The Crime of the Trenches: or, Clif Faraday's Last Cartridge — page 31: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

TRUE BLUE. Two persons had entered it from outside. ‘*Miss Danvers!’’ exclaimed Clif. It was the beautiful American girl, but so changed that half Clif’s startled sur- prise was due to the alteration in her ap- peatance. Bs Her face was colorless, her eyes stricken, her whole mien suggestive of a person under some crushing spell of dread and woe. She recognized Clif with a start. One pleading expression illumined her face. Then it died down to utter hopelessness. ‘You will pardon mie,’’ spoke a brusque, intruding voice, and her com- panion, a man, stepped between them. ‘‘Mrs. Arindell Bruce _is the lady’s name.’’ ; ‘“What!’? cried Clif, aghast. ‘“This lady is ny wife—we have this moment been married at the register’s.’’ ‘*TIs this true? Are you imarried to this —man ?’’ 3 “‘It—it is true,’’ she voiced, faintly. ‘*Ineredible!”’ ‘*T ain satisfied.’ “What is that!’’ cried Clif, arousing like a lion. ‘‘Miss Danvers, is it possible that, terrorized by this villain, you have been induced to forget the friends who thie have unselfishly risked their lives to se- Taining tears. cure your welfare ?”’ ‘‘Spare me! spare me!’’ sobbed the wretched, heartbroken creature, her eyes ‘It was to save Reeves Harlow from death !’’ ‘You scoundrel!’’ raved -Clif, mad_ to hurl himself at the throat of the villain. ‘*She says she is satisfied. She is my wife. You will oblige me by leaving this house at once!’’ uttered the unblushing knave with an attempt at dignity. "And what of me?”’’ ‘‘Creat Heavens!’’ ‘*Bigamist! scoundrel! thief !’’ con- tinued the same ringing feminine voice; ‘‘what of me???’ The veiled form Clif had noticed the yard filled the doorway suddenly. Throwing aside a* veil, a once fair but now careworn face was revealed. As if shriveled by its glance, Bruce in went hurtling back to the wall, aghast. | ‘“My—my——’ ’ *» “Your rightful wife!’? pronounced the woman. *‘You fancied me shut up in the asyluin wheré you placed mme—poisoned, at your order—dead. You thought miles of land or sea could hinder the wronged, de- serted woman who snatches from your lips the cup of triumph. Madam,’ to the quaking Miss Danvers, ‘‘you are not this 4nau’s wife—you are free, and he——” ‘‘A military prisoner!’’ broke in Clif, sternly. ‘*‘Men, secure him! This man liust answer to the United States navy for assisting in the plots of its enemies and conniving at the murder of its repre- sentatives on duty.’’ ‘‘But my—my—Reeves Harlow???’ gasped the agitated girl, ‘‘He promised he should be set free, that I should see him.’? ‘Rind him!’ hissed the baffled schemer, blaring forth the venom ofa knave driven to the last ditch. ‘‘I am downed, am I—perhaps! Edna Danvers, find your doomed lover, if you can!’’ ‘*f shall find him!’’ pronounced Clif Faraday, sturdily. ‘‘Men, that fellow to the prison, this young lady under sate guard till I‘report at your camp to-mor- row. Once more, Miss Danvers, trust in the ability of the United States to protect its charges at all times!’’ **Rorgive—oh, forgive my mad terror, my foolish fear! This man——’’ *‘T undersstand,’’ nodded Clif; ‘‘but his power is gone. The fellow is fainting. See that he does not escape!’’ | ‘Say! you talk and act like a gen- eral!’’ declared the enthusiastically ad- miring Tom Warrington, as the apart- ment was cleared and they found them- selves alone. ‘‘Now then what next ?’’ ‘Wewmust find Vic Rollins!’ pro- claimed Clif, definitely. ‘‘I cannot help but fancy he has got some clue to the Inissing marine——’’ “Reeves Harlow ?’’ ‘Ves, and is following it up.”’ ‘(We?]] start a chase, shall we?’’ ‘Tt is vitally important, and—— Clif Faraday stopped abruptly—so ap- ruptly that the astonished gunner,’s mate looked askance. His face actually paled, till the gun- ner’s mate who had never seen Faraday ?? ~ Our Premiums Are “All Right” Is What Our Readers Say.