The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-04-05
CHAPTER V.-CoNrINuEp.

inn that night. Doubtless. too. be
carried them In that bizarre hiding
place for the sake OF safets, consider
ing il unlikely that robbers. u he
fen into their hands. would take the
sachet from him: as stitl less likely
that they would suspect Il Go contain
anything OF value. Everywhere IL
woull pass for iove-eift, the WORT
of his mistress
Nor did my penetration stop there.
Ton to one the gems were family prop
eriy. the last treasure OF the house:
and NJ de COchef0ret. when I saw him
AZ the inn. was on the way TO convey
them out OF the country: either 10
secure them from seizure by the gov.
eminent, or to raise money by selling
them-money TO be spent in some last
desperate enterprise For a day or two.
perhaps. after leaving Cocheforet.
while the mountain road and its
chances occupied bis thoughts. he had
not discovered his loss. Then he had
searched for the precious sachet,
missed 1t, aud returned hot foot on his
tracks.
| was certain that had hit on the
true solution: aad all that night sat
wakeful in the darkness. bordering
what | should do The stones. unset
As they we're. could never be traced
To all intents they were mine-miue.
20 do with as pleased, Fifteen thou
sand crowns!-perhaps 10000 crowns.
and TO leave at six 10 the morning.
whether ! would or no. I might leave
for Spain with the Jewels IN my pocket.
| confess I was tempted. The gems
we're so fine that { doubt not some In
differently honest mea would have
sold salvation for them But a BerauIt
his homer? Mo- I was tempted. but
not for long. Thank God. q man may
be reduced 10 living by the fortunes
Of the dice aud may even be called by
woman spy aud coward without be.
coming a thief The temptation soon
left mel take credit Tor it--and fei.
u thinking OF this and that plan Tor
making use OF them. Once Il occurred
TO me to take the Jewels to the cardi-
nal and buy my pardon with them;
again. to use them as a.trap % capture
cocheforet; again to-and then about
Ave in the morning, as | sat up on my
wretched pallet. while tho FIRST light
stole slowly Ia through the cobwebbed.
hay-stuffed lattice. there came TO me
the real plan. the plan OF plans. on
which 7 acted.
Il charmed me I smacked my lips
over it and Rugged myself and felt my
eyes dilate Ia the darkness. as conned
g.. IL seemed cruel. II seemed mean:
J cared nothing. MademolselIe had
hoasted OF her victory over me. OF her
woman's wits add her acuteness: aud
OF my dullness. She had said her
srOoms should Aog me. she had rated
NE as IL I had been a dog. Very we'll:
we would see now whose brains werr
the hotter. whose was the master micd
whose should be Tho whipping.
The one thing required by my plan
was that should get speech with her:
that done. could trust myself and my
new-found weapon Tor the rest But
that was absolutely necessary: and
seeing that there might be some din
Guilty about Il. : determined to descend
as II mr. mind were made up to go:
then. on pretense OF sadd.Ing ray horse.
would slip away on foot and lie IN
wait near the chateau until J saw her
come out. Or II I could not effect my
purpose IN that way-eIther by reason
OF the landlords vigilance. or for any
other cause-my course was still easy.
J would ride sway aud when ! had pro-
ceeded a mile or so. tie up my horse In
the forest aud return TO the wooden
Bridge Thence could watch the gar
den and front OF the chateau until time
and chance gave me The opportunity
sought.
So saw my way quite clearly; and
when the fellow below called me. re.
minding me rudely that I must be go
ing and that Il was six o'clock. was
ready with my answer. | shouted
sulgily that I was coming. and. after a
decent delay. took up my saddle and
bags and went down.
Viewed by the cold morning light
tie inn room looked more smoky. more
eTimy, more wretcted than whenI bad
last seen II. The goodwife was not
visible. The fiPc was not lighted Nc
provision. not 50 much as a stirrup-cnp
or bowl OF porfldge cheered the heart
I looked around. smiling the stale smell
Of last nights lamp and grunted. Are
you going 10 send me out fastlng?" I
said. affecting a worse humor than |
felt.
The landlord was standing by the
window. STOPPING over great pair OF
fiayed and furrt'wed thieh-boots. which
he was lahorinG TO soften with copious
crease "MadGmoiselle ordered no
breakfast" he answered. with ma
iioious grin.
Well. IL does not much matter" l
replied grandly. y shall be at Auch
by noon.''
That Is as may be" he answered.
VITA another grin. did not under
stand him, but had something else to
sht,ts about anil 1 onanad fhp d0Or aud