The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-04-29

how soon l must look to his speed for
safety. 1t was necessary also that I
should see the two fellows who
watched the Versailles road before
they caught sight of me. Possibly an
artifice might avail me where force
would fail.
Presently from Il slight enlinence the
broad highway could be seen winding
out of Paris, glistcning in the starlight,
Tor II was now after dusk. twisting in
dusty undulations toward the distant
palace of the king. l drew rein among
some trees which served for shelter,
II scanned the 4 TO see if the
watchers We're in sight. The lane, be-
fore it entered the Versailles road.
~branched out into two portions, one
bearing away toWard Paris, while the
other traNersed a piece OF low ground
that struck the main road several hun
dred yards in the other direction.
Within the irregular Triangle thus
formed the two grooms had thrown
themselves upon the ground, being dis
tinct!y visible in q little clearing.
The position commanded quite a
considerable stretch of road toward the
city, and as by going that way it would
take n good hour and Il half of hard
riding TO get so far. ii was certai" they
did not expect me to pass for some
time. That cutoff through the lane
J. 1lluSl nave DC6n Ten miles the SlCrtel'
journey.
This reflection gave me some hope
that | might be able TO slip by in u
gallon before they could take horse.
Yet could not afford TO waste much
time. for jerome might p~errhance find
means to follow, and would not be in
a pleasant humor. There could be no
accounting for the lengths to which his
desperation and folly might carry him.
/ 7 had nnnl fny br,J, l-.t, ,,,J .,,, - 80,
l was now at the top of a slight hill
lock, The groomS resting at the foot.
As i'll fortune would have it, my horses
hoof looSened Il stone, and one of them
looking up recognized my figure clear
drawn against the fading colors of the
sky. They both jumped up With an
alertneSS which Would have done credit
to old w~oodsmen, and before l could
dodge by, had r~cnlounted and takeL
possession Of the road. My more elo-
waited position and perhaps better
hearing, too, enabled me to detect the
coming of persons along the road from
Paris. Certainly as many as three or
four horsemen, perhaps Il vehicle. 1t
could hardly be possible that Jerome
had made the trip SO quickly, yet 1
did not know what other and shorter
way he might find. At any rate ey-
cry instant intensified the danger, for
if it were jerome, then, indeed, l could
not nope TO make Versailles that night.
Listening more critically l decided
they We're travelling too slowly to be
Jerone's party.
| would then most gladly have
charged the insolents in front and talk
en- all chances, but my half hour Of
quiet thought had brought me the con-
cluSion 1t was too much to risk my life,
at least until Serigny was acquainted
with the information we had gained.
|, too, was the only person who knew
of the traitors on board lie Dauphin.
who are you, and what do you
mean stopping a gentlen.an's PATH" l
called to the twain, who had drawn II
little away from the foot of the hill,
seeing the disadvantage of their former
position in case l charged them, and
preferring to receive me on the open
ground.
No harm, monsieur, We only mean
to detain you until NJ. de Greville comes
up" the slender man spoke quite po-
litely.
M de Greville will not come up this
njght-may God have mercy on his
SOUL" l added solemnly.
why not, fine sir?" the gruffer fell
low on the big bay questioned with
some heat. l made no bubble on his
manner, but replied:
Il doubt i have lain him. He lies
back yonder in the road to SceauX, and
1 know not whether he be dead or still
lives"
Continued Next Week.)