spring that accusation against us.” “I hope she'll be punished,” said Volna. “Oh, she'll now. To get there t you go through are all the some day—if not have in Inet you wonder to mo. the few hours and yet be as fresh as—as paint. Sylvia has pluck and all that but she'd go to bed after a rough and a violent tirade, swearing she was innocent and would not go. “Resist at your perll,”’ cried the chlef in a loud ringing tone; and he and his man drew their revolvers, There was a moment of dead silence. My eyes were on the chief, and I saw a shadow of perplexity cloud his face. I read it to mean that he had his doubts how to get us all four away if we resisted. t was a queer turn of the wheel that Yolna and I should have to make com mon cause with the wretches who had attempted our lives. not wish them to escape, but our own escape was much more to us than their capture at that moment; and, like the chief, I was thinking intently what to do. lancing round the room his eyo fell on the two ropes. must “T have it the and adress are rose, her we “We'd de- I unfolded I rear, him.” “Leave me to do that.” “Your Instinct is to trust him?" “Yes. I feel as sure of him as I did of—of Bob that morning.” “That settles it. I can’t mistrust that instinct. Come on;"’ d off we rattled again at a pace we relished a deal better than the searcely rested orse under me. “I wonder what has happened at the cottage,” said Volna when we eased up later “We shall take you all four to the police office at Schirmskad,” he deelded. I had not the least Intention of letting him do anything of the kind; but my unwillingness was as smoke to fire compared with that of the woman and tumble of this sort.’ “That's the first thing I shal! ask priest to let me do.” “He'll be a bit surprised when alk in, I expect,” I laughed, pretty cool thing you're nto.”’ “Do you think there's any our being followed?” ° I fancy they'll the ee letting us chance have of their fore they could start after us; and too early for any one to be about to them which way we've gone.” the priest had mentioned t Oo we two or three dressed in their it's tell me. There peasants curtly. “Iam no police agent,” I shot back, “I call on you to help m e.” “You forget; you have arrested me. You must The old drank her in do your own work.” hag’s eyes were on us every husband word; and and as sho whispered ee is evidently popular.’ ‘Can w time?" reach the village before mass she nudged to him, “Don't you mean to charge them with attempting your lives?” asked the chief. “You have arrested me,” I returned, “No. ney shortly. “Tie those two together,” turning to his ass!stant. hoe said To get the cords the man had to pass the woman or drive her either before im to the end of the room. the latter course and pushed He tried her violently. She fell to the ground, and, ting out a yell shrill enough to wakeleta cataleptic, down; rough 7 coffee, to rob tried Peggy,” both written.” “T am going to be baited no longer,” I rattled back sharply, and was putting the papers away again when he snatched them from me. A glance was enough to prove the inconsistency of my statement; and he reported this to his chief, who put my papers away and took not she; er. than and “I tnto Bob,” I explained; but he shook his ead. “Here ts one on the same paper, Wyr- him, outside, where the name any this Is yours?” taking the cue with and somewhere unseen. If we knew the district it would easier; but even then we should have to He low somewhere all through the day. We may bet on it that when that fellow gets back from the fire he'll spread out a pretty wide search party for us.” “Does Sylvia ever offer you suggestions? e asked. I smiled. “Has Peggy o ne?” She nodded. “She's a littl e bit afrald to offer it.” “That's rather rough on Bob, isn't te? “Paul always ridicules anything I say —never thinks any woman, but Katin‘a, can have a sensible idea.” “Why shouldn’t Bob think as much of Peggy's notions as Paul does of Katinka’s?" “T like that,”’ she said, answering my smile. “But {t’s rather a wild suggestion,’ “Let’s have it.” “Couldn't we go back to that village, Kervatje, and get Father Ambrose to help us? He was mother’s friend.” “Humph! It is rather a wild one, as you say,”’ “T believe we could trust him.” “And suppose he salé no?" “We could have shelter for the day at least and could try any other plan that offered.” “He might give us away.” “His eyes