The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1902-09-05


He knew now that the sensation he
experienced at sight of the English
boat had some foundation; and he was
far from being a superstitious man.
He did not intend to give up with
out one more desperate struggle; |
they had torn half of his coat from his |
back, and might as well finish the job.
At the same time he was fully |
aware how hopelessly such battle
must be, with such tremendous odds
against him.
The descent of the steep path had
been accomplished in safety, and now
they stood where the little wavelets
washed up on the pebbly strand; in
the daytime it was a beautiful spot,
and even in the starlight, with numer-
GUS boats drawn upon the beach, 1t
presented an attractive appearance.
This was where Jones had mar
shaled his forces and lay in wait like
L huge spider, ready TO pounce upon
his foe.
ger was when voice called out sud
denly in French:
MAKE ready"
The awful clicking, as Of many ham,
mers belonging to firearms being
drawn back, sounded from the dark
ness around, from behind adjacent
boats and bathing houses.
1t was so terribly significant that
the whole of the little company came
| to a sudden halt, and their blood
seemed to run cold.
Take aim!" came a second method
ical order.
Good heavens! were they to be
moved down like cattle in the sham
bles, without the chance brave men
demand of at least seeing their foes?
Count Leon, desperate fighter that
he was, could not stand this.
| Perhaps the spark of chivalry with
in his nature arose in rebellion at the
idea of one so innocent and fair as
Constance being made victim to
tragedy; and yet this same man was
in the act of carrying her off to be-
come his unwilling bride. The mo-
tives Of Frenchmen are and always
will be pretty much Of a mystery to
Anglo-Saxon intellects.
At any rate, he had the good sense
to avert what threatened to be n
tragedy by exclaiming:
Hold! do not fire! We have a
lady here!"
do you surrender, them" de-
manded the voice.
"On what terms?"
THAT you give up those you hold. y
The count now knew with whom he
had to deal.
There was a mighty struggle In
his mind, but he realized the game
was lost, and nothing could be gained
by desperate battle, since the hour
for the Orleans prince had not yet
come.
81 agree to the terms, monsieur
providing not one of us is detained,
he answered. steadily.
Then it is settled Release your
prisoners and dispense before We
change our minds"
"Ah! Monsieur Jones, hope we
may meet again." he SAID moodily
thinking what pleasure 1t would be
should he run across the wonderful
Yankee somewhere in the Soudan.
"And do not forget Stromboloff
monsieur, for he has sworn to be the
death of you one of these fine days,
called out the raging Cossack, who
but for Villebois' restraint would
have run madly in the direction 81
, the hated voice and taken his
chances.
eau revoir, gentlemen; call on me
when you please, and you will FIND
out how we do certain things over
J in dear old America. You will fine
! me in gay Paree. Come, now. YOU
, room is better than your company
so kindly make your exit"
/ Jones advice was worth following
J several of them entered a boat AM
/ put out over the starry waters fol
: Sir Lionel's yacht, while the resi-
, scattered about the grounds under thC
belief that their identity was I'm
, known.
So that glorious scheme of the
, Orleanists fell through, and carried
with its ruins the wreck of Coun
Icons private enterprise.
1t was a case of too much Jones.
OF course, Constance had flown t;
; her lover, anxious to condole will
him concerning his wounds, and tx
) assure him Of her sympathy.
! Then Jones and his army ap
peared, mastering only five souls il
} all; but even five men may, wher
t they so desire, make an imposing dis
! play of sound by repeatedly drawins
} back the clicking hammers of theil
} weapons.
Of course, Merrick was greatly
/ amazed when later on he learned
! what a double role Jones had beer
! playing; but as happiness had beef
. granted to him, such outside events
only created a momentary ripple IL
l the steady current of his life.
. A strange thing had happened
: however, the magic cryptogram, tht
: wonderful paper bearing the intricate