The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-08
DR.. RADWAY & CO., NEW YORK.

Odou there to deliver to me in the gar
den below the ladies' terrace, and the
short of it is that the letter is gone.
In flash it all came to me, and I
thanked God in my heart that l had
looked at the 'kerchief. The o stood
for Odou, l could swear it. l looked
at the girl. She had ceased weeping
as de Lorgnac spoke, and was looking
at him with a flushed face and dry
eyes. There was not a tear in those
bold black -crbs-I knew the type. She
was Ariesienne, and as looked at the
straight dark brows and full, passion
ate mouth l understood the nature I
had to deal with. All this went
through my brain like lightning as,
turning to her, l said:
will mademoiselle tell me how it
was she lost this letter?''
Sit down. Odoul" said Mary, kind
ly sit down, and tell us all you
know"
This brought on a fresh burst of
sobbing as mademoiselle sank on to
tabouret. and began to rub her eyes
with another little square of embroid-
Sry which appeared uncommonly like
iny find.
"Traitress." 1 muttered under my
breath. but to her, And tell us of the
letter"
i lOot II III lu6 SdIueu, SIle De-
gan, and then, hesitating, went on
with an effort, 1T was near the oak to-
ward the riding school,
d "BOni Now, mademoisellei You will
please accompany Monsieur de- Lorg-
nae and myself, and show us the spot
where you missed the letter-come"
rs this all you can do?" said Mary,
with ring of despair in her voice.
Rest assured, madame" said.
that we will trace your letter-come,
maderhoiselle,'
What good would it do?" she began
pettishly, but I interrupted her. see
ing into her plan to delay matters.
1T is gone compline and time we
were away" and leaning forward, I
whispered. for your own sake--come -
The shot told. She glanced at me
and then turned aside, red to her neck,
and her hands began to tremble. but
she made no further attempt at parley.
and of her own accord now led the
way, Lorgnac following her.
A minute later we were on the ladies'
terrace, and crossing 1t descended the
gallery that led to the garden. 1t was
broad moonlight, so bright and clear
that one might have read a scroll by
it. AS we went on we looked hither
and thither. but saw no trace of the
lost letter. What was passing in the
tirewoman's mind l know not, as for
me, the puzzle was whether mademoi-
selle had the letter or not. If she had
delivered it to the Spaniard the mat
ter was over, whatever revenge we
might afterwards take. but | had my
doubts about this, and If she had 1t
still-there was our chance.
We had little distance to CO. but
at last came close to the dark, solid
outline of the old oak, and Lorgnac
turned to mademoiselle.
1T was here we met, mademoiselle,
and you said you lost the letter"
HUM" l said. "A most curious
loss! And there was a note in my
voice that could not be mistaken.
Yes" she answered hotly; 4 did lose
it. 1t must have dropped somewhere
here" and then, with a sudden gust
of Southern anger, "Messieurs, I like
not your manner of speech, and l know
not why / should be dragged here like
this. The letter is gone, and have lost
1t! l own to it. 1t was an accident 1t
slipped from my pocket and fell here
somewhere, and any breeze might have
blown ii anywhere-and now let me
go. shall stay here no longer"
She stood at bay a splendid creature,
her dark eyes flashing through the
night. The time had come for me to
play my trump card.
'Eh bien Mademoiselle! We do not
seek to detain you. We will do the
search; but let me tell you as a friend
that the moment you go back you will
be arrested"
Arrested" said she and de Lorgnac
in the same breath.
Yes" l went on coolly. Arrested
that is the word. Mademoselle. you
are very unfortunate in losing things.
You recognize this? You lost it to-day.
or this afternoon rather. across the
river"
With this I pulled out the kerchit
and showed 1t to her. Lorgnac was
looking at me in blank amaze; but as
for the girl she made no answer, but
stood there, white as a sheet and /
could hear her breathing thick and
fast.
"Mademoiselle. You have forgotten
how long the arm Of God is. You Were
seen this afternoon at an inn called
the Chapeau Rouge with Chantonnay.
You there made your bargain with him
How he persuaded you to be traitress
what your price was for your shame
I know not. nor care to know But you
made your bargain. and on your way
back you dropped this kerchief"
She began to sob now and cry The
tears were real enough this time. ana
] believe she would have fallen had not
GorRnac supported ner.
de Besme! De Besme!" he said his
tender heart melting. Remember she
IL a woman
yes: and I want her TO remember
II. too. Mademoiselle, you are young
and strong. and beautiful-too beauti-
full for the rack"
20. have pity-have pity" she gasp
ed. and now I changed my note.
"Mademoiselle, you see that little
cloud passing across the moon Before
IL crosses / must have that letter in
my hands. If not. you know what
awaits you"
Lorgnac had stepped aside from her.
and we all stood gazing at each other.
The little cloud had darkened the
moon. so that for a moment could
not see the girls face, half-covered
with one hand. while the other was
clutching at her neck. She was fight
ing with herself: a hundred emotions
were at play within her. But was
sure of my same now, and at last the
end cana.
"Madenoiselle, the cloud has nearly
passed. Give ne the letter and you arc
safe. II not"
With a low cry she thrust her hand
into the bosom OF her dress, and pulling
out the letter, handed Il TO me, with
a whispered Take It," and as my