didn’t look like that when he spoke of mother." in English, putting up a last indignation, x" going my sister bullied. Put your to me." a very simple test.” your simple tests. We've had struther read rate, and, of course, as a responsible official so near the frontier, you know a passport by sight.” “He stole that from an Englishman. He boasted of it to us,” interjected the woman, who had been watching closely. cause scribed as of that address?” “Can't one relative live with another?” TI laughed “Permit me to seo the address on the passport.” “There Is none. You ought to know have don’t bother kick the read, and In a few minutes were rattling back at a brisk pace along the road we had traveled so laboriously in the storm some hours before. s “IT had given everything up,” said Volna, when we were breathing the horses and were able to talk. “I had the papers In my hand ready to throw them into the blaze.” “Iam glad you didn't. We'll get them through yet; but just how to do it Is the question. Wo've escaped by sheer luck and that old hag’s devilment tn firing the house; but they’ve got the passports, all my papers and what's almost as bad, nearly all my money.” “IT have a little money. But do you think we could get across the frontier?" “We shall have to do it at night, be- to “You refuse to speak?” he asked her again. “Yes. At all events, TI refuse to allow you or anyones else to browbeat her. We have nearly lost our lives here; and now, when she is all to pleces, you not only take us for a couple of murderous ruffians and want to arrest us, but you try this sort of infernal nonsense.” I left him in no doubt that I was English, and voluable enough, too. He shrugged his shoulders, and told his chief the result of the test; and they whispered together, “You are Robert Garrett of Wyrley Hall, Great Malverton?" he asked me then in English. “T’'ve told you who I am.” “Then how is it that Robert An- reminded must attention ” declared bluff of to have questions “It is “Hang some description of them.” He mumbled to himself and began to finger my papers. “I don't see anything here to guide me.” aA ose are the passports,’ and I pointed to them. “The man first,’’ she whispered. the stairs creaked more nolsily this tlme; probably the heavier welght of them both, Soon after they had ceased, the footsteps cam ain into the passage, and a moving streak of light showed through the door of our room. This time some- The to my extremely uncomat a moment's notice. but Instead of entering the room the steps went along the passage. Then I heard sounds in the distance; just muffled confused nolses of knocking and stamping. What caused them I could my his re Miss Garrett?’ the man asked In excellent English. Lies, like curses, have a nasty habit of coming home to roost; and for the moment I was at the end of my wits. The game was nearly up. “Yes,” said Volna, very nervously “My superior doubts, that you are English. Just tell me anything you please, that I may hear you speak English." him. ‘But surely you havo only to look at that man and his wife, and contrast them with my sister and myself “Don't be frightasleep. Something be are drew BY “You are the man am searching for," he said, turning to me “Ivan Krempel, and his wife, Nita.’ This was good news in a way. He Was not after tho Garretts, and I could safely use that name can understand your perplexity,” I said, calmly. “But this woman its lying. We are English—Robert Garrett and Margaret Garrett, brother and. sister. Caught by the storm tonight, we came here for shelter, and narrowly escaped death at the hands of these two.” “But these people say you are the Krempels." “So they are. So they are. The holy Virgin knows I speak the truth,” protested the old hag. “The proof is in your hands. Our passports are among the papers which you have taken from me “Go into the room there, all of you,” he answered, after a pause. I led the way with Volna and the rest followed. “Get a light," he said to the candle having been extinguished in the ormer scrimmage “I don't know where to look for one. There Was a lamp here, but the woman took it away.” “Listen to her. Listen to her. Oh, the llar, when she carried it upstairs with her own hands,” erled the hag “Go upstairs and see if it’s there,” he told his man, who went and returned carrying It. “The woman was right in that,’ said “There man “Robert Garrett, an Englishman. xf “Then who !s Robert Anstruther? In a moment my heart fell. I knew what was coming? “Here is a letter of credit for a large sum of money The namo on it is Robert Anstruther. Explain your possession of it.” I tried to affect indifference. “Oh, that!’ I exclaimed. ‘Robert Anstruther {s my cousin, and I am taking it to him to Cracow." But he didn't believe me. “You say you are English, and this lady your sister?” “You haye seen our passports proving that,"’ “Now you can speak to her,’’ he said to his man. I saw the scheme, of here with these Krempels. We thought they were honest folk, like ourselves.” the 2 => a lamp iia and along at random as quickly as we could. Fortune was with us stlil We gained * Exh! What do you say your name “She 7 very naturally know where she herself took it,’ I exclaimed, but he was as pig-headed as his class, and repeated his statements, adding, to concern, don’t see how I can decide this. It’s beyond me.” After a moment she moved away and crossed to Volna, whom she examined with the same scrutiny. A low sigh of satisfaction escaped her, as she turned away and went out of the room, carthe Sone the officer, significantly. ing. plunge had dragged themselves free and dashed off into the darkness. Nor was this all the luck. ; “Come,” I cried to Volna. We ran to the shed and found our own animals standing ready saddled outside. They were going to bolt on our horses,"’ [I said, as I put her in the saddle and then mounted. “Which is the way?" “Any way Wo're in luck. Let us trust to it,” I answered, and guided by the Nght of the fire, which was now consuming the whole house, we pushed | | The couple came running down the stairs and threw themselves on their knees; the woman pouring out a voluble account of how they had been attacked by us and their lives threatened, mingled with thanks for their deliverance, entreatles to protect them, and an urgent warning to pay special attention to me as a dangerous and murderous villain. I foresaw a very awkward complicatlon. When two parties accuse each other, the police rule is to arrest both, The leader was obviously perplexed. “What is your name?” he said to m6; and before I could reply the woman burst in, “Ivan Kremple, and that’s Nita, his wife," she erled. ‘‘They’ve been using the house for days and days past.” I attempted to dony this, but he silenced me. ‘And your names," he asked the woman. “This is my husband, Peter Vranowski, the woodcutter; I am Anna, his wife. We came last week from Potzden tn Silesia, and have been lodging To show hesitation wouid be fatal. So I unfastened the door and threw it open. At that moment Volna came back and shook her head. wo men entered. “You are our prisoners,"’ cried the first comer “It you resist, the consequences will be on your heads.” “We don’t resist. I'm glad you've come." Thinking she was going I moved, breathed very heavily and blinked at her as though almost overcome with sleep “T came for the light,” she sald in a low tone. “Our candle’s out.” For answer I nodded, waved my hand clumsily to signify she could take It, attempted to rise and fell back in my chair, huddled together as if completely overcome with stupor. She stood with the lamp in her hand as if planning what to do next; a look of diabolical evil on her hideous face. Then slowly and cautiously she came towards me, Having satisfled myself rying ti e man away from me at ranto send him stageerchanted Fee an sp rian police two the against up ing to the pens close up tied were which fear with snorting already were They to bezan now they and fire, the at see them.” him been examined, already have “They i keep them. I must and very exclaimed he ans‘We shall see,” | angrily With that he gave the rest of the papers to the man, who went through them carefully. ‘I am inclined to believe your story, by the two villatns there. You'll probut your conduct is in some ways very tect us now, won't you? Praise to the i Will you return meé those suspicious. Holy Saints for having sent you to our assistance." re I have shown them. That Is “What's all this?” {2 ALLE: ay bade A UM £7h e before the two could recover from astonishment I sprang past them, | slammed the door an set my back against it, my hand on my revolver. “Now, perhaps, you'll tell me what ; means?” fighting, and > woman was for stood at bay like a beast of i intended victim. 