The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-11-05
CHAPTER XII.

uOuIo dlNCl lhC dAoaPRNaA0 0ANN
Rose. He said his name was Raimonde,
and that he had been sent by person
who was friend both to himself and to
the missing girl
The note required Louis to trust him
self absolutely in the hands Of the mes
seDger. For a time he hesitated Then
his anxiety led him to obey. He even
consented to be blindfolded, as the letter
had enjoined.
Under circumstances of a less urgent
and exciting nature, Louis might have
paused to question the wisdom of his
course In wholly and unreservedly en-
trusting himself to the hands Of an ut
ter stranger. Together they continued
their route. Raimonde paused, saying:
"Will monsieur stand here an instant!
] must move a step forward, and mon
sieur must be very careful not to re-
move the handkerchief just yet"
He released his hand and left him.
Louis, standing still, heard hash, graf
ing sound at a little distance before him,
and sound as Of some person liftinss
heavy body.
Come, monsieur" said the voice OF
Raimonde; take one step forward and
here Is my hand. am below you now.
You must stoop. Put your hand on my
shoulder-thus. Now, you know that you
stand on a rock, from which have
jumped. You must follow me-so; that Is
It, Here we areW
The grating noise was heard again.
Then Louis was conducted over what
seemed to be a smooth and level path
Of stone. He had been admitted BY
Raimonde through the rear entrance Of
the cavern, and was passing now through
the long subterrancan gallery in the rock.
At length they paused again. noise
of bolts and bars withdrawn, and door
unclosed, through which Louis was led.
Then the handkerchief was united, the
door closed behind him, and taking of
the bandage from his eyes, Louis found
himself In the cell Of Jacques.
"Monsieur" uttered Jacques, spring
ing forward, 80 you are disguised, Ell?
did not know you at first"
"You here, my good friend3" uttered
Louis, In astonlshment, looking about
him. What place Is thisT
"-sh! not too loud, monsieur, II you
please. told you was a prisoner-did
/ notW
Yes; but such prison as this! And
Rose-tell me where she is."
"She is here also, monsieur-in a cell
like this and close by It,"
Jacques! SO near me-and in danger2
Let me go instantly and deliver her"
He was at the door, but Jacques
sprang to his side.
'For PHYS sake, monsieur, be careful,
or you will spoil all Come here, en-
treat you, and listen to me. Rose is safe
at present, and II you are calm enough to
hear what l wish to say, and to act with
me, we may rescue her in ten minutes,
whereas such lmpetuous haste as yours
would ruin the scheme"
1t was plain enough. The count suf-
fered himself to be led to a seat at the
opposite side Of the cell, and listen to
the explanation Of his companion, while
burning with eagerness to hasten to the
rescue of Rose. Jacques made brief
work Of 1t. He began by relating the
story Of the abduction of Rose, and the
plot that led to it. Louis was angered
and indignant beyond measure, as he list
ened to the account Of Gasparde's vii
lainy.
"Who is he-what is he, this wretch,
GaspardeP he uttered, hotly.
"The chief of a horde OF brigands and
contrabandists, monsieur"
dTa u nnscihiaf-op vaf vrhy nnk9 nnn
cannot be surprised at hearing It Of one
SO base as he. And Rose Is in his pow.
erY
mot exactly, monsieur. He brought
her hither, as | have told you, to this
place, which is a cavern In the center
of the forest, and after placing her in
the cell Of which | have spoken, went
away with the men upon an expedition
from which they win not probably return
until midnight or tomorrow morning
When he comes back, he will either ex.
tort from her a promise to marry him, OIL
keep her confined in that cell, until she
pines to DEATH for he is just so mercl
less. He never has forgotten the treat.
ment he once received al. your hands, mol
LhH IHItdlh anu lNuuhto VI LII
monte; and he has been watching ever
since for an opportunity of revenge. II
Is ours to deprive him Of that revenge"
"Your plan-your plan, JacQuesw
1.-THE man who accompanied you hithel
Is the guard left by Gasparde He has
procured for me an interview with you,
but he never suspects that 1t is for the
purpose of liberating Rose and myself
for were we to escape, he knows that the
vengeance Of the leader would fall on
him. Now, we must either manage ia
gain his silence by force or by a bribe.
II we bind him, and leave him here when
we leave the place, why, Gasparde will
shoot him when he comes back; but II a
sum Of money were offered him, | have
m idea that he would not only suffer
his prisoners to escape, but also take
leave himself, since he has grown weary
OF the captains tyranny"
'The bribe, then-the bribe, by ali
meansw said Louis, earnestly. II hap.
pen to have a considerable sum with me;
but We must be cautious"
"Yes-yes! we must be cautious, as you
say; and In case he should refuse the
money we must be prepared to spring
upon him. A cord for his hands and
feet and a gsg-that will do the business
Now, then, for the work. l will call him
In. Be prepared" And he called RAJ.
monde"
The guard appeared. Jacques glanced
towards the count, and then said:
"Comrade, you don't forget, suppose
the conversation which we had at dinner
the agreement which we made about
bidding adleu to monsieur le capitaine p
The glitter OF gold caught Rsimonde's
eye, from a heavy purse which the count
held carelessly In his hand. His avariee
was aroused.
II remember 1t very well. Jacques" be
answered.
The count stepped forward.
Ny friend, suppose you were to shut
your eyes for the space Of half an hour
and unclose them at the end Of that time
TO find yourself richer by a thousand
francs, or two or three times that sum
perhapsT
1T would be a very pleasant thing