Part 18 (1/2)

The masks chanted louder than ever.

The Chinese princess groaned in her misery. Alice was forced to turn her head away.

They let her lie so for a few minutes before the doctor again put the question.

This time she answered, declaring that never would she tell.

”You fool!” cried the doctor. ”Do you realize that I mean to continue to order that screw turned until your limbs are wrenched off?”

”I believe you,” replied the princess, ”but I shall never tell.”

He let her lie there in agony for a few minutes, and then put the request again.

This time there was no answer.

The victim of this yellow fiend was almost past speech.

”Go it again!” thundered the doctor.

”You fiend!” cried Alice. ”Release that woman or I'll do something desperate. In the name of humanity! In the name of your mother! Dr.

Garshaski, forbear!”

”Interfere at your peril!” thundered the doctor, and as he spoke the screw was turned once again.

If Alice had been in possession of her revolver she surely would have shot the fiend, but that had long ago been taken from her.

Helplessly she turned her head away, stopping her ears that she might not hear the cries which the wretched Chinese woman could no longer keep back.

But the cries suddenly _ceased_.

”She has fainted,” said the torturer.

”You have killed her, poor soul!” moaned Alice. ”Oh, you yellow fiends!”

CHAPTER VIII.

OLD KING BRADY BLUNDERS AHEAD AS BEST HE CAN.

It was undoubtedly the mildness with which the old detective spoke which influenced the young woman to stand her ground.

”Who are you? What are you doing in this room?” she faltered.

”I might put the same question to you, young woman,” Old King Brady replied. ”I was a witness to your display of rage against a picture. You must be in love with Dr. Garshaski, then?”

”In love with him!” she cried with a hysterical laugh. ”I hate him! I am his wife.”

”So? In that case I may as well introduce myself. Did you ever happen to hear him speak of Old King Brady, the detective?”