Conclusion

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Episode Transcript

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The Ghost Breaker, a novel basedupon the play by Charles Goddard and Paul
Dicky. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public
domain. For more information or tovolunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
Chapter seventeen conclusion. Rusty had divedunder the table. The great sword of

(00:23):
the armored figure was swinging swiftly upin the air, and Jarvis leaped with
all the sinewy strength of his youngmanhood. It was none too soon.
The great Damascus blade struck fire fromthe stone balustrade where he had set a
second before. Jarvis sput about,and his automatic barked. With the instinct

(00:45):
of the born fighting man. Hefired for the heart. This was his
error. The bullets spattered off theangle braced breastplate. Down the steps came
the horrid figure, raising the greatsword again. The leaden shower did not
halt the clanging monster. As theiron clad advanced, he remembered now that

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Rusty had two more revolvers. ButRusty was scuttling on hands and knees for
the shelter of the turret entrance acrossthe room. In desperation, Jarvis threw
his revolver at the head of theassailant. It was a feudal pebble toss.
The weapon clattered against the metal visorand bounced off. As the weird

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assailant ran within striking distance. Forthe first time in his life, came
the sensation of helplessness and a fight. There was a numbing feeling of horror
as he recoiled before this thing.His back touched the stone wall just as
the quick figure made a forward stepand struck again. The sword rang out

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against the rock, but the handthat held that weapon knew how to wield
it with determination. Jarvis had droppedto his knees and imitated Rusty's escape until
he was out of reach. Hemight have grappled, but the thought came
too late. He saw the ancientweapons on the wall. There was a
great pole axe. This was theinstrument made for the man at arms to

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withstand the noble night in the daysof old. He whirled it on high
as the other came toward him.The double edged sword rose high to parry
the stroke, and the sharp weaponclove through the rotten wood helve. Time
had disarmed the American again. Adeep chested laugh came from the human battleship.

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Warren laughed back in the face ofdeath. The old Jarvis's fighting laugh
was a tradition in Kentucky. Hisnext weapon was a chair. With this
as a guard, he managed toswing the sword with a clever parry.
He gave the metal breastplate a vigoroushigh kick from the helmet. There came

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a muffled wosh. Here was onepoint for the modern Thus they dodged and
fainted, striking whirling while the Kentuckianplanned his campaign. Little by little,
he drew his implacable opponent toward thecharcoal cross mark on the floor. The
great sword rose high. He feignedweakness and dropped his chair. Then,

(03:15):
as the torreador dodges the mad onslaughtof the maddened bull, he leaped aside
and the sword struck the ground beforeit could be raised. He swung from
his side position with the heavy antiquechair against the visor. The equilibrium of
the armored man was none too stable, as he missed his stroke and his

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head went back again. The Kentuckiancharged, this time with a bare handed
clinch. The chair dropped around themetal waist, his arms went and He
forced the other back, but halfa foot it was enough. Santa Murder
came from the helmet. As thefigure stumbled through the opening trap stone.

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There was a scream, which suddenlyended at highest pitch, a splash,
then silence. Jarvis staggered back withdilated eyes upon the fatal hole. He
wiped the cold beads off his clammybrow and staggered toward the table for support.

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Rusty's head came out from the shelterof the stone, coping, and
he smiled in ashen imitation of amusement. Where's your friend, muss Wine.
Jarvis's head was low upon his breastas he answered quietly, water and a
long drop. There's a real ghostdue to hot castle. Now, Rusty,

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I know, dim battleship boogies Wispooks. Warren picked up the great
sword, which had fallen by thetrap as the man went through. He
walked up the stairs. Oh mustWine, don't what's the matter, and
he snarled it Do I scare you? You can't scare me. I'm scared
already. Jarvis made a fencing feintat the other figure. There was no

(05:09):
response. Again, he tried,then he rushed it and knocked the armor
over. I guess he's genuine andharmless. Old mass Wan, you's got
galls show. I'll just finish thisbattleship so he won't jump. No mot
He had grabbed the armor and startedtoward the trap door. I'm going to

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sink him into Habba. Don't dothat. It takes a thief to catch
a thief. I'll make a ghostout of you. Rusty come here,
objecting, timorous, and still overcomewith his native superstition, Rusty was nevertheless
forced to don the armor. Asad misfit he was at that somebody was
working in this room. Rusty,it's a sinch that the treasure was here.

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It's a sinch that we interrupted andis still in this little safety post
vault. It's a greater sense thatif we go out, he'll come back.
I want to have you stand upthere where the other battleship was and
watch. You'll be as safe asa church in this No one would think

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of looking for one of us inthis armor. So when he starts to
work, whoever he is, youjust yell and yell your best. God
moss one, I could yell loudenough for him to hit me back in
Kentucky. You give me your bestyell and I'll nail him. If you
don't nail him, he'll nail me. Keep cool, that's all. I'm

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cool now, I'm catching cool.And he sneezed. If you sneeze again,
I'm going to use a gun onyou. Here, give me one
of those two guns you have,and whatever you do, don't sneeze.
I'm catching cold myself here anyone wouldin this musty old hole. He pocketed
the been and ordered Rusty to hisplace. There came another sound, a

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repetition of the earlier faint sound.He turned quickly, and Princess Maria Theresa
of Arragon rushed into the room,followed by Dolores. Thank god, you
are safe, mister Warren. Iheard the shooting down in the other court
of the castle. Where have youbeen? Why didn't you wait for my
signal? The hour is not overyet. We've been wandering through this dreadful

