Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-18


burg ou.v; there he can reach Switzerland
| without fear of detection
Without doubt. excelen; plan" said
Fernsld. but shall /. then only accompany
choly tone
Nine. Bernard did not answer. but laid her
finger on her lips. for just then the maid en-
tered to lay the tabo.
| Lay three plates. " said he to the latter
| ''Oh. that Is quite unnecessary, whispered
| Nine. Bernard Every one would think il
strange for the master and servant tn eat to-
gether. Let him stay in the servants hail"
Very we'll as you like" Then, turning to
| the maid: ''0niy two
And what kind OF note did Lippman hand
you just now?" asked Fernaid. In a low tone,
| turning to his companion.
She changed color slightly. saying: did you
| see that, too?'
MY eye observes very waschfully all that
| concerns YOU in any way"
1T appears" she said. glancing at him with
a bright smile, that nothing escapes YOU
May not know the contents Of this note?"
| THAT You never shall" answered she,
| quickly.
more secrets stillr'
I'm this You must submit"
| II submit to any yoke yop lay upon me-"
| with these words he about TO take her
hand but she turned from him. blushing
| deeply. and at the same instant the hostess en-
| tered with smoking soup tureen.
Tell the position to harness while we dine
said Fernad
II think he is doing so now" replied the
woman.
Then he can wait" replied Fernald care
lessly.
When they had spent half an hour at the
table Nine. Bernard told the maid TO call her
servant ard Fernald sent for the position to
drive up. After some time the maid returned
and said she could not find the servant and the
position had driven on in advance
"aone on. without met cried Fernald in as
constituent
| Did YOU not order him to do so?" asked tho
hostess, who had just entered and seemed rather
disturbed; they tell me he drove away like
mad
Worse and worse.' exclaimed Fernald: but
why did not hear it roll away?'
| You said the carriage must not remain
standing In the street, % he drove out the back
/ way. from which a lane leads to the city gate"
Now heaven help me!' cried Fernsld in the
| greatest excitement ''Send for the burgo-
| master-mountedp oce-and a hundred thalers
to any one who will have a horse ready saddled
| In ten minutes-a fast one, mind
| Great confusion ensued; some ran for the
burgomaster, Others for the police. and Fernald
| in few minutes saw a strong fresh horse be-
hand. but he dropped them and turned to Nine.
| Bernard, who came to the window. pale and
frightened, and calling in vain for Iippmau.
us he not there? Have you not vet found
this Lippmanl" cried Fernald. with an indie
scribably scornful emphasis on the name.
Heaven only knows where he is" she re-
piled, bursting into tears.
"Oh. but know too WELL" cried he beside
himself with rage and disappointment. II see
am the victim Of a plot; yes. of the most
abominable infamous plot ever planned
With these words he leaped into the saddle.
just as the burgomaster. fat man in his shirt
| sleeves, came running beathessly round the
| corner.
| ''Sir, said Fernald, turning to him, "a swim
der and my position have escaped with nv
[ carriage-send all the force you can collect
after them. An immense sum of money is
| contained in a trunk screwed on behind-he
who restores it to me uninjured and intact
shall receive 10000 francs reward-therefore
| dispatch"
With these words he set off at full gallop.
leaving the burgomsster pale his shirt, and
staring after him in mute amazement
The carriage had the advantage OF starting
halt an hour before him, and Fernald urged
his horse to a still faster pace he felt what a
small chance he had of overtaking it, for
although loaded so heavily two horses could
| certainly travel full as fast as one but il was
his only hope and he caught at it in despera-
ton He tore along at frantic pace, hoping
at each turn to see the carriage In the distance,
but this hope deceived him constantly. He
| met couple Of lumber wagons and some foot
| passengers from time to time; he asked them
eagerly If they had seen a carriage pass; they
would reply. ''Yes, half an hour ago.
Presently he met two horses all harnessed
which browsed by the wayside. He looked at
| them earnestly. Surely they were the same that
brought HIM here; but where was their driver
the man with the SCARF He should be back in
| tho city by this time. How did the horses
come here! He too must be in the plot, and
had probably ridden on. met the new position
| and let his horses go. Yes, he was convinced
| this must be the case, and so much the worse
| for he had now to deal with three conspirators
instead Of two, and he remembered. with a
thrill, that his pistols were left in the carriage
and were now, no doubt, in the hands of the
| villains.
A wild rage overcame him rs he thought how
| completely he had been deceived and entrapped
| by the woman in whom he had felt such conf
dence. BY his folly, his weakness. he had lost
| the money intrusted to him. and with it his
honor and reputation! Oh, how willingly
! would he have given his life to recover these
lost treasures! He whipped and spurred his
weary steed numerically, who now began to
slacken his pace and breathed painfully. The
poor animal ran up hill and down hill: the dust
| and gravel flew; but all in vain. Nothing was
in sight. As he made a sharp turn full a mile
Of the highway stretched before him. but moth
ing was to be seen on any part of it. At this mo-
ment the WORKOUT horse stumbled and fell:
Fe-nald raised him, but he could hardly stand
and after going feebly few steps fell again.
and did not attempt to rise.
Fernald found his left leg was under the
creatures body; he drew it out, bruised but I'M
injured; as for the pain Of the limb, he did not
| feel 1t, for he could have wept from sheer de-
spair. He sat on the ground by the side of his
| fallen horse, who lay covered with sweat aud
foam, uttering from time to time a low whinny.
He looked at the animal and covering his face
and hands, murmured broksnly "Now all is
| lostr'
Presently he looked back toward the town.