acter of their previous meeting, a deC nite disinclination to encountering the Agure on the stairs caused the Gover nor abruptly to draw into the en trance of the church. There, concealed, Impatiently he waited for the man to pass on, thus affording him the oppor tunity to slip by and return to the gate. Meanwhile, the Lady Elise had re paired to the palace; a prey to haras sing doubts her father’s words had failed to remove, she listened to .hose sounds of the strife she no longer saw. But that she wished to obey her father unquestioningly now—at, perhaps, a supreme moment for both cf them!— she could not have remained where she was. Never had the palace looked so blank and deserted; she rang her bell; no one answered. The servants had apparently all left—gone, it might be, to look down on and behold this guerre a la mort waged near the gates. Or, perhaps, had they all, except the old nurse, fled from the palace, never to return? As she asked herself these questions, In the distance the noise cf the con flict grew louder; the shouts of the people more distinct, nearer! With a suddeu premonition of disaster close at hand, the desire to see what was happening—to knew the worst—seised her. No longer could she remain in her apartments;tshe must return to the ramparts—to her father: and then If need be— The thought drove some of the color from bfer cheek, but in a moment her braver instincts spoke; there awoke within her the courage and spirit of her Norman ancestry. Pale, yet determined, she hastened down the long, dimly lighted corridor, and was nearing the door leading to the street when it suddenly opened and a man, tall and dark, showing in his appearance many 3igns of the fray, stepped in. At sight of her a quick exclamation fell from b’s ups; B'.s ; hold, anxious eyes lighted. "My Lady!” "You!” Her startled glance met his. "I heard the firing; hastened to the Mount—here! I trust not too late!” "Too late!” she repeated wildly. ‘‘Where else should the Black Seign eur be than here, at the Mount—at • such a moment!" “True!” he returned quietly. “Where •lse?” V I I [ She noted not the accent; behind him, through the open space a bright forli of flame, fh tfie direction oT FP.e soldiers’ barracks, shot into the air, and, at the same time, she saw that lh« otfleers’ quarters and out-buildings glowed red. The knowledge cf what it meant—that her apprehensions had been realized, sent a shudder through her, and quickly as the door closed, shutting out the sight, she ran toward the threshold, one thought in her mind —her father, and where she had last seen him! That she was seized, held, restrained, seemed but a natural, though terrible, incident of the mo ment. “Pardon, my Lady! In a moment they will be here, and they will not ■pare you! Your father is not at the gate; he left before the soldiers gave way! Believe me, or net—it is the truth! As true as that, if you go out, they will kill you!” And did he not want that; why else was he here? The young man’s face darkened; he made an impatient ges ture. They were but wasting time; already were the people close without ; one of the assailants, a woman, had been shot in the assault; the others? Her Ladyship would understand; if she wished to save herself? His tones vibrvted with strange eagerness. The palace had a rear entrance, of flourse? Then had they better flee upward to some place of concealment, and, later when the people were concerned most in pillage, endeavor to find a way to leave the Mount. After that, it would be easy; his ship was waiting— Her wild words interrupted; her father— she would go only to him! She would never leave him now! That which she proposed was impos sible, quickly the your.g man an swered. The mob—the terrible mob! Did she realize to what she would ex pose herself? Did she know the ter rible danger? More plainly he told her. As for her going, it was not to be thought of; he must see she did not persist in her purpose. “You?’* My lady flashed him a glance “You!” she repeated. “Whose men broke faith—” “That may be!" His voice rang bit terly. “Yet,” with stubborn resolution, “your Ladyship must not go!” “Must not! And you presume—dare tell me that! You, the—” “I would there were no need to cross you, my Lady,” he returned, when be hind him the door, leading from the street, suddenly opened; closed. “Elise!" The voice of the Marquis, who had hurriedly entered, rang out; changed. “Mon dieu! What Is this?” In the dim light, an instant my lord stared hard at the man before him; tlien with drawn blade threw himself upon him. CHAPTER >©CXH. Near the Attar. "Morbleu! Here's a madman!" Ere the Black Seigneur could unsheathe his sword, that of the Marquis had pierced slightly his shoulder. “Put up your blade, my Lord!" As quickly springing back and drawing his own, he held Mmaelf in an attitude of de fense. "In this matter are we, or should we be^-of a mind!” “We!" My lord’s weapon played in fierce curves and flashes; he laughed derisively. ‘1 am here to serve her ladyship— ftUmi".