3 man ‘as of poorer stuff, and cowered ashen > and speechless, about own our “Mayn't we move if wonean “Tvan, house?” asked the concluding that we had drunk the contents, set them down with a slight grunt of satisfaction. The logs slipped in the fire at that moment with a shower of sparks. Sho started and took a quick step towards that she had no knife or my eyes and let her hold to my face. I could feel she bent forward to listen OCTOBER 3, 1909. you two those me “Return angrily. . have taken.” ee ee back them put I Instead, ‘ passopr 8," our aro “They pocket. an Englishman, an “I am answered. have a right to retain then. ; to me,” he repeated. them “Give and me, to necessary are “They doing no more I am keep them. must than Is my right.” WoLSteoe Just then his man bent and er he “I had forgotten, in his ear. well. Lé here reads English man “My t ale and The fear in the woman's first question whether we were the police, and her statement that the man was not In the louse, gave a clue to their character; and the change in manner, the assumptlon of friendliness, the suggestiveness of sending the man to find the coffee; indeed all these circumstances fitted together too well to leave any doubt that some devilment was on foot I did not feel the least alarmed, however. I felt myself more than a match for the two In any rough and tumble that was to come; I was thoroughly on my guard, and had a weapon and knew well enough how to use it. As a matter of fact, it was we rather than they who were laying the snare Somewhere between half an hour and an hour passed without a sound in the house. I had finished my cigar and tossed it way and was gazing into the flickering embers of the fire, when I heard the stairs creak slightly. A glance showed me that Valno was asle a tribute this, indeed, to her trust in me. 1, dropped my head as though I, too, were asleep and breathed heavily. I was very desirous to know what was to hap- CITY, S from LAKE > a Sy Arthur W Marcbroon, : (Continued SALT HERALD-REPUBLICAN: and clasped his legs and pulled d in a moment a noisy tumble the e chief ran advantage Pp . scuffle three. was set go- to help his man, of the moment to outside, os put there,” cried the chief, meé up with his leveled revolver, “I am merely puttin my s and open , We on “No one Morrow, js likely so we I buried the brushwood, to the main @ an saddles and Ma, as one or twa only distance smoke quick- witted open, andTt under i brid a bridles. heap our way soon wy, dutty.” of back reached 2 59 the sald Vol- * ‘?? Villagers eyed think , when} we've as filled 6ver, a Volnahere laughed. “Thank even the on Sunday.” Rate le wash “Here’s the priest’ church,” come some are accus- advantage “I von of But ao she CHAPTER xy, eae Race tee oe of luck haa Oo our side, and I you. themselves the wrencheq —_-—. ing till to- a ait ae he the sight of dirty people about epther her into the night, arac Staggered out after cing the chief Ww Mme. Cen be = there the em him and helped ped myn tomed toto tneness, aNd they myself t"to | hanes the © were strugglin the woman, who baa’, lamp, passed us and aati the heap of saturated shavings. ay The effect was Instanta: blinding flare of flame bart nor : re pete and a Welume of op suffocating Volna, the door get d we made road ia back: the ingstruggle on tothe erfloor, and| U8 They’ curiously, turned as she me. revolver. I caught hly to be may "T feel disgraceful oe ose, she pushed him violentl ter fint: < idea is ebto the turnjour off necess toif Volna a ary," With w Bae. of the way of troub oS aster‘ “Move an inch and I sh shouted. all: Sire But the words Scarcely his If before he came staggerinpassed g wildly fa ward e, 3 arms went up and his pistol was fired woman had In some wayin the afr. The extricated her- bet and : just i leave : can'ti very wWAll quarter them on the priest as ve well as ourselves s. Besidese {t would cause much more fossip than if we were to arrive on foot. And gossip is dangerous." On reaching the bottom of the hill, we turned off and rode x mile or 40, When I saw a sh ed in a very lonely) Spot on a hillside. dles off and led the I h slipped the eqada couple of flelds and sh urses thro ut them Into the barn cin Thee eturnede h. had foot, ES THE Pe swung lost no | ee sir. You replied, re- was afraia we and too early," should b e I saiq haneg na. He sald bot half-past !t-"" To be 12. But w continued “could pa next a to ‘manage mee Sunda y. i |