The Holly chieftain., 1899-04-21

It will be thus~-and she laughed
shrilly. "But go as you wish, to carry
your refusal to the captain"
She made 4 movement as II to go; but
cursing myself at very nearly having
spoilt IL all, burst out: "Stay"-and
she looked back.
"Monsieur?" she grinned through
the wicket.
"See here" and in my eagerness my
voice was hoarse and thick. $500 crowns
II you free me from this, and 1000 more
II you will do the same for madame"
"Will monsieur add palace in the
moon to this?"
II give you the word Of d'Auriac!
Fifteen hundred crowns is fortune.
They will be yours in six hours from
the time you free US. Think ofit-1, 500
crowns"
Never have I seen avarice blaze 80 in
a face as in hers. AS dropped out the
last words she shook her head from
side to side with the swaying motion Of
q serpent. Her eyes glittered like those
Of an asp, and between her half-parted
lips she hissed rather than spoke TO
herself:
Fifteen hundred crowns! It is
the price Of barony-I, who have
taken life for half pistole!"
"You will save two lives for this l
pleaded.
But the she devil, though sorely
tempted. was faithful. What de Com
eron's power over her was know not.
could add nothing to my ofer-I had
laid my all on the hazard, and 1t was
not to be done.
'Pouf!" she mocked. you do not go
high enough. You do not promise the
palace in the moon. but waste my
time. Is 1t Yes or No. for the cap
tain?"
There was another chance still, and I
would risk that. I made step nearer
the opening.
"Give me something to drink. and ]
will answer at once"
"Ah! ha! monsieur requires some
courage. Here is flask of Frontignac,
but 1t is expensive, and monsieur, I
am afraid, has left his belt outside his
room; the Frontignac is five crowns" a"
"You forgot my pockets" / an
swered; "here are two pistoles-hand
me the wine."
"The money first''-nnd she stretched
out her hand.
Like fash closed my fingers on her
wrist and drew in her hand to the full
length OF the arm.
"If you scream, If you utter sound, I
will tear your arm from it's socket"
The answer was shrek that might
have been heard a half mile away, and
then a foul oath and howl of pain.
1t was hardly a knightly deed, but there
was too much at stake to mince mat
ters, and on her scream gave the
prisoners arm held wrench strong
enough to show that / could keep my
word. AS the shrill echoes Of her cry
died away l could hear her breathing
heavily on the opposite side OF the door,
and she struggled mltely and with sur
prising strength to free herself. There
was no answer to her call for help
there must have been many shrek for
help that had rung through that ter
rible dungeon md died away answer.
less but for the mocking echoes. And
Babette knew this, for she ceased to
utter sound after that one long
scream. and fought In silence like she
wolf at bay. At last she leaned ex-
hausted against the door, and felt that
half my game was won. 1t had been IN
unexpected thought, and l had jumped
ut the opportunity Providence had
thrown in my way.
do you hear?" said. "Open the
door. or"-and gave another half turn
to her arm.
She who could inflict such suffering
on others was of those who were un-
able to bear the slightest pain them
selves. She moaned in agony and called
out: Free me, and promise-I prom
ise anything"
only laughed and repeated my or
der, relieving the strain on her arm.
however, SO that she could slip back a
half pace OF SO from the wicket. Then
l heard the great lock open and the
chain put down. and Babettes voice
trembling with anger and pain.
ut is OPEN"
ITo BE Continued