The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1899-05-11
CHAPTER XV.-CoNTINUED.

ne hOOI SNullS OubNhlui 81
had to do was to fold my prisoners arm
from the elbow along it's face as l
pushed it open. 1t kept her perfectly
secure and enabled me to take precau-
ton that, it turned out, was needed;
for, as / pushed the door, | drove the
death hunter back with il, and the mo-
ment it was sufficiently open to let me
pass l sprang out and seized her left
arm. Quick as | was, however, | was
not quite quick enough to avoid the
blow of her dagger, and received flesh
wound, which, however, was, after all,
but slight. Then there was another
struggle, and affairs were adjusted be-
tween Babette and myself without any
special harm being done to her.
''Now listen to me-" / said. "What-
ever happens, / will kill you first if
there is any treachery. Take me
straight to madame"
"Shc is not here" was the sullen re-
ply.
Then I take you with me to the
Hotel de Vile. Come to your senses
She broke into the most terrible inn
bAi lllHN W do liNNiouSs bhH
l guenched this readily enough, and at
last it was clear she was utterly cowed.
Again l repeat that no harm was done,
and it was only dire necessity that COM
PEELED me to use the violence did.
"Come"-and shook her up-"where
is madame?"
She looked from right to left with a
quick, uneasy motion of her eyes. 81
do not know-she is not here"
"Look here!" and gave my prisoner
shake. 81 fully believe that madame
is here, and if you wish to save yourself
from the rack--it hurts more than what
| have done to you-you will see that no
harm comes TO her. You follow"
She was speechless; but her eyes were
blazing with wrath as she made sui
len movement of ber head.
you had better tell NJ. de Gomeron,
your master, that | refuse his terms. 1t
will save him the trouble of knowing
that l have escaped - you under
stand"
This time she nodded eagerly
enough.
"Now," 1 went on, 1--WE will open the
last door"
| took the bunch of keys, and after a
try or two succeeded in hitting on the
right one. After this pushed Babette
before me into the small tagged yard,
and saw to my surprise that it was
night, and that the moon was out.
Then | gave the fact no further thought
beyond an inward THANK God!" for
the uncertain moonlight that would
cover my escape. AS pushed my cap
tive along the shadow of the wall until
we came to the entrance gate, looked
around and above me carefully, but
there was nothing to indicate where
madame was. A hundred times was |
tempted to turn back and risk all in
searching the house for her, and il was
only because | was convinced that the
sole chance of saving her was to be free
first myself that l did not give in to my
desire. On reaching the gate i dis
covered that there was wicket in il
large enough to squeeze a mans body
through, and that this was closed but
by heavy pair of iron cross-bars, a
secure enough defense from the outside.
Holding Babette at arms length from
me, put down the bar and opened the
wicket. Then, still keeping my hold on
her, / freed her hands, and, bending
slightly forwards and looking her
straight in the face. said: Remember.
And adieu, Nine. de-Mauginot."
At these words, which brought back
10 her memory her crime on the battle
ield of La Fere, she shrank back, her
eyes seemed TO sink into their sockets,
and as l loosed my hold of her shoul-
Ter she fell in a huddled heap on the
sags Of the yard,