Part 48 (1/2)

A shadow softened the intolerable, hard brilliancy of the brown eyes In the its way to the surface like so

It sank back--upon her face dropped a cloud of heartbreak, appalling woe; the despair of a soul that, having withdrawn all faith in its own kind to rest all faith, as it thought, on angels--sees that faith betrayed

There stared upon us a stripped spirit, naked and hopeless and terrible

Despairing, raging, she screalobe swalided to the doorway Upon it she stood poised like souished Victory--a Victory who faced and knew she faced destroying defeat; poised upon that enigmatic orb on bare slender feet, one sweet breast bare, hands upraised, virginally archaic, nothing about her of the Ruth we knew

”Ruth!” cried Drake; despair as great as that upon her face was in his voice He sprang before the globe that held her; barred its way

For an instant the Thing paused--and in that instant the huirl rushed back

”No!” she cried ”No!”

A weird call issued froh she who sent it forth herself wondered whence it sprang Abruptly the angry stars closed The three globes spun--doubting, puzzled! Again she called--now a treently to her feet

For an instant the globes and pyrah the portal

Ruth swayed, sobbing Then as though drawn, she ran to the doorway, fled through it As one we sprang after her Rods ahead her white body flashed, speeding toward the Pit Like fleet-footed Atalanta she fled--and far, far behind us was the blue bower, the misty barrier of the veils close, when Drake with a last desperate burst reached her side, gripped her Down the two fell, rolling upon the s at Drake, struggling to escape

”Quick!” gasped Ventnor, stretching out to ly, I drew arment at the shoulder He snatched the sleeve, knelt at Ruth's head; rapidly he cruhly into herher

”Hold her!” he ordered Drake; and with a sob of relief sprang up The girl's eyes blazed at him, filled with hate

”Cut that other sleeve,” he said; and when I had done so, he knelt again, pinned Ruth doith a knee at her throat, turned her over and knotted her hands behind her She ceased struggling; gently now he drew up the curly head; swung her upon her back

”Hold her feet” He nodded to Drake, who caught the slender bare ankles in his hands

She lay there, helpless, being unable to use her hands or feet

”Too little Ruth, and tooup at ht to cry out! She could have brought a regis down to blast us And would--if she HAD thought You don't think THAT is Ruth, do you?”

He pointed to the pallid face glaring at him, the eyes froht Drake by the shoulder, sent hi a dozen feet away ”damn it, Drake--don't you understand!”

For suddenly Ruth's eyes softened; she had turned thely--and he had loosed her ankles, had leaned forward as though to draay the band that covered her lips

”Your gun,” whispered Ventnor to me; before I had moved he had snatched the automatic from my holster; had covered Drake with it