■ - _ - - - ^z=-* “You!” A rapid coup de tierce was the Marquis’ reply. “You! Whose out laws carried her off before! You are pleased to jest. Monsieur Bandit!” “No jest, my Lord!” coolly. “More over, it is you who serve her ladyship ill at such a moment in—" “Mon dieu! You Instruct!" “I Vhave no wish for this combat, Monsieur le Marquis!” As he spoke, the Black Seigneur retreated slowly toward the door. “But if you press too close—” “Ma foi! You talk very brave, but I notice your legs take you backward. However, it will not serve; you shall not escape.” "No?” His back now against the door, the Black Seigneur defended himself with his right hand, the while his left felt behind for a bolt which it found; shot into place. “Then let us remove temptation by locking the door!” “What! You did, then, intend—” A sudden fierce pounding from with out on the door, interrupted. “It was necessary to keep them out —but it will be only for a moment. So put up your blade!" peremptorily. “There is no time to lose.” “You are right!” The Marquis’ face expressed scorn and unreasoning anger; his sword leaped to an accel erated tempo. “There is no time to lose. I shall Ijonor you! The Mar quis de Beauvillers will stop to cheat the fourches patibulaires!” And my lord lunged, a dangerous and clever thrust that was met, answered. From the Marquis’ hand the blade flew; struck the pavement; at the same time, a rending and tearing of wood came from the door. The Black Seigneur leaped forward; but the stroke his adversary, now dis armed, expected, fell not on him; di rected toward a lamp overhead, sole source of illumination of the corri dor, the weapon struck hard. Shat tered by the blow', the ornamental con trivance crashed to the floor; the place was plunged in darkness. “Save yourself, my Lord!” said a calm voice, and my lady, standing, as It were, in the center of a vertex of wildly rushing figures, felt her waist suddenly clasped; hel^fclf swept on! Once or twice she struggled; resisted, hardly knowing what she did; but the sound of a Tow, determined voice, not unfamiliar to her, and the conscious ness of a physical force—or was it all physical?—that seemed to beat down her will, left no choice but to obey. Darkness gave way to waves of light; reflections of flame surrounded them; black trails of smoke coiled around. The girl’s strength went; her breath came faster. A thick cloud choked her; she wished only to stop, when arms closed about her. Upward! Still upward! By wind ing stairs, through passages and door ways, vaguely she felt herself borne, until a cold breath of air, blowing suddenly -in her face, jevived her; awoke her to a confused realization of the place they had at Iasi, reached— the upper platform at the head of the long, open stairway of granite. And with that consciousness, she again sought to free herself; but, for an in stant the arms held tighter, while a dark face bent close, scanning her features, then abruptly he released her. “Your Ladyship is uninjured?” “Yes; yes!” “One moment:” Turning, he left her, and walking to the verge of that open space, searched quickly the waste cf darkness bcl v, far out to sea. The girl’s glance followed r..m; wavered; her first apprehension awoke anew, ""j; Where waa he? She clasped her hands despairingly as she gazed down the Mount; then around her. Suddenly, a bright patch of light—open doorway to the church— caught her eye and she started. At the picture, framed by the masonry, which the glow revealed, a low excla mation fell from her lips, and crossing the platform, ,and descending a few steps, she ran to the entrance of the sacred edifice. “Eh, your Excellency; has your Ex cellency any orders?” sounded a voice. There, before an altar, in the dim flicker of candles and the variegated gleaming from the ancient stained Along R. R. No. 2 Mrs. Alma Zwink was snowed in at Chas. Morrison's over Friday’s big; blizzard. Ilobt. Dinsdale is putting a fence around his yard this week. Miss Henretta Conger has been very sick, and at this writing is no better. E. G. Taylor’s men have been hav ing a time this week working in snow, mud and water, trying to complete the new flume. Clark Hile went down to Platts mouth, Nebr., this week. Mr. and Mrs. Joe Daddow and Mr. and Mrs. Ira Daddow were LoupCity visitors Tuesday. Spotanski Bros, took home a load from town Tuesday. Will Engles lias been doing some carpenter work for Will Draper this week. Harry Shipley did some braking Tuesday. He is getting ready to set out some trees along his west line. Ernest McFadden, Irwin Conger and Horace Casteel have been duck hunting on the big island this week. Mr. and Mrs. Yern Alleman visited several days last week at Ravenna. Charles Snyder had a well man up to his farm this week from Ravenna, doing some well work. I W. McLaughlin helped Ed. Flynn • kill his summer meat Tuesday. Ed. gave the carrier some fresh meat. Chas. Snyder had his windmill moved over about two rods over with the close of the contest. The above prizes will be given as an extra ■ reward for work done by centestants from March 6 to March 26.. The clos ing day of the contest when the Auto mobile is to be awarded will be an nounced later. The regular schedule of votes will apply to money turned in on special prize period, and the votes will count on the Automobile and other capital prized. Prizes For Everyone All contestants wno turn in at least $25.00 who do not win one of the above prizes will receive a beautiful eather hand bag. j. w. Burleigh 0ontest Manager, F 'roprietor Care Northwestern