The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1899-04-06

81 am glad of that. Saddle Couronne.
1 go out at once--you can follow on
foot"
monsieur"
The next moment he was gone, and
heard him running down The stairs. II
would take a few minutes TO get Cou-
rome ready, but followed him down
at once, as | had an inquiry to make
from Mime. Pantin, | heard some one
moving below in the kitchen, and.
thinking it was dame Annette, called
down the winding stair.
"Mme.-Mme. Pnntin."
Madame is out; but is there any
thing | can do for monsieur?" And the
notary appeared below, dim outline,
clad in his dressing gown, with a wool
en- cap or his head.
went down to him and asked;
"Pautin, do you know If Bavaillac
was out last night?'
II would have told monsieur there
and then when he came in from his
swim in the Seine. No, for | watched
and saw him sleeping in the loft"
"Ase you surc9"
"As am of being here"
"Thanls Madame is out early"
"She has gone to the rue Narenne;
but, monsieur, be careful of that
Ravaillac."
nodded my head, and then raising
my voice; "I dine at the Two Ecus AZ
usual-good day!"
Good day, mOnsicur!"
Couronne was at the door, Ravailat
at her head, and, mounting, went at
walking pace towards the pont au
Change, my servant yard or so be.
hind. II was my intention to seek de
Belin, to ask him to find out If was
in any danger owing TO last nights
folly or misadventure--call u what you
will - and to beg his advice on the
course | was to pursue.
had been recognized by d'Ayen. My
name was known to those with him,
aud any trouble With the hotel de Vile
meant hopeless disaster. l had almost
made up my mind to conceal myself
somewhere until the day of fight, but
before taking any action thought IL
advisable TO consult my friend, and to
return Ravaillac to his service.
Imagine my disappointment when
reaching his hotel to find that Belin was
cut! Nallon begged me 20 wait, ex-
planning that his master had been alb
sent for so long a time that his return
would be but n matter of minutes. He
had supped out the night before with
de Nitry, the captain of the Scots
guards, and NJ. le Grand, had come back
late, and gone forth very early in the
morning, and it was now full time he
was back.
determined therefore TO wait,
though every moment was of impor-
tance to me, and after half hour of pa
tience in an easy chair rose and walked
towards the window to while away the
time by watching what was going on
below. One of the heavy broeade cur
tains was half drawn, and without
thinking of it came up towards that
side, and looked out from behind its
cover. 1t struck me as strange that
my horse was within the gate, instead
of being within the courtyard, and
Ravaillac. with the rcns thrown over
his shoulder, was engaged in converse
with a cavalier whose back was turned
TO me, and whose head was entirely con-
! cealed by his broad-brimmed hat and
long plumes.
But the tall, straight figure, with
its stretch of shoulder, could not be
mistaken. 1t was de Gomercn to q
certainty, and my doubts on the point
were soon at rest. Keeping as far as
possible within the shadow of the
curtain, l watched them for full fv,
minutes whilst they conversed To-
gether earnestly, and then something
changed hands between them. Finally
| the cavalier left Ravaillac with noe
to his salute, and crossed over TO the
other side of the road, where n mount
ed -lacIley was holding his horse. Al
he gained the saddle, he turned his fac,
toward me for an instant. There was
no shadow of doubt left 1t was dC
Gomeron, and ii was clear that there
was more between the free lance anC
Ravaillac than there shobld be, ant
also, | was convinced, ] know not how
that what had passed between then
| touched me, and was not for my good
What object the man had to play traitor
| cannot say, but do know that there
are some natures 20 whom double deal
ing is as their skin, and whom moth
ing can turn from falsehood and chi
| cane.
BE this as IL may, | knew, at any
rate, the grass where one viper lay, ant
made up my mind to blunt his fang,
without any further delay. / gave dt
Belin another balf-hour. and then, call
ing Nallon, left a message with him
| begging my friend TO see me at my
lodging on matter of the utmost
moment AS soon as / was in tn,
saddle | bent forward, and, loolSin,
Ravaillac full in the face, said: "My
friend, you have too many acquaint
ances for my services. / return you
from this moment TO monsieur i
compte."
made short cut down a side street
and In so doing had an opportunity OF
taking last look at my man. lie was
standing talking TO Nallon, and moving
his hands in my direction.
"Reeling out lies by the Dozen" /
muttered to myself. "If mistake not
there VIII be another place lost 10 you
by sundown."
let myself in by the stable entrance,
and after attending to Couronne en-
tered the house. There was apparently
not soul within. sought The lower
artf, tg In Hnv.. - 4.