Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-06-30

I They are evidently quarreling," he
thought; but it is not lovers quar-
rel
Madeleine continued talking; and
IL was by closely watching the face of
lLagors, clearly revealed by the lamp
on the mantel, that NJ. Verduret
hoped 70 discover the meaning of the
scene before him.
At one moment Layers would start
and tremble in spite of his apparent
Indifference; the next. he would strike
at the fire with the tongs. as if Civ
ing vent TO his rage at some reproach
uttered by Madeleine.
] Finally Madeleine changed her
threats into entreaties, and. clasping
her hands, almost fell at his knees.
He turned away his head. and re-
fused TO answer save in monosylla-
ibles.
I Several times she turned to leave
the room. but each time returned. as
if asking a favor. and unable TO make
up her mind to leave the house till
she had obtained IT,
: At last she seemed to have uttered
something decisive; for Raoul quickly
rose and opened desk near the fire
place, from which he took a bundle
of papers, and handed them TO her.
Well" thought NJ. Verdrret. this
looks had. Can it be compromising
correspondence which the fair one
wants to secure?"
Madeleine took the papers. but was
apparently still dissatisfied. She again
entreated him 70 give her something
else Raoul refused; and then she
threw the papers on the table.
The papers seemed TO puzzle NJ
Nerduret very much, as he gazed at
them through the window.
I am not blind" he said. "and I
certainly am not mistaken; those pa
Pers, red, green and yellow, are pawn
brokers tickets"
Madeleine turned over the papers.
as if looking for some particular ones.
She selected three. which she put in
her pocket, disdainfully pushing the
others aside
She was evidently preparing 20 take
her departure. for she said a few
words to Raoul, who took up the lamp
as if 70 escort her down stairs.
There was nothing more for NJ. Yer
duret 20 see. He carefully descended
the ladder, muttering 20 himself:
"Pawnbrokers' ticlcetsl What infa-
nous mystery lies at the bottom OF
all this2''
The first thing he did was TO re-
move the ladder.
Raoul might take IL into his head
to look around the garden when he
came to the door with Madeleine. and
If he did so the ladder could scarcely
fail TO attract his attention.
M-Nerduret and Prosper hastily laid
IL on the ground, regardless Of the
shrubs and vines they DESTROYED in
doing so, and then concealed them
selves among the trees. whence they
could watch at once the front door
and the outer gate.
Madeleine and Raoul appeared in
the door way. Raoul set the lamp
on the bottom step, and offered his
hand 60 the girl; but she refused IL
with naughty contempt. which some
what soothed Prosper's lacerated
heart.
This scornful behavior did not.
however, seem 10 surprise or hurt
Raoul. He simply answered by an
ironicol gesture which implied: "As
you please!"
He followed her 20 the gate. which
he opened and closed after her; then
he hurried bac~ TO the house. while
Modeleine's carriage drove rapidly
away.
Nov. monsieur" said Prosper,
'you must tell me what YOU saw
You promised me the truth no matt
ter how bitter il might be. Speak;
can bear il. be il what j. may"
You viii only have joy 20 bear,
my friend. Within a month YOU will
bitterly regret your suspicious Of to-
night. You viii blush 10 think that
you ever imagined Mademoisene
Madeleine TO be intimate with man
like Layers"
But, monsieur, appearance"
1T is precisely against appearances
that we must be on our guard. AL
ways