Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-03-29
CHAPTER XI-CoNTINUED.

CHAPTER XI-CoNTINUED.
"Come. let US CO." said Lagors. who
retained his equanimity.
And be dragged Clameran away. sup,
porting him. for he staggered like a
drunken man and clung to the walls to
prevent falling.
"Oh, boz exclaimed the clown.
He himself was almost as much as
tonished as the forgemaster and stood
stock still. watching the latter as he
slowly left the room. 1t was with no
decided object in view that he had
ventured to use the last mysteriously
threatening words, but he had been In
spired to do so by his wonderful In
stinct, which with him was like the
scent of bloodhound.
"What can this meanY' he muttered.
"Why was be 80 frightened? What
terrible memory have I awakened? l
need not boast Of my penetration or
the subtlety of my plans There is a
great master. who without any effort
in an instant destroys all my chimeras.
He Is called chance"
His mind bad wandered far from the
present scene when some one touched
him on the shoulder. recalling him. 1t
was the man in the Venetian cloak.
Are you satisfied. NJ. Verduret% he
inquired.
"Yes and no. monsieur the count
no, because have not completely
achieved the object had In view
when ! asked you to be admitted here
tonight; yes. because these two rascals
behaved In a manner which dispels all
doubt"
"And yet you complain
II do not complain. monsieur the
count On the contrary. bless chance.
or. rather. Providence. which has just
revealed to me the existence Of Sc
cret that ! did not before even sus-
pect"
Five or six guests approached the
count. Interrupting the speakers. He
went of with them after giving the
clown q friendly nod. The latter In.
stantly threw aside bis banner and
started through the crowd In pursuit
OF Mme.-Eaursl. She had left the gal
lery. He found her sitting on a sofa
in the large salon. engaged in an AMI
mated conversation with Madeleine.
"Of course" muttered the clown,
they are talking over the scene. But
what has become Of Lagors and De
ClameranT
He soon saw them wandering among
the groups scattered about the room
and eagerl.. asking questions.
"These honorable gentlemen are try
ing to find out who | am. Keep it up.
my friends. Ask everybody"
They soon gave 1t up. but were 30
preoccupied and anxious to be alone In
order to reflect and deliberate that.
without waiting for supper, they took
leave of Nine. Fauvel and her niece.
saying they were going. The clown
saw them 60 up to the dressing room,
take their cloaks, descend the grand
staircase and depart
II have nothing more to do here" he
said.
And, completely covering his dress
with q domino, he started for home.
He lit cigar and, walking up st. La
zare street, crossed the Notre Dame de
Loretto and made for the Faubourg
Montmartre. Suddenly as he entered
Olivier street man emerged from d
place Of concealment and rushed upon
him with raised arm. Fortunately the
clown had a catlike instinct. which en-
abled him to protect himself against
immediate danger and keep sharp
watch about him. He had seen, or.
rather, OWNED, the man crouching In
the dark shadow Of q house and had
put himself on guard. spreading out
his arms. This movement certainly
saved his life. Anger more than pain
made him cry out:
"Ah. you villain"
Seeing his blow miss, the assassin
did not return to the attack, but made
rapidly Off and disappeared in the
Faubourg Montmartre.
"That was certainly Lagors." said the
clown, "and Clameran must be some
where near"
He began to suffer from his wound.
He stood under gas lamp to examine
it. 1t did not appear to be dangerous,
but the arm was cut through to the
bone. He took his handkerchief from
his pocket and tore 1t into four bands
and tiec his arm up with the dexterity
Of a surgeon.
81 must be on the track Of some
great crime, since these villains are re-
solved upon murder. When such men
are only in danger Of the police court
they do not gratuitously risk the
chance Of being tried for murder"
He could not stay where he was.
BY enduring a great deal Of pain he
might still use his arm. so he started
after his enemy. taking care to keep
in the middle Of the road and avoid all
dark corners. Although he saw no
one, he was convinced that he was be-
ing followed When he reached the
Boulevard Montmartre. he crossed 1t
and as he did so distinguished two
shadows which he recognized. They
crossed the same street when he cross
ed, little higher up.
II have to deal with desperate men, u
he muttered. "They do not even take
the pains to conceal their pursuit OF
me-"
He continued his way up the boule-
ward and. without turning his head