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place and eternity trying to find you, calling everywhere so that we could reach
you before it was too late,before something happened that had always happened before.
Dolores had seated herself at the sidetable and her face was buried in
her hands. She was sobbing toolate. What do you mean? This
is madness for you to take thisrisk. The girl forgetting royalty and convention

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caught his hand in both of hers, and a light of joy came into
her eyes. My brother is safe, Thank god. He is on his
way to the king to get soto search the castle. Where has he
been? How do you know?He was imprisoned in this castle since the
day he entered. Tonight. Hetried to signal but could not. Your
bullet went straight home, mister Warren, and Robledo is dying. He has

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confessed all to the Holy Father.I must go back, for I promised
to be with him at the end. The end, and Jarvis's voice grew
husky. He understood by now thetears of Dolores. He turned toward her
gently. I'm so sorry you andhe I not have. Oh what a

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terrible shame. The girl crossed herselfwith the stoic calmness of her religion as
she rose to face him. Itis better so he sinned grievously many times.
Signor, My prince is safe,My princess is safe, and you
are safe. You the bravest manin sigurro. Maria Theresa turned to the

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door, where stood a man whomJarvis had not a spied before. Take
her back to the inn, Maximo, as quietly as possible. Then send
the chauffeur for me again as soonas he can come up the rough road.
But your highness, you must goback as well. It is dangerous
for you to remain here. Ifound the clues for which you went to
America. Let me finish the job. No, I will stay with you.

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He caught her hands and looked downinto the dark eyes so wondrously upturned
to his. You must come bythe fire and get warm. Here,
sit in this chair. You've beenfrightened to death prowling through this hard place.
Your hands are icy there there.Go on and cry forget that you're

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a princess and be a real girl. Cry all you want. That's fine.
He took off his coat and wrappedit around her shoulders as she sat
by the flaming remnants of the oldtable. He turned about and beckoned to
he Rusty, who, with revolverin hand, his courage restored in a
way by the turn of events,disappeared from view. Jarvis gently placed a

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hand upon the heaving shoulder. I'llround up this spook tonight for good and
all. Then the vassal's task isdone. His fate is in your hands,
Highness. What's to become of him? Don't send me away. I
loved you from the first, notlike a vassal either, and will always

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love you. I know. I'mjust a plain American citizen and a man.
All the man in me cries out, I love you. Don't send
me away. You must go.You must leave Spain, for your life
would never be safe here. Youknow what feuds are, and you have

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started one. Just then, anaudible, unmistakable, commonplace sneeze interrupted this
most wonderful of all conversations. Jarvislooked about the sneeze was in the room,
rushed you? You outside, yes, ah, but don't keep me
here along because I was freezing todeath? Did you sneeze? No,

(11:13):
sah, But I calculate I'll haveto before long. Don't move, your
highness, I've found the ghost.At last, He walked toward the suspicious
picture and pointed the revolver at it. There is somebody in that picture.
Come out, or I'll shoot quicknow there was no response. He sent

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a bullet, carefully aimed at theupper left hand corner, where he planned
that it would do no harm.There was a response, don't shoot,
and the canvas opened neatly to permitthe elegant but dusty figure of Carlos Hernando,
Duke of Alva, to step tothe mantelpiece and leap clumsily to the

(11:58):
floor. The princess had sprung toher feet. Your excellency, you are
a long way from Madrid. Theduke, brushing off his sleeves, snarled
back, you fool, you steppedright into the trap. I knew you
were after the treasure. Oh no, your man at arms did that.

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And if you try to lie yourselfout of this, if it weren't for
your cousin, I'd blow your damnedhead off. Then I'd throw you down
after the other. Poor devil,you got a lot of souls to answer
for. See here, give methat locket. No, give her that
locket, or by the living God, I'll break your Come on now,

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Carlos, and the girl held outa stiff arm. The duke fumbled in
an inner pocket and dropped the memoranduminto her hand. I told you all
ghosts were cowards. The duke lookedinsolently into Jarvis's face, yet there was
an undisguised admiration for the staunch nervesof his opponent. At heart, despite

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his criminal conceited weaknesses, the Dukehad thoroughbred blood beating and pulsing through the
veins. You play a good game, mister Warden. Are all Americans like
you? They all play the gamein Kentucky, snapped Jarvis, and I
thought all Americans were fools. Hecrossed to the door. I think,

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my dear Maria, that for thesake of the family name, it would
do my health good to take atrip to Monte Carlo and the Riviera.
Even Egypt might help. Mister Wardentake her advice and return to Kentucky.
He walked up the steps and smiledback with his cynical appreciation of the situation.

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A medieval sport to the end,as Jarvis realized, Hey, Rusty,
you just follow that duke as wellas you did me. See him
out of the castle and on hisway rejoicing, And don't let your finger
slip on that revolver. Yes,sir, we'd pleasure sir. The footsteps

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died away, and Jarvis looked atthe princess. She smiled back at him.
What kind of a place is Kentucky? God's country? Lady? Must
I go back alone? Your highness? She put her hands upon the tired
shoulders and looked up with the ineffablelook which passeth all understanding, except between

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the one man and the one woman. She held her lips up to him,
Warren, don't call me, highness. My name is Maria. The
end end of chapter seventeen, endof The Ghost Breaker by Charles Goddard and Paul Dickie