The Lamar register., 1902-05-21

this matter calmly. grant that you
have brought me here in q manner
that does you credit. and l seem to be
in something of hole. Perhaps we
can arrange it all in some sort of COM
promise"
Womanlike, the countess took this
as sign of weakness and became
more positive in her demands.
1.-The paper will not be sent upon
only one condition, monsieur"
"Ah! yes. and that?"
You will renounce forever all de-
sire to make this girl. Hildegarde,
your wife. and agree to bestow upon
me the regard | crave"
He sat in silence for several min
utes. knowing that he was infictins
torture upon her with each passing
second of time.
well. have you decided. monsieur?"
yes"
"And the RESULT" bending forward
eagerly.
81 must respectfully decline the
proposition"
She bit her lips-hope had made her
heart throD like triphammer. but
now it seemed to hang almost dead
and lifeless within her
You know the consequences"
Not wholly, but 7 am prepared to
meet them as they come"
81 am surprised"
You expected me to be overwhelm-
ed. My dear countess. have spent
my boyhood on the plains of Texas
among cowboys, who early learn to
depend upon themselves in an emer-
gency. We Americans do not easily
yield"
so perceive. And French
woman is said to be equally stubborn
in her way"
Then it is a Roland for an Oliver.
This is not so very bad. You know.
stretching his limbs, and making him
self a little more comfortable, "if it
were not that it comes about against
my will"
Paul. although seeming to take the
affair in a careless manner, was cud-
ceiling his brains as to the means that
should be employed to effect his es-
cape.
What would his generous benefactor
think when he failed to show up in
the morning?
He groaned in spirit and his feeling
toward the adventures drew rapidly
toward the line where hatred would
supplant Indifference.
Paul had half turned with the in
tention of making vigorous demands
upon his fair jailer, when. without the
least warning. as II in response to
some signal of the countess, the lights
went out.
Instinctively the American sprang out
OF his chair and sought to lay hold of
the woman to keep her as hostage.
but his arms only claspei the chair
in which she had been seated which,
unable to Withstand his sudden as
sault, fell over to the floor, taking 1t
along with 1t.
He heard the swish Of silken gar
ments, following the miserable chair
He was not in any too good humor
after the little episode. since he had
bruised his hand and made a fool OF
himself generally. as he believed.
Standing there in the dark. he lis
tened.
All WdS uultt the houst'
though the noises of the city came in
a faint, confused murmur.
He struck match and by the aid
of the brief illumination he was able
to take cursory view OF his surround
ings.
There must be door somewhere
and his next duty was to find it. but
the search was vain.
AS he was unable to discover the
cleverly hidden door. Rhinelapder
changed his tactics.
Surely there must be some other
means of ventilating the apartment
a window. scuttle or trap door. for
instance-he was in a humor where
the means counted but little in the
race. the end being the main feature
So he began another series of in
vestigations.
ITO he continued)