Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-04-28

how soon l must look to his speed for
safety. 1t was necessary also that l
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 a slight eminence the
broad highway could be seen Winding
out of Paris. glistening in the starlight.
for 1t 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
and scanned the way to see if the
watchers We're in sight, The lane. be-
fore 1T entered the Versailles road.
branched out into two portions. one
bearing away toward Paris while The
other trnversed a piece of low ground
that struck the main road several hun
dred yards in tho other direction.
Within the Irregular Triangle thus
formed the two grooms had thrown
themselves upon the ground, being dis
tinctly visible in little clearing.
The position commanded quite
considerable stretch of road toward the
city, and as by going that way it would
take a good hour and half of hard
riding to get so far. 1t was certai" they
did not expect me to pass for some
time. That cutoff through the lane
journey.
This reflection gave me some hope
that | might be able TO slip by in II
gallop before they could take horse.
Yet l could not afford to waste much
time, for Jerome might perchance 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.
l had need for both haste and caution.
l was now ut the top of Il slight hill
lock, the grooms resting at the foot.
AS ill fortune would have 1T. my hcrse's
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 am
alertness which would have done credit
to old woodsmen. and before l could
dodge by, had remounted and taken
possession of the road. My more ele-
waited position and perhaps better
hearing, too, enabled me to detect the
coming OF persons alcng tho road from
Paris. Certainly as many rs three or
four horSemcn, perhaps Il vehicle III
could hardly be possible that Jerome
had made the trip so quickly. yet /
did not Know what other and shorter
way he might find. AT any rate ev-
cry instant intensified the danger, for
if it were Jerome, then indeed, l could
not nope 10 make NerSallleS that night.
Listening more critically | decided
they We're travelling too slowly TO be
JeromeS party.
l would then most gladly have
charged the insoents i'm front and tax
en- all chances, but my half hour of
quiet thought had brought me the con-
clusion ii WAS too much To risk my life,
at least until Serigny was acquainted
With the information we had gained.
l, too, was the only person who knew
of the traitors on board lie Dauphin.
Who are you, and what do you
mean stopping Il gentleman's path?" l
called to the twain, who had drawn Il
little away from the foot of the hill,
seeing the disadvantage of their former
position in case j charged them, and
preferrng TO receive me on the open
ground.
NO harm. monsieur. we only mean
to detain you until Nj. de C;reville comes
up the slender man spoke quite po-
litely
m. de Greville will not come mp this
night--may God have me:cy on his
soul,' / added solemnly.
why not, fine sir?" the gruffer fell
low on the big bay questioned with
some heat. made no bubble on his
manner, but replied:
II doubt l have slain KIM. He lies
back yonder i'm the road to SceauX, and
/ know not whether he be dead or still
lives.
CONTINUED Next Week)