Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-11-25
CHAPTER xv.-(Continued.)


Prosper.
M. Verduret, quickly placing himself a
yard off from the house. and seizing the
ladder cautiously, raised it, and rested
the bottom round OH his shoulders, at the
same time holding the two uprights firm
ly and steadily with his hands. The OBJ
stacle was overcome.
Prosper made sudden spring, and
seizing the lower rounds, quickly climbed
up the ladder, which swayed and trem-
bled beneath his weight. But he had
scarcely looked in the lighted window
when he uttered cry whichSwas drown
ed in the roaring tempest, and dropped
like log down on the wet grass.
With wonderful promptness and vigor
M. Verduret laid the ladder on the
ground, and ran toward Prosper, fearing
he was dead or dangerously injured.
"What did you see? Are you hurt?"
he whispered.
But Prosper had already risen. Al
though he had had violent fall, he was
unhurt; he was In a state when iuind
governs matter, SO absolutely that the
body is insensible to pain.
Il saw" ne answered, ia a hoalse
voice, II saw Madeleine-do you under
stand, Madeleine-in that room"
M. Verduret was confounded. Was
1t possible that he, the infall;blc expert,
had been mistaken in his deductions? He
well knew that M. de Lagors' visitor was
woman, but his own conjectures and
the note which Nine. Gypsy had sent to
him at the tavern, had fully assured him
that this woman was Nine. Fauvel.
You must be mistaken" he said to
Prosper. "But even so, how do we
know that Madeleine is here on her own
account? Did we not come to the con-
clusion that she was sacrificing herself
for the benefit Of some one else? That
superior will which compelled her to ban
ish you may have constrained this step
tonight"
"That might be the case" Prosper
murmured, "who knows?"
IL would soon know" said NJ. Verdu-
ret "if could see them together in that
room.'
With a strength of which few min
utes before he would not have believed
himself possessed, Prosper raised the
ladder, and placed the last round OIL his
shoulder. M. Verduret rapidly ascended
the ladder without even shaking, and had
his head on level with the window.
There was Madeleine. M. Verduret
observed that she still wore her shawl
and bonnet. She was standing in the
middle Of the room, talking with great
animation. Her look and gestures be-
trayed indignant scorn. There was an
expression of undisguised loathing upon
her beautiful face.
Madeleine continued talking, and it
was by closely watching the face of
Lagors, clearly revealed by the lamp
on the mantel. that M. Verduret hoped
to discover the meaning of the scene be-
fore him. At one moment Lagors would
start and tremble in spite of his appar-
ent Indifference; the next, he would strike
at the fire with the tongs, as IL giving
vent to his rage at some reproach uttered
by Madeleine.
Finally Madeleine changed her threats
Into cntrcaties, and, -clasping her hands,
almost fell at his knees. He turned away
his head. and refused to answer save in.
monosyllables. Several times she turned
to leave the room. but each time return
ed as IL asking favor, and unable to
make up her mind to leave the house till
she had obtained 1t. At last she seemed
to have uttered something decisive, for
Raorl quickly rose and opened desk
near the fireplace. from which he took a
bundle of papers and handed them to
her
Madeleine took the papers, but was ap-
parently dissatisfied. She again entreat.
ed him to give her something else. Kuoul
refused, and then she threw the papers
on the table. The papers seemed to puz-
zle M. Verduret very much. as he galed
at them through the window.
81 am not blind" he said. "and certain
ly am not mistaken; those papers, red
green and yellow. are pawn ticket dupli-
Gates"
Madeleine turned over the papers, as II
looking for some particular ones. She Sc
lected three. which she put in her pocket
pushing the others aside
She was evidently preparing to take her
departure, for she said few words to
Raoul, who took up the lamp as IL to es-
cort her downstairs. There was nothing
more for M. verduret to see He care
fully descended the ladder. muttering to
himself:
"Pawn certiHcatesl What Infamous
mystery lies at the bottom OF all this p
M. verduret aud Prosper hastily laid
the ladder on the ground. regardless OF
the shrubs and vines they destroyed In
doing 30, and then concealed themselves
among the trees, whence they could
watch at once the front door and the
outer gate.
Madeleine and Raoul appeared In the
doorway. Raoul set the lamp on the
bottom stop. and offered his hand to the
girl; but she refused II with naughty
contempt. which somewhat soothed rros-
per's lacerated heart. He followed her
to the gate. which he opened and closed
after her; then he hurried back TO the
house. while Msdeleine's carriage drove
rapidly away.
snow. monsieur" said Prosper. "you