d abruptly: "The United States may catch De Boer. Have you
thought of that, Perona? The fellow would not shield us, but would
tell everything."

"And who will believe him? The wild tale of a trapped bandit! Against
your word, Spawn? You, an honest and wealthy mine owner? And I--I,
Greko Perona, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Sovereign Power of
Nareda! Who will dare to give me the lie because a bandit tells a wild
tale with no real facts to prop it?"

"Those police guards at the mine to-night?"

"Admit that they took your bribes? You are witless, Spawn! Let them
but admit it to me and of a surety I will fling them into
imprisonment! Now listen with care, for the after noon is going...."

Their voices lowered, then faded, and Jetta was left alone and
helpless. Spawn went back to the mine to meet me. We returned and had
supper, Jetta could dimly hear us.

* * * * *

There was silence about the house during the mid-evening. I had
slipped out and followed Perona to his meeting with De Boer. Then
Spawn had discovered my absence and had rushed to join Perona and
tell him.

But Jetta knew nothing of this. The hour of her tryst with me was
approaching. In the darkness of her room as she lay bound and gagged
on her couch, she could see the fitful moonlight rising to illumine
the window oval.

She squirmed at the cords holding her, but could not loosen them. They
cut into her flesh; her limbs were numb.

The evening wore on. Would I come to the garden tryst?

Jetta could not break her bonds. But gradually she had mouthed the gag
loose. Then she heard my hurried footsteps in the patio; then my tense
voice.

And at her answer I was pounding on her door. But it had been stoutly
sealed by Spawn. I flung my shoulder against it, raging, thumping. But
the heavy metal panels would not yield; the seal held intact.

"Jetta!"

"Philip, run away! They want to catch you! De Boer, the bandit, is
coming!"

"I know it!"

Fool that I was, to pause with talk! There was no time: I must get
Jetta out of here. Break down this door.

But it would not yield. A gas torch would melt this outer seal. Was
there a torch here at Spawn's? But I had no time to search for a
torch! Or a bar with which to ram this door--

A panic seized me, with the fresh realization that any instant De Boer
and his men would arrive. I beat with futile fists on the door, and
Jetta from within, calling to me to get away be