Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-12-16

On the threshold. his flushed face lit up by the light behind me, stood one of the knaves had brought with me to Auch. He had been running and panted heavily, but he had kept his wits. He grasped my sleeve instantly. "Ahi Monsieur, the very mani" he cried, tugging at me. Quick! come this instant and you may yet be first They have the secret, They have found Monsieur"
 Found whom?" I echoed. "M. de Cocheforet?"
 'No; but the place where he lies. It was found by accident The lieu tenant was gathering his men to go to it when I came away. If we are quick, we may get there first"
 But the place?" I said.
 ''I could not hear where it was," he answered bluntly. We can hang on their skirts, and at the last moment strike in" ..
 The pair of pistols had taken from the shock-headed man lay on a chest by the door. I snatched them up, and my hat, and joined him without another word; and in a moment we were running down the garden. looked back once before We passed the gate, and saw the light streaming out through the door which I hao left open; and I fancied that for an instant figure darkened the gap. But the fancy only strengthened the one single iron purpose which had taken possession of me and all my thoughts. must be first. I must anticipate the lieutenant and make the arrest my self. I ran on only the faster We seemed to be across the meadow and in the wood in a moment. There, instead of keeping along the common path, I boldly singled out-my senses seemed preternaturally keen-the smaller track by which Clon had brought us, and ran unfaltering along 1t, avoiding logs and pitfalls as by in stinct, and following all its turns and twists, until it brought us to the back VI JllC illl, uhu Wc HCdI lu6 mur of subdued voices in the village street, the sharp low words of com mand. and even the clink of weapons; and could see. above and between the houses, the dull glare of lanthorns and torches.
 I grasped my mans arm and crouched down, listening. Where is your mate?" said, in his ear. With them" he muttered.
 Then come" I whispered, rising. ''I have seen enough. Let us go."
 But he caught me by the arm and detained me. You don't know the way!" he hissed Steady, steady. Monsieur. You go too fast. They are just moving. Let us join them and strike in when the time comes We must let them guide us"
 "Foc!!" I said, shaking of his hand "I tell you, know where he Is! ] know where they are going. Come; l lose not moment, and we will pluck the s-ait while they are on the road to it."
 His only answer was an exclamation of surprise; at that moment the lights began to move. The lieutenant was ! starting. The moon was not yet up; the sky was gray and cloudy; to ad- vance where we were was to step into a wall of blackness. But we had lost too much time already, and I did not hesitate. Bidding my companion fol- | low me, and use his legs, l sprang through a low fence which rose before us, and stumbling blindly over some broken ground in the rear of the houses, came, with a fall or two, to little watercourse with steep sides. Through this plunged recklessly, and up the farther side, and, breathless and panting, gained the road just be. yond the village and 50 yards in ad- vance of the lieutenant's troop.
 They had only two lanthorns burn ing now and we were beyond the cir | ele of light these cast; while the steady tramp of so many footsteps covered the noise We made. We were unno- tieed. In a twinkling we turned our backs, and as fast as We could ran down the road. Fortunately, they were thinking more of secrecy than speed, and In a minute we had dou- bled the distance between us: in two minutes their lights were mere sparks shining in the gloom behind us. We lost, at last even the tramp of their feet. Then I began to look out and go more slowly. peerlng into the shad- ows on either side of the fern-stack
 On one hand the hill rose steeply; on the other 1t fell away to the stream. On neither side was close wood-or my difficulties had been immensely in- | creased-but scattered osk-trees stood here and there among gorse and brack- en. This helped me. and in a moment. on the upper side. came upon the dense substance Of the stack looming black against the lighter hill. CTo De contInued.J