The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1895-10-31

the treasure? A dead man has other
things to think about. The emperor has
enough without this. What is he but
robber? He stole them; have as much
right to them as he." His voice sank in
unintelligible mutterings.
"What does all this mean?" said KEEP
pei to himself. 'sTreasure-the emperor
"a dead man-robbery! He has MUIR
dered somebody, probably. And he has
yellow fever. He'll die of it, too, and
may catch it myself No matter; here
am, and here stay, for tonight at least.
can't go any farther, and can't leave
a dying man either, even if he is muir
derer. have special sympathy for
murderers, suppose. At any rate, am
as much of vagabond and desperate as
he is. This is a poor place to die in, but
he will be better off with me here than
he would be alone. Though he doesn't
seem very hospitahle, I'll make myself
at home"
He raised the head of the sick man,
smoothed out his pillow and rearranged
the bed clothes. AS he was STOPPING to
tuck the blanket under the mattress he
felt something cold touch his forehead,
Siio LII AoAtl3 LIS LCeAo 4ui(hiJ SOdA1OlUCO
the muzzle of the revolver within an inch
of his mouth. The sick mans finger was
upon the trigger, and his features were
twisted into hideous look of terror and
malevolence. Keppel had the instinct to
remain perfectly still, with his gaze fixed
upon the other.
'You thought you could rob me-" said
Dupont, between his teeth. "I'm not to
be robbed while I'm alive, and you shall
die first. know you-accursed spy!"
His long yellow finger had begun to
contract to pull the trigger. Keppel's
lips grew white; death looked ugly. Sud
denly a startling change swept over Du.
points visage. His red eyebrows lifted
in strange stare, his eyeballs protruded
and his black lips curled back from his
teeth. But his eyes were directed nc
longer upon Keppel but to the farther
corner of the room. The next instant he
had pointed the revolver in that direc.
ton, and fired over Keppel's shoulder
almost deafening him. He then dropped
the weapon and sank back screaming,
| with his hands over his face.
Keppel secured the revolver, and ther
looked round. There was no third per.
son in the room. The bullet had passed
through a wainscot panel.
"What the devil were you shooting
| at?" he demanded sternly.
ga bullet won't kill him." quavered
the man: che can die but once. But he
comes-he is always here. It's the treas.
ure he wants. What can dead mar
do with treasurer
"Your dead man has saved my life, a,
all events" muttered Keppel, "and I'm
obliged to him for it. AS for you-well
You will never harm any one again.
This is an ugly night; wish it were
over. And what of tomorrow"
He found another candle, Lit it, and
having put the revolver in his pocket
set out to explore the house. There was
scarcely anything in it except the bare
rooms; but in a closet in the kitchen he
found some loaves of bread almost al
hard as stone. He soaked it in water
and ate some of it. He brought glas:
of water for the sick man, who drank il
eagerly. 'sThat's goodr' the poor wretch
said ST shall get we'll"
81 don't think you will get WELL" re
turned Keppel. "You look to me like {
dying man, and you had better realize
| it. know nothing about the treatment
of yellow fever, and it's no use trying tt
find doctor tonight. If you are alive
tomorrow I'll go for one. Meanwhile, il
there is anything you want done, in case
you do die, you had better let me know
it now"
eBring no one here" said the other
with tremulous earnestness. Listen
When get well will divide with you
there's enough for both; we shall be two
of the richest men in the world. There
are millions-millions! I have told no
body. No one knows l am here. If they
came they would take it all and put u.
in Jail. What is the sense of that? Mau
rice knows, but he can't tell; it ism
Maurice-it is his spirit, that's all. HI
can't speak, he can only look; and NJ
one but can see him. We are safe if
get we'll"
"You had better keep quiet, said Kep
pei. "You're firing yourself out ani
you're talking nonsense. There is NJ
treasure here; if you didn't die of th'
fever you would starve to death, as fa
as can see. What is your name, ant
what did you come here for?"
81 am poor peddler. Ipeddle wa,
fruits. came here to be out of the wa.
not to be interfered with. shall TAX
them down to New York and sell them
one at time. The least of them
worth one hundred thousand francs
There are thousands of them"
Keppel turned away impatiently. sc
am going to take nap," he said. sc
saw some fishnets and bagging in tn
kitchen, and I'll make bed of then
here in the corner. If you want any
thing you can call out"
He got the materials and made hi
: bed accordingly. His fatigue was s
great, after the exertions and excite
ment of the previous two days, that b
fell asleep the instant he lay down. 81
was awakened by wild scream and
heavy fall.
He raised himself up, still heavy an
bewildered with sleep. At first he di