Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1904-08-05
CHAPTER xv.-(Continued.)

standing against the wall. But to their
ehagrin they found the ladder six feet
TOO short. Six long feet Of wall between
the top Of the ladder and the lighted
window was a very discouraging sight to
Prosper.
NJ. Verduret, quickly placing himself
yard off from the house, and Selling the
ladder cautiously, raised it, and rested
the bottom round OH his shoulders, at the
same time holding the two uprlghts trm-
~ and steadily with his hands. The OBJ
stacle was overcome.
Prosper made a sudden spring, and
Selling the lower rounds, quickly climbed
ND the ladder. which swayed and trem-
Aled beneath his weight But he had
scarcely looked in the lighted window
when he uttered a cry which was drown
ed In the roaring tempest, and dropped
like a log down on the wet grass.
With wonderful promptness and vigor
M. Verduret laid the ladder on the
ground, and ran toward Prosper, fearing
Ae was dead or dangerously injured.
What did you see? Are you hurtF
he whispered
But Prosper had already risen. AL
Enough he had had a violent fall, he was
unhurt; be was in a state when 1nind
governs matter, so absolutely that the
body is insensbIe to pain.
II saw" he answered, in a hoarse
voice, Il saw Madeleine-do you under
stand, Madeleine-in that ROOM
NJ Verduret was confounded. Was
II possible that he, the infallible expert
had been mistaken in his deductions? He
well knew that M. de Layers visitor was
a woman, but his own conjectures and
She note which Nine. Gypsy had sent to
aim 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-
elusion that she was sacrificing herself
2or the benefit Of some one else? That
superior will which compelled her to ban
tsh you may have constrained this step
90 night"
THAT might be the case" Prosper
nurTnured, who knows?"
II would soon know" said NJ. Verdu-
get, 'if could see them together in that
BOOM"
With a strength of which a few min
ntes before he would not have believed
himself possessed, Prosper raised the
ladder, and placed the last round on his
shoulder. NJ. Verduret rapidly assembled
the ladder without even shaking, and had
mis- head on a level with the window.
There was Madeleine. NJ. Verduret
observed that she still wore her shawl
and bonnet She was standing in the
middle of the room, talking with great
aEi.11cc a, tt'aa.--- Her look "r' gestures be-
srayed indignant Sc IN. There was an
expression of undisguised loathing upon
Der beautiful face.
Madeleine continued talking, and it
was by closely watching the face Of
Lagors, clearly revealed by the lamp
on the mantel, that NJ. Verduret hoped
90 discover the meaning of the scene be-
fore him. At one moment Layers would
start and tremble in spite of his appar-
ent Indifference; the next, he would strike
at the fire with the tongs, as if giving
vGnt to his rage at some reproach uttered
by Madeleine.
Finally Madeleine changed her threats
snto entreaties. 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
20 leave the room, but each time return
ed as if asking q favor, and unable to
make up her mind to leave the house till
she had obtained it. At last she seemed
so have uttered something decisive, for
Raonl quickly rose and opened a desk
aear the fireplace, from which he took a
bundle of papers and handed them to
Aer
Madeleine took the papers, but was APP
garently dissatisfied. She again entreat-
ed him to give her something else. Raoul
refused and then she threw the papers
on the table. The papers seemed to puz-
sle III. Eerduret very much. as he sazed
at them through the window.
81 am not blind" he said, land certain
By am not mistaken; those papers, red,
green and yellow, are pawn ticket dnpli-
Gates"
Madeleine turned over the papers, as if
booking for some particular ones. She Sc
Sected three, which she put in her pocket,
Sisdainfully pushing the others aside.
She was evidently preparing to take her
departure, for she said a few words to
Raoul. who took up the lamp as if to es-
eort her downstairs. There was nothing
more for NJ. Verduret to see. He care
fully descended the ladder, muttering to
himself:
Pawn certificates. What Infamous
zystery lies at the bottom of all this?'
n. Verduret and Prosper hastily laid
the ladder on the ground, regardless of
the shrubs and vines they destroyed in
doing so, and then concealed themselves
among the trees, whence they could
Hatch at once the front door and the
Sputer gate.
Madeleine and Raoul appeared in the
aoorway, Raoul set the lamp on the
Bottom step, and offered his hand to the
girl; but she refused it with naughty
zeatempt, which somewhat soothed Pros-
gex's lacerated heart. He followed her
To the gate, which he opened and closed
after her; then he hurried back 10 the
&ouse. while Madeleine's carriage drove
Gapidly away.
Now, monsieur" said Prosper. you