The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1899-05-04
CHAPTER Xv.-CoxrNrrD.

Although the new position had at
tanned did not, in any way, advance me
toward. freedom, yet il gave me a sense
of personal relief. | was able to raise
myknecs a little, and sitting down thus,
with my body thrown little forward,
TO ease the strain of the cords, began
to think and go over in my nina the
whole scene of the tragedy from the be-
ginning to its bitter end. / had no
doubt as to the personality of Babette.
| was not likely to forget her voice. i
had heard il under circumstances that
ought TO have stamped it on my mem
ory for all time; and If had the faint
est doubts on the matter they were set
at rest by the fact that she was so well
known to de Gomcron-she probably
had been z camp follower on our side
and also by the still more damning fact
| that her house was known as the Tor
son d'Or. The name had been distinct
Iy mentioned by her, and It's meaning
was clear to me when thought of the
| dreadful scene over de Leyva's body.
As for de Gomcron, | knew him well
enough to understand his game. The
whole affair, as far as he was CON
cerned, was a sudden and rapid resolve
that was clear. ! argued it out in this
! way to myself, and as / went on think
| ing Il was almost as IL some one was
reading out n statement OF the case to
me. 1t was evident that the free lance
was to the last moment in hopes that
the king would yield to Biron's inter
cessiou on his behalf. When that was
refused he may have had some idea of
gaining his end by force, but was com
PEELED to hurry his coup by the knowl-
cdge that he had obtained from his
confederate or spy, Ravaillac.
IL had worked out we'll enough for
him. My disappearance, my dead horse
poor Couronne!-all these would
point to me as the author of the abduc-
ton, 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 | saw that for his own
sake dc Gomeron would take care that
her life was safe, at any rate for the
present, and whilst there was this con
tingency th,re was hope for her, If
none for me, as | felt sIre that what
with the king and madamc's relatives
of the Trcmouillc on one hand, and
Sully and de Bolin 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 ] slept l know not; but
woke stinging with pain, and found this
was due to my being bound as | was
and in little the agony became al
most insupportable, and | was on the
verge of going into n delirium, only
righting my failing senses by mighty
effort of will.
/ had lost all count of the time, but
guessed Il was advanced in the day 10y
this; and my eyes had become SO nc
customed to the darkness that could
manage TO see the faint outlines OF the
cell in which ! was imprisoned.
tried TO make out its extent with an idle
anduseless curiosity, and then, giving L
up, and utterly hopeless, leaned my
head on my upraised knees, and sat thus
waiting for the end,
lorgcd for death 10 come now--i
would be a happy release from my pain
Suddenly there came grating nois'
as the bolts outside were moved. Ther
the door of the cell swung open with /
groaning, and there was a binding
fash of light that, for the time being
deprived me of the powers of sight
though. with natural instinct, l shu
my eyes 10 the fash as il came.
Then heard de Gomeron's voice say
ing; Remove the gag-I have some
! thing 20 ask monsieur"
As ! felt two cold, hard hands fun
bling with the knots OF the gag, man
aged TO open my eyes, though the ligh
still pained me, and saw the tall hgur