Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-06-15
J.WEXMAN.
AUTHOR Or THE MhaM sLAcn',,
"A GENTLEMAN OF FRANCE. ErE~.
COPYRIGHT 1885, er eAssEll7usL,sH,.c co.

It at last and walked In.
The duchess sprang up at sight OF mo.
What" she cried, backing from me,
what has happcnedt"
II have been stabbed" said, and sat
Town.
1t amused mo aftcrward to recall what
they all did. The Dutchman stared; my
lady screamed loudly; Master Berthe whip
ped cut his sword. He could make up his
mind quickly enough at times.
IL think he has gone" said family.
The words brought the duchess to her
knees by my chair. She tore open my
doublct, through which the blood was ooz-
ing fast. l made no doubt that was .
dead man, for had never been wounded
in this way before, and the blood scared
me. l remember my prevailing idea was
a Kind of stunned pity for myself. Per-
hnps later-I hope SOL should have come
to think Of Petronilla and my uncle and
other people. But before this stage was
reached the duchess treasured me. "Cour-
age, ladr' she cried heartily. 1T Is all
right, Dick. The villain struck him on
the breast bonc an inch too low, and has
just ripped up a scrap Of skin. 1t has
FLOODED him for the spring, that is all A
bit of plaster
And drink of strong waters,' sug-
gcsted the Dutchman soberly; his thoughts
were always to the point when they came.
Yes, that, too" quoth my lady, and
he will be all right
thought go myself when had cmpticd
the cup they offered me. I had been q
good deal shaken by the events of the day.
The sight of blood had further upset me.
really think 1t possible l might have
died of this slight hurt and my imngina-
= I h,l of n, D,,t ha
duchess assurance and the draft Of
schnapps, which seemed to send new
blood through my veins, made me feel
ashamed of myself. If the duchess would
have let Inc, would ut once have gone to
search the premises. As it was, she made
me sit still while she ran to and fro for
hot water and plaster, and the men searched
tho lower rooms and secured tho door
afrcsh.
And SO you could see nothing of him:"
| our host asked when lie and Master Bcr-
tie returned, weapons in hand. Nothing
| of his figure or facc.'
Nothing, save that no was Short" I
| answered, shorter than l am, at any
rate, and fancy n good deal"
"A good deal shorter than you arc?"
| my lady said uneasily. THAT Is no clew.
| In this country nine people out Of ten arc
That. Clarence, now, Is not.
No." said. He Is about tho same
height. 1t was not Clarence"
''Thcn who could 1t be-" she muttered,
rising and then with quick shudder sit
ting down again. Heaven help us, We
seem to DO in tho midst of foes! What
could be the motive? And why should tho
villain have selected you? Why pick you
outi''
Thereupon strange thing happened.
Three pairs of English eyes met and sig
nailed common message eye to eye. No
| word passed, but the message was Van
| Trcen' When we had glanced at one an
other, We looked all Of us at our host
| looked somewhat guilty. He was deep
in thought, his eyes ON the stove, but he
| seemed to feel our gaze upon him, and he
| looked up abruptly. Master Van Tree
no said aud stopped.
| "You know him well:" the duchess
said, appealing to him softly. We felt n
kind of sorrow for him and some delicacy,
| too, about accusing ono of his countrymen
| of a thing SO cowardly. do you think
| it Is possible" she continued, with an
| effort, possible that no can have done
| this, Master Lindstroms'
II have known him from boy" the
merchant said, looking up, hand on
either knee, and speaking with simple
| ity almost majestic, ''and never knew him
do mean thing, madam. l know no
moro than that" And he looked round
on us.
THAT Is a good deal Still he went Of
In a fit Of jealousy when Master Carey
brought Dymphna home. We must re-
member that
YES, l would he knew the rights Of
that matter" said the Dutchmnn heartily.
| And he has been hanging about the
place all day." my lady persisted.
| Yes" Master Lindstrom rcjoincd pa
ticntly, yet DO not think he did this"
| Then who did, she said, somewhat
nctticd.
That was the question. hal my opin-
ion, rs saw Master Berthe and the duch-
css had l did not doubt it was Van Tree,
yet n thought struck me. 1t might be
well, suggested, that some one should
ask Mistress Anne whether the door was
open when she left the room. She passed
out just in front of me-
But she does not go by the door, my
lady objected.
No; she would turn at once and 60 Up
stairs" agreed 'But she could SEQ the
door from the foot Of the stairs-if she
looked that way, mean
| Inc duchess aSSCntcu ana went out OF
the room 20 put the question. We three.
left together, sat staring mt the dull flame
Of the lamp and were for the most part ST
lent, Master Bertic only rcmarkinS that it
was after midnight. The suspicion he and
l entertained Of Van Trees guilt seemed
to raise barrier between us and on: host.
My wound, slight rs il was, srnarted ant:
burned, and my head achcd. After mid
night. was it. What day It had been,
When tho duchess came pack, as she did
IN a few minutes, both Anne and Dymph
M came with her. The girls had riser
hastily and were shivering with cold and
alarm. Their eyes were bright, their man
ner was excited. They were full ct sympa
thy and horror and wonder, as was nat
urul, of nervous fear for themselves too
But my lady cut short their ordinations
Anne Saws she did not notice tho door.
NJ, the girl answered. trembling Wis
IDLY rs she spoke. Il went up strai2b BIT t
bed. But who could it he? Did you SC,
no.hing of him as he struck you: Not
fe2turc: Not an outline2''
J No" murnurcd
Did he not saw words' she continued