Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-03-16

point to me as the author of the abduc-
tion, and give de Gomeron the time he
wanted to perfect his plans. The man
had run through would never tell tales,
and so far the game lay in the Cam
arguer's hands.
And then about madame. AS / be-
came calmer l saw that for his own
sake de Gomeron would take care that
her life was safe, at any rate for the
present, and whilst there was this con-
tingency there was hope for her, If
none for me, as l felt sure that what
with the king and madame's relatives
of the Tremouille on one hand, and
Sully and de Belin on the other, things
would go hard with de Gomeron, what
ever happened to me.
Hour after hour passed. shifted my
position, and strange to say, slept.
How long l slept 1 know not; but
woke stinging with pain, and found this
was due to my being bound as | was,
and in a little the agony became al
most insupportable, and l was on the
verge of going into delirium, only
righting my failing senses by mighty
effort of will.
l had lost all count of the time, but
guessed it was advanced in the day by
this; and my eyes had become so ac-
customed to the darkness that / could
manage to see the faint outlines of the
cell in which l was imprisoned. l
tried to make out its extent with an idle
and useless curiosity, and then, giving it
up, and utterly hopeless, leaned my
head on my upraised knees, and sat thus
waiting for the end.
I longed for death to come now-it
would be happy release from my pain.
Suddenly there came grating noise
as the bolts outside were moved. Then
The door of the cell swung open with
groaning, aud there was a binding
fash OF light that, for the time being,
deprived me of the powers of sight,
though, with a natural instinct, shut
my eyes to the fash as it came.
Then heard de Gomerons voice say
ing: Remove the gag-I have some
thing to ask monsieur"
AS l felt two cold, hard hands FUN
bling with the knots of the gag, man
aged to open my eyes, though the light
still panied me, and saw the tall figure
of the free lance, his drawn sword in his
hand, standing in the open doorway,
and kneelng beside me was Babette.
The hag caught the loathing in my
glance, and laughed to herself as she
wrenched at the knots, and de Com
eron, who was evidently in no mood to
delay, hurried her efforts with a sharp
"Quick,"
"It is DONE" she answered, and rose
to her feet, swinging the silken bands
of the gag she held in her hand.
"Then have the goodness to step back
whilst NJ. d'Auriac and discuss the po-
sition."
Babette did as she was bidden, NUT
tering something, and de Gomeron, ad-
vancing a pace, addressed me:
Monsieur, have come to make you
an offer, and I will not waste words. !
am playing to win a desperate game,
and l shall not hesitate to play any card
to win. My offer is this: l ask you to
sign a formal document, which I shall
bring to you, holding me guiltlcss of
any design against either you or Nine.
de la Bidache. In return I will set you
free in ten days after you sign this pa
per. During that time you must con-
slider yourself my prisoner; but YOU
will be better lodged than now. Should
you refuse to accept this offer there is
nothing left for se but to leave you here
to die"
He spoke in slow, measured accents,
and the vault Of the roof above me gave
back the mans words in a solemn echo.
The light of the lantern stretched in a
long, yellow shaft up the spiral stair
| way beyond the door, and half in this
light and half in shadow stood the
| witchlille figure of Babette, leaning a
little forward, as if striving to catch
each word that was spoken.
In the silence that followed the free
lance's speech, I could almost hear the
blood throbbing in my temples; and for
| the moment | was deprived of all power
of words. It was not from fear, nor
from any idea of accepting the offer,
| but a thought had come to my mind.
| would oppose craft with craft, and meet
the fox in the skin of n fox.
"Give me "a hours to decide" I an
swered, 'and free me from these cords.
I cannot think for the pain of them"
| "Pardleu!" lie laughed. The knots
| have been well tied; but "a hours is
| long time"
"Yet you are willing to accommodate
| me for ten days, better lodged. Ventre
| bleu! NJ. de Gomeron. do you think !
| can scratch my way out of this ?"
He did not answer me, but stood for
| awhile biting at the ends of his thick
| muStachF Then he Suddenly called 10
| Babette: "Cut the cords"
She came forward and obeyed. Words
cannot convey the sensation of relief
as the cords fell from me; but for the
time being so numbed was that I was
powerless to move.
"You have your desire, monsieur"
said de Gomeron, land l await your
| decision. 1t will save me trouble if
| you inform Babette whether you agree
| or not. In the former event we shall