Part 20 (1/2)
”May I ask how er you are desirous of my company here?”
”Oh, yes; you oing at full speed once more Only now she headed directly for the land Mr Heatherbloolanced toward the door through which the girl had disappeared Since that ht no sound fro of as happening--that the yacht was now turned hoht The prince atching him with eyes that seemed to dilate and contract A moment's carelessness, the briefest cessation of watchfulness would be at once seized upon by his excellency, enabling hi leam
”Sorry to seem officious, but if your excellency will sit down oncea stationary arm-chair before a desk in a recess of the room
The prince obeyed; he had no alternative The fellow must, of course, be a madman, the prince reiterated in his own mind unless--
”I told your excellency I had no wish for a long sea voyage” Avoice now made itself heard
The nobleman started, and looked closer; a nized the fello--the man they had run down The shock of that terrible experience, the strain of the disaster, had turned the fellow's brain That would explain everything--this extraordinary occurrence There was nothing to do but to huh it ard--devilish!+--or er
Mr Heatherbloos near the alcove
What now?--the prince asked with his eyes Mr Heatherbloom unloosened from a brass holder a silk cord as thick as his thumb
”If your excellency will permit arded the cord, strong as hemp
”What do you mean?” burst from him
”It is quite apparent”
An oath escaped the prince's throat; regardless of consequences, he sprang to his feet ”Never!”
A desperate detere!
He, a noblenominiously by some low _polisson_ of a raffish mushroom country! It was inconceivable
”_Jamais!_” he repeated
”Ah, well!” said Mr Heatherbloonedly ”Nevertheless, I shall make the attempt to do what I propose, and if you resist--”
”You will assassinate me?” staht characterize the act Only,” the words came quickly, ”don't waste vain hopes that I won't assassinate you, if it is necessary I never waste powder, either--can clip a coin every timatically ”And”--as the prince hesitated one breathless second--”I can get you straight, first shot, sure!”
His excellency believed hile man sometimes ”held up” an entire train out west and had his oay with engineer, conductor and passengers This htest provocation noas evidently prepared to eht he not do, or attehtly, his lips twitched Then he sank back oncesolid chair at the desk
”Good,” said Mr Heatherbloom A cold smile like a faint ripple on a et on faster”
CHAPTER XVIII
THE COUP
Mr Heatherblooers deft as a sailor's, secured the prince