Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-12-05

in and disappeared.
 Clon did not return with her and when l went into the garden five minutes later Louis also had vanished. Save for two women who sat sewing at an upper window, the house seemed to be deserted. Not sound broke the afternoon stiffness of room or garden and yet felt sure that more was hap pening in this silence than appeared on the surface. began to grow curious suspicious; and presently slipped out myself by way of the stables and skirt ing the wood at the back of the house, gained with a little trouble the bridge which crossed the stream and led to the village
 Turning round at this point, could see the house and moved little aside into the underwood and stood gazing at the windows, trying to unriddle the matter. It was not likely that NJ. de Cocheforet would repeat his visit so soon: and, besides, the women's emotions had been those of pure dis may and grief, unmixed with any of the satisfaction to which such a meet ing. though snatched by stealth. would give rise I discarded my first thought, therefore-that he had returned un- expectedly-and 1 sought for another solution.
 But none was on the instant forth coming. The windows remained ob- stinately blind, no figures appeared on the terrace. the garden lay deserted and without life. My departure had not, as half expected it would, drawn the secret into light.
 watched a while, at times cursing my own meanness; but the excitement of the moment and the quest tided me over that. Then I determined to go down into the village and see whether anything was moving there. I had been down to the inn once and had been received half sulkily, half courte- ously, as person privileged at the great house and therefore to be ac cepted. It would not be thought odd if went again: and after moments thought, started down the track
 This, where it ran through the wood, was so densely shaded that the sun penetrated to it little. and in patches only. A squirrel stirred at times, slid ing round a trunk or scampering across the dry leaves. Occasionally a pig grunted and moved farther into the wood. But the place was very quiet and I do not know how it was that surprised Clon instead of being surprised by him.
 He was walking along the path be- fore me with his eyes on the ground walking so slowly and with his lean frame so bent that might have sup posed him i'll if ! had not remarked the steady movement of his head from right to left and the alert touch with which he now and again displaced a clod of earth or a cluster of leaves. By-and-bye he rose stifiy and looked round him suspiciously; but by that time I had slipped behind trunk and was not to be seen: and after brief interval he went back 10 his task, stoopIng over 1t more closely, If possi- ble. than before and applying himself with even greater care.
 By that time had made up my mind that he was tracking some one. But whom? I could not make a guess at that. only knew that the plot was | thickening. and began to feel the ea- gerness of the chase. Of course, if the matter had not to do with Cocheforet. it was no affair of mine: but though 1 it seemed unlikely that anything could bring him back so soon. he might still | be at the bottom of this And. besides. ] I felt a natural curiosity. When Clon at last improved his pace. and went on to the village. I took up his task. 1 I called 10 mind all the wOod-lore I had ever known, and scanned troddsn | mould and crushed leaves with eager | eyes. But in vain. I could make noth- | ing of # al all. and rose al last with an aching back and no advantage. I did not go on to the village after 1 that, but returned 10 the house, where found madam pacing the garden. She looked up eagerly on hearing my step; and was mistaken if she was not dis | appointed-if she had not been eI- l pecting some one else. She hid the feeling bravely. however, and met me with a careless word; but she turned 10 the house more than once while we talked. and she seemed to be all | the while on the watch, and uneasy. I was not surprised when Clon's figure presently appeared in the doorway, and she left me abruptly and went tn him only felt more certain than before that there was something strange on foot. What it vas. and whether if had to do with NJ de Coch- eforet. I could not tell. But there fl was. and I grew more curious the longer I remained alone.
 She came bacz 10 me presently. look. ing thoughtful and a trias downcsst That was Con. vas t not-~ I said, studying her face.
 Yes she answered She spoke sb- sentiy. and did not look at me
 -HoE does he talk 10 you7- asked, spesking tri1s cuITtIy.
 As I intended my tone reused her. By signs she said.
 Is he-is he not a little usd-~ ] vsntursd I wanted to make her talk and forget herself
 She looked st ne vith sudden keen ness then dropped her eysz
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