Part 32 (1/2)

By marvellous chance, I was master The cravens would oppose me no more than they dared attack Rupert I had but to raise my revolver, and I sent him to his account with his sins on his head He did not so --why, I hardly know to this day

I had killed one ht, and another by luck rather than skill--perhaps it was that Again, villain as the ainst hier than either of these restrained feelings came a curiosity and a fascination which heldfor the outco! Michael! If you can stand, coroup shrinking back a little before him

”Michael, you bastard! Come on!”

The answer to his taunts came in the wild cry of a woman:

”He's dead! My God, he's dead!”

”Dead!” shouted Rupert ”I struck better than I knew!” and he laughed triumphantly Then he went on: ”Doith your weapons there! I'm your master noith them, I say!”

I believe they would have obeyed, but as he spoke cas

First, there arose a distant sound, as of shouts and knockings from the other side of the chateau My heart leapt It must be my men, come by a happy disobedience to seek me The noise continued, but none of the rest seemed to heed it Their attention was chained by what now happened before their eyes The group of servants parted and a woe Antoinette de Mauban was in a loose white robe, her dark hair streahastly pale, and her eyes glea hand she held a revolver, and, as she tottered forward, she fired it at Rupert Hentzau The ball missed him, and struck the ork over hed Rupert, ”had your eyes been no , I had not been in this scrape--nor Black Michael in hell--tonight!”

She took no notice of his words With a wonderful effort, she calid Then very slowly and deliberately she began to raise her ar most careful aim

He would bethe bullet, or retreat towards me I covered hiot her airaceful fashi+on, cried ”I can't kill where I've kissed,” and before she or I could stop hihtly leapt into the moat

At that very moment I heard a rush of feet, and a voice I knew--Sapt's--cry: ”God! it's the duke--dead!” Then I knew that the King neededout on the bridge There was a cry of onder, ”The King!” and then I, like Rupert of Hentzau, sword in hand, vaulted over the parapet, intent on finishi+ng my quarrel with him where I saw his curly head fifteen yards off in the water of the moat

He siftly and easily I eary and half crippled with ain on him For a time I made no sound, but as we rounded the corner of the old keep I cried:

”Stop, Rupert, stop!”

I saw him look over his shoulder, but he swauessed, for a spot that he could climb I knew there to be none--but there waswhere I had left it He would come to where it was before I could

Perhaps he would miss it--perhaps he would find it; and if he drew it up after hiood start of th and pressed on At last I began to gain on him; for he, occupied with his search, unconsciously slackened his pace

Ah, he had found it! A low shout of triuan to haul hih to hear him mutter: ”How the devil co in mid air, saw me, but I could not reach him

”Hullo! who's here?” he cried in startled tones

For a --I dare say I was pale enough to lend colour to the thought; but an instant later he cried:

”Why it's the play-actor! How coained the bank

I laid hold of the rope, but I paused He stood on the bank, sword in hand, and he could cut h the heart as I cao the rope

”Never mind,” said I; ”but as I am here, I think I'll stay”

He san; when suddenly the great bell of the Castle started to ring furiously, and a loud shout reached us froain, and waved his hand to me