Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-11-22
COPYRIGHT. 1893. BY HARPER . BRorneRs
Bn A CONAN nnYII
Dy n. OOVHN DU1LE, Author of "The Return of Sherlock Holmes's

chance" said the American grnvely
 swinging himself off his horse. ''Why
 what is this? My other leather is cut. 2 "And so is mine. can feel 1t when
 I pass my hand along. Have you a Under box? Let us strike light"
 No, no: the man who is in the dark
 is in safety. I let my enemy strike lights
 My rein is cut also"
 "And so is mine."
 l @And the girth of my saddle" Tt is q wonder that we came so far
 with whole bones. Now, who has played us this little tricky l Who could 1t be but that rogue Jaques? He has had the horses in his charge. By my faith, he shall know what the strappado means when see Versailles againv "But why should he do it?'' "Ah, he has been set on to 1t. He has been tool in the hands of those who wished to hinder our journey"
 "very like. But they must have had some reason behind. They knew we'll i that to cut our straps would not pre- vent us from reaching Paris. since we could ride bareback or, for that mat ter, could run it if need be-"
 'They hoped to break our necks." "One neck they might break, but scarce those of two. They could not have thought to stop us. What did they mean, then7 They could only have meant to delay ua And why should they wish to delay us?~
 "For heavens sake''- broke in De Catlnat impetuously.
 Why should they wish to delay us. then? There's only one reason that I can see-.in order to give other. folk time to get in front of us and stop us. That is it, captain. I'd lay you a beaver skin to rabbit pelt that I'm on the track. There's been party of dozen horsemen along this ground since the dew began to fall If we were delayed they would have time to form their plans before we came"
 By my faith, you may be right" said De Catinat thoughtfully. What would you proposeY'
 That we ride back, and go by some less direct way"
 Tt is impossible. We should have to ride back to the Meudon crossroads, and then 1t would add ten miles to our Journey. We are surely not to be turned from our path by mere guess. There is the St. Germain crossroad about mile below. When we reach it we can strike to the right along the south side of the river and 50 change our course"
 They mounted and rode on. Sud denly De Catinats eye caught some thing in the gloom which brought a smile to his face. Away in front of them, between two dark tree clumps, lay vast number of shimmering. gilt tering yellow points, as thick as flow CTS in garden. They were the lights of Paris.
 ''Seew he cried. pointing. There is the city. and close here must be the St. Germain road. We shall take 1t, % as to avoid any danger"
 "very goodl But should not ride too fast when your girth may break at any moment"
 "Nay, come on. We are close to our journeys end. The St. 0ermain road opens just round this corner, and then we shall see our way. for the lights will guide us.''
 He cut his horse with his whip. and the two galloped together round the curve. Next instant they were both down in one wild heap of tossing heads and struggling hoofs, De Catinat part ly covered by his horse. and his com rade hurled twenty paces, where he lay silent and motionless in the center of the road.
 NJ. de vivonne had laid his ambus- cade with discretion. With a closed carriage and band of chosen rufiians he had left the palace good half hour before the kings messengers. On reaching the branch road he had or iered the coachman to drive some lit- tie distance along 1t and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge. He had then stationed one of the band as a sentinel some distance up the main highway to flash . light when the two couriers were approach ing. A stout cord had been fastened eighteen inches from the ground to the trunk of a wayside sapling. and on re ceiving the signal the other end was tied to a gatepost upon the farther side. The two cavaliers could not pos sibly zee it, coming a 1t did at the very curve of the road, and as conse- quence their horses fell heavily to the ground and brought them down with them. In an instant the dozen rufhans. who had furked In the shadow of the trees, sprang out upon them. sword in hand, but there was no movement from either of their victIms.
 N. de vIvonne lit . lantern and flashed 1t upon the faces of the two unconscious men. This Is bad busi- ness, Major Despard-" said be to the man next him. T believe that fhey are both gone"
 Tut tutl By my soul. men did not de like that when I was younsr' an- swered the other, ieaning forward his fierce. grizzled face Into the light of the lantern 'rass your rspler under the third rfb of the horSeA. Dc Ia Tonrha fA~ ~m never be ft to se< hoof to ground sxain--
 (To bs Consinssdy