Part 38 (2/2)
”Any danger?”
”Not the slightest. I want him to get some votes. It's better so.”
The programme went through without a hitch. Wolf and Catherine were elected regents by an overwhelming majority and a new board of governors chosen with not a single one whom Norman knew personally.
The young leader sat in sullen silence, and watched the proceedings with contempt. Barbara looked on in increasing wonder and pain.
When the result was announced and the cheering had died away she bent her beautiful head close to his and whispered:
”This is a complete surprise. You believe me?”
”Yes,” he quickly answered, ”and one touch of your hand will rob defeat of its sting.”
She pressed his hand with lingering tenderness and sought Catherine with a flash of anger in her brown eyes that boded trouble for the house of Wolf.
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE NEW MASTER
Wolf lost no time in demonstrating that he was complete master of the situation.
At nine o'clock next morning two armed guards, whom he had never seen in the house before, entered Norman's room and handed him the first official order of the new regents. The deposed young leader read it with amus.e.m.e.nt at first, but as his eyes rested on its brief words of command, something of their sinister meaning began to dawn in his mind.
”All citizens of the State of Ventura are ordered to immediately surrender their arms. By order of
”HERMAN WOLF, ”_Regent_.”
Norman looked at the revolvers in the holsters of the guards and dryly remarked:
”But the State will kindly continue their use, I see!”
Norman surrendered his revolver, and his room was searched in every nook and corner for weapons he might have concealed.
”Why this insult?” he demanded.
The guardsman saluted.
”Special orders of the regent, sir. We are to take no man's word for it.”
Norman sat in silence while the men opened his trunks, ransacked his drawers, and searched in every conceivable spot where a weapon of any kind might be hid.
”I could have told you at first that I had no other guns. The entire colony is being disarmed this morning?”
”Yes, sir, the work will be completed by two o'clock.”
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