Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1903-08-20


look around. lie could not do this.
so he felt.
His fingers came iii contact With thu
sharp edges of broken glass.
At that moment he heard n voice
above his head.
Courses Oh the hound..' the voice
was saying. Where could he have
gone? He has wounded Nandal and
killed Blouet Get Il lantern. some
body. Don't let him get away"
This remark stirred the blood in
Euckfor(l. 1t brought to his mind the
fact that that was Just what he want
ed to do-to get away before they dis
covered him.
He rose to his feet and stretched his
arms above his head. After walking
a short distance he felt beams and
Orders.
"Hello.' lie said to himself. II must
have fallen somehow into 4 cellar"
Then he saw the CLEAN of lantern
shining from door in wall some dis
lance above.
"Ah, ha! They have explained the
thing to me now," he said, with a
chuckle. Mighty lucky accident for
me-"
"Come. now, Pierre" came the voice
from the door. "You take the lantern
and lead party through the cellars.
will lead another to the right, around
the square, Reber. here, will lead an
other to the left. We will meet on the
street in the rear. He cannot get
away"
Buckford did not wait to hear any
more. he gathered from what had
been said that the cellar he was in
communicated with the street in the
rear. Taking his direction from the
door, where the light could still be
seen, he started as briskly as possible
toward the rear.
He clambered over debris of all
kinds. Cellar walls had been partially
destroyed, and loose stones lay all
about. Old foundations and party walls
were wiped out, yet enough old or new
walls were standing to enable him to
constantly keep screen between him.
self and the lantern. This had now
been lowered into the cell. He heard
voices behind him.
The searching party, however, made
slower progress than he did, notwith-
standing they had a lantern. They
were spreading out and searching ev-
cry nook and Granny Of the cellars as
they went. He, on the other hand. was
making all speed straight ahead.
He soon found himself in a part
where there was less debris and ruin
and more of the newly built walls. 1t
was the cellar under the building on
the rear street.
He saw q red lantern hanging on u
pole outside to warn drivers of the
trench before the house. He made for
this.
Sitting on a pile Of lumber outside
was man wearing a leather jacket
and SLOUGH hat. He carried stout
club in his hand. 1t was the watch
man.
The Waterman. seeing Buckford
emerging from tho cellar he was sup
posed to be guardian over, rushed to
him.
"Well, well. Who are you? What
do you want?"
Hush, my friend" whispered Buck
ford quickly. II am pursued by enc.
mics. Is there police officer near?"
mo; they passed ten minutes ago."
II must escape. Can you not help
oe?"
Help! Ne help? What can l do?"
At that moment there was a shout
up the street. and Buckford saw Ian
terms. The party under Reber or the
other had turned the corner.
100 late" groaned Buckford. "Stay!
| There is one chance. Here is franc
piece. Lend me your hat, Jacket and
club. will watch your buildings
while you 60 drink my health"
lie Diable! I may get into trouble.
But franc plec"! Here! Give it to
me! Quick! Get into the jacket! The
hat. Pull it down over your eyes,
Speak as little as possible Ahr'
A stolid Waterman sat on the lunl-
! Der pile and bareleaded Frenchman
was starting off to drink on the 5
franc piece.
"Ho! My keysw he exclaimed. 81
must take my keys"
Leave them; they will be safe. If
any one suspects, the keys will prove
that am the Waterman"
Good. But do not use the large
brass one. 1t is to the floor in the end
building. There NJ. de Bullion has his
Office. He is there now. He must not
know"
Il will not disturb him. Now CO.,
The Waterman went numbering off.
none too soon. The searching party
in the cellar came out on to the street
and met the other that had gone half
way round the square. A short dis
lance away the third party was seen
approaching
"Here, NJ. lie Never Sleep" said one
leader. "Have you seen man come
out of these cellars?"
Mon Dieu! I just saw a score" re-
piled Buckford, almost in tremor lest
his French should not be such as to
pass muster. But the man hunters
were too excited to notice just then a
little thing like the accent of watch
T.