Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-11-10
CHAPTER XI.

A stranger brought note for Louis
some hours after the disappearance of
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
senger. For 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 unreseryedly 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 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 little distance before him,
and sound as Of some person lifting a
heavy body.
Come, monsieur" said the voice Of
Raimonde; take one step forward and
here is my hand. 1 am below you now.
You must stoop. Put your hand on my
shoulder-thus. Now, you know that you
stand on rock, from which I 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 subterranean gallery in the rock.
At length they paused again; noise
of bolts and bars withdrawn, and a door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.
Z Monsieur uttered Jacques, spring
ing forward, $50 you are disguised. Ell?
did not know you at first"
you here, my good friend?" uttered
Louis, in astonishment, looking about
him. What place is this?"
'-sh! not too loud, monsieur, il you
please. told you was prisoner-did
I not?
Yes; but such a prison as this! And
Rose-tell me where she isl
She is here also, monsieur-in a cell
like this, and close by it,
Jacques! SO near me-and in danger ?
Let me go instantly and deliver herr
He was at the door, but Jacques
sprang to his side.
For PHYS sake, monsieur, be careful,
or you will spoil all! Come here, I en-
treat you, and listen to me. Rose is safe
at present, and if you are calm enough to
hear what wish to say, and to act with
me, we may rescue her in ten minutes,
whereas such impetuous haste as yours
would ruin the scheme. ''%s
It was plain enough. The count suf-
fered himself to be led to 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 it. 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
iainy.
''Who is he-what is he, this wretch,
Gasparde?" he uttered, hotly.
'"The chief of a horde of brigands and
contrabandists, monsieur
rs it possible!-and yet, why moi? !? One
cannot be surprised at hearing it of one
so base as he. And Rose is in his pow
er?" %s
Not exactly, monsieur. He brought
her hither, as l. 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 will not probably return
until midnight or tomorrow morning.
When he comes back, he will either ex-
tort from her promise to marry him, or
keep her confined in that cell, until she
pines to death; for he is just so merci-
less. He never has forgotten the treat
ment he once received at your hands, nor
the threats and rebukes of Hugh La
monte; and he has been watching ever
since for an opportunity Of revenge 1t
is ours to deprive him of that revenge
''Your plan-yoi1r plan, jacques"
''The man who accompanied you hither
is; the guard left by Gasparde. He has
procured for me an interview with you;
but he never suspects that it is for the
purpose Of iberating 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 to
gain his silence by force or by bribe.
If we bind him, and leave him here when
we leave the. place, why, 'Gasparde viii
shoot him when he comes back; but il a
sum of money were offered him, / have
an 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 all
means said Louis, earnestly. "I 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 gagZthat will do the business.
Now, them: for the work. / will call him
in. BE prepared" And he called "Rai-
monden'
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 adieu to monsieur lie capitaine g'
The glitter Of gold caught Raimonde's s