Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-04-03

ana tOmpOn6 eyes became smaller
 and glittered with a strange enven-
 6med look of hatred like snake about
 to strike. With delft fingers he
 searched the clothes of his victim, but
 1t was not for robbery, for he left the bag of money he found there; some- thing else was the object of his search.
 At last he found leather cord tied about the mans neck from which dan, gled 2 bright gold object. It proved to be small seal ring with peculiar
 device engraven upon it's surface. Pompon carefully placed this about his own neck. tSen. turning to the man again, he seized him by the shoulders and dragged him to the floor and along it till he reached the hearth. He halted moment and listened; no sound from above stairs: the stertor- ous breathing of his victim and the rustling Of the leaves on the huge vine above the doorway outside were the only. sounds audible. Once more pry- ing up the brick. and pulling the iron ring, he pressed down one end of the stone and the empty cavity lay before him and his prey. With considerable difficulty he managed to get the mans body into the hole beneath the stone. He then stopped another moment in his work to look down upon his enemy's form. His revengeful medi- tation was soon interrupted by the sound of shuffling footsteps descending the stair. He must hasten, complete his work, and flee. So after one more push, and mutteriag "after IA years" he hastily swung the stone back into place, leaving his .enemy buried be- heath it. He replaced the brick, sprip- kled ashes around so as to obliterato all traces of his work, removed the table and bench from the inner door, and was gone.
 They had ridden an hour or more in silence, and the early streaks of the coming day were fast spreading over the horizon. Tontis thoughts, stimu- lated by the possession of so much gold, had crossed the seas and were ranging through the endless delights and dangers of life in the new world. Pompon. too, was busy tasting the sweets of revenge long deferred. At length he spoke to his companion:
 While you were gaining an en- trance at the inn, slipped away and visited a neighboring house. There I made inquiries about our innkeeper. and found that we were old acquaint- ances." .-
 How so?" asked Tonti in some sur- prise
 You remember I told you how Col bert employed one of his creatures lone Feriol by name), to swear to false accusation so that I could be sent to the Bastille, with at least a show of justice?" |
 "Yes. And this fellow was"
 Was the same person, now grown l lat and rich from the reward of his infamous lie; the man to whose oath owe my IA years If living death, the dungeon and the salleys. It was merry meeting, we wo old friends"
 Tonti started in spite of himself at he strangeness of the mans voice, which blended at the same instant a errible intensity of hatred with a delightful pleasure as of one who rolls some rare morsel upon his tongue be- ore swallowing it. A suspicion of what might have happened after he eft Pompon alone with his long-hated 'nemy crossed his mind.
 What did you do to him?" he asked lbruptly. .,l
 q searched him until found the se- ret ring that identifies him. That I ook. for we may find 1t a powerful aid n case of need" was the evasive re- 'ly.
 And was that all?" queried Tonti ternly.
 "Certainement! What would you? 1e slept; merely put him to bed"
 Gro Re Continued.)