azing with deep commiseration at the deathlike face

ctor, for he is certainly dead

er side, and, turning abruptly, she saw a

's not dead! Can I do any

glad some one awoke you, for your mistress needs you very badly.

irs to Nita's room, full of surprise at the strang

d over the threshold. Then she recoi

across her body was stretched the lean, lithe frame of an old witchlike woman, whose skinny

he open chest of gold and the glittering coins scattered over the floor in

ror, then Lizette comprehended the full

r arms in a viselike hold, and tearing them apart from Nita's throat, alt

ierce howl upon her assailant. There was murder in Meg's heart, and she wa

t of her young and agile foe, and the struggle soon ended, for Lizette adroitly tripped her up

ta lay motionless, but when Lizette put her ear against the girl's

te kill her!" she cried joyfully, and se

ments were all removed and she was laid in her bed, that she opened a pa

Lizette explained, softening the whole affair a

tefully. Then she shuddered at perceiving th

but there's an awful cut on the side of her head. She will go to prison for this if she lives-oh, Lordy!" as the apparen

e observed, then brought water and sponges and bathed and bandage

at first. Well, now I'm going to send for an officer and

sullen face ghastly in the dim

d me to prison," s

the maid, stretching o

raised arm arres

and, moving to the side of the bed, she bent down an

he bed, and the old harpy moved

ree. Indeed, I did not mean to touch you if I could

at her mistre

y won't let the old h

r," Nita cried fai

Miss N

ted, and the maid reluctantly

me grateful. Do me one more kindness. Keep the secret of this terrible

wretch from justice? She may come back again a

ust keep it a secret. Gather up the gold, put it back in the che

n't want any reward

ed Nita sweetly. "Take

woman's eyes gro

ore, if you please, and, dear Miss Nita, I'll love you with every drop of my heart's blood to the end of my life for this. Oh, I will tell you all

hat you have such a treasure in

a sighed

ore. I should like to go to sleep, but first you must go down-stairs and bring me news of D