The Holly chieftain., 1902-05-23

same white exp6qSe, without any ap-
parent means OF making an exit.
When Rhinelander made this rc.
markable discovery he realized that he
had been caught mapping and was In a
trap.
However. Paul was too cool a Gus
toner to grow wild and rush hither
and thither, like chicken when the
shadow OF lowering hawk strikes
terror to It's quaking heart.
He cast sweeping glance around
him. while the woman held her breath,
expecting an outburst.
well. now that's very odd," he re-
marked, just vexed triae apparently.
What has happened?' she asked.
"The door has disappeared"
Indeed, SO 1t has!"
He threw himself into chair.
Her eyes glistened at this sign of
his careless Indifference.
Then you are not going yet, Paul?"
she asked.
He looked at her steadily.
well, no; not just yet. My mind
has changed, and there is not as much
need of harte as supposed
mon Dieu! excellent, superb! You
are what should call philosopher,
Paul"
How she loved to linger caressins-
ly on his name!
Now said Paul, "let's talk about
this matter calmly. grant that you
have brought me here in a manner
that does you credit. and seem to be
in something of hole. Perhaps we
can arrange 1t all in some sort of COM
promise"
Womanlike, the countess took this
as sign of weakness and became
more positive In her demands.
"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 I crave"
He sat In silence for several min
utes, knowing that he was inilicting
torture upon her with each passing
second OF time.
"well, have you decided, monsieurf''
Yes"
eagerly.
81 must respectfully decline Tia
proposition"
She bit her lips-hope had made her
heart throb like q triphammer. hut
now 1t seemed to hang almost dead
and hfeless within her.
"You know the consequences?
"Not wholly, but I am prepared to
meet them az they come"
II am surprised"
you expected me to be overwhelm.
ed. Ny dear countess. 1 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 1t is Roland for an Oliver.
This is not SO very bad, you know, /"
stretching his limbs. and making him
self a little more comfortable, eft It
were not that it comes about against
my will"
Paul. although seeming to take the
affair In careless manner. was cud-
ceiling his brains as to the means that
should be employed to effect his e.
cape.
What would his generous benefactor
think when he failed to show up In
the morning?
2 He groaned In spirit and his feeling
toward the adventures drew rapidly
toward the line where hatred would
suppiant 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 womHn to keep her as hostage.
but his arms only clasped the chair
In which she had been seated, which,
unable to Withstand his sudden A.
gault. fell over to the floor, taking It
along with it.
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 fool Of