The St. Louis Republic., 1901-11-17

| 'Ae HSs-itH OF our recent OcGupd
tion. Here sylvesire said he would remain
and guard the entrance to the little stair
case while went up and sought the treas
ure.
No. Sylvestre," 1 said. remembering my
aunts words about the door, you mus
come with me. for l shall want youi
strength and skill. Do you think you car
force a locked door?''
II Will try. Mademoiselle," said Sylves-
tire. and he ascended the stair behind me.
But l did not need his strength. for. en-
terinS my aunt's room, not only was the
tapestry torn from the wall. but the little
door was forced already. and the stairway
revealed hurried up to the room she
had described. fearing perhaps that. too
had been entirely ransacl1ed; but. to my re-
lief, the paneling seemed unbroken.
sought for the spring in the corner OF the
one by the fireplace. 1t was some time ere
/ could find It; but at last. quite suddenly.
the panel sprang open and the secret cup
board was revealed. But as it did we
heard the door OF my aunt's room shut
, sharply.
| What IS that" said, tust as was put
ting my hand into it to grasp the little box
which 1 saw dimly in the darkness of the
| recess.
| Sylvestre did not wait to answer. He had
| followed me up the little winding stair. but
he was down It again in an instant. l
] heard some heavy blows, but after few
moments he returned. his face flushed with
| anger.
"Mademoiselle.'' he said, I'VE are be-
\ trayed We have been watched. Some one
has followed US and they have locked the
i door of the lower room Locked and bolted
it, and II is so firm and strong have not
SO far been able to break 1t open. / came
back TO see If there is any other way from
this room to ,he lower part of the house"
looked round the little chamber, but II
was in the upper story of one Of the Tour
elles. I felt sure there was no other door
or passage than that by which we had as
cended.
"Who can have done ths?' I said. Yet
as l spoke I knew. Fargeau must have
watched us, followed us. entrapped us, even
as he had entrapped Pierre. No one else
would have cared or been In any way de-
sirous of doing us harm.
Sylvestre muttered something under his
teeth. Then he went TO the window and
looked out. 1t opened on to the slope of
the roof, which was slippery with ice and
snow. Just beyond was the second tourelle
on that side the chateau. This was partly
burnt and roofess.
''Mademoiselle," said he abruptly. SIS
there a staircase there. and where does 1t
lead?'
i had TO think a minute ere could quite
remember. YES" 1 cried at last. "of
course there is. 1t goes down into the
servants apartments. beyond the great
hall"
He did not wait for further words. He
opened the easement and swung out on the
roof. along which he crept, catlike to the
next tourelle.
1 watched him. with my heart In my
mouth. A slip and he would be killed. for
1 knew a sheer wall. eighty feet high. lay
below the caves of the roof.
But he reached the tourelle and then he
disappeared. 1t was bitterly cold. drew
my cloak round me and paced up and down.
Then suddenly a sharp sound rang through
The building. 1t was a pistol shot, and a
moment after heard the door below open
and SyIvestre calling to me to come quick.
quick was there in an instant. and. beck
oning me to follow. he ran down the wind
ing stair and into the great hail. With a
and hurried me on down the corridor and
out into the open air.
What was it? Who was it," cried as
soon as / could summon breath to speak. |
Did you fire. sylvestre?''
IT. Mademoiselle! No. 1t was-I know not
who. l saw no one. but some one saw me.
and aimed well. The hall struck the wall
an inch above my head But have you
found what you sought?"
Yes, have it safe And now let us hur |
ry on. Oh. am thankful there will be no |
need TO go to the chateau again.
II and mine. we will go there again."
growled Sylvestre. clinching his fists as he |
spoke. I'VE will find out who this demon |
is that haunts It and plays tricks like this. |
He had better look to himself. 'Tis lucky |
he had not a second pistol. That is why I |
hurried that he should not have time to re- |
load. But hasSn. Mademoiselle; He may |
be ready by now"
Monsieur Fargeau will not hurt US here"
said. turning away from the survey. Il
think we are safe now"
Monsieur Fargeaur' calculated Sylves-
tre "You co not mean the old chemist. |
Mademoiselle?"
mo no, it is his son." and then some |
thing impelled me to tell Sylvestre what I |
had not done before. How Fargeau had be-
trayed us in Paris, and how we believed II
was he who had laid the trap for Pierre.
He listened attentively. "Bien." he said. |
when 1 concluded. "Bien. 1 am glad you |
have told me. Now I shall be upon my |
guard. 1t is well to know ones enemies.
had no love for Monsieur Francois before.
and now"
but 1 do not see what was his motive
for bolting us into the turrct chamber"
said slowly.
Sylvestre shrugged his shoulders. 81 can
imagine. Mademoiselle." he said shortly.
I did not tell Pierre of what had hap
pened. I knew Il would only distress and
excite him painfully. But. once shut care
fully into our own room, 1 produced the
box and gave IT to my aunt.
But, like much else. the key was lost. and
we had to borrow a strong knife from Mar
guerite, with which we forced 1T open. At
the top lay a folded parchment, very, very
old and yellow, which my aunt showed US
with mingling OF pride and regret which
was strangely touching. 1t was the orig
inal gift of Land Seigneurie to his good
Knight, Sire Alain de Haut Doublet. from
Charles ". Roi de France. 1t was dated
the Feast of ST. Jean, 1873.
Under the yellow parchment lay the jew
els. a necklace of diamonds and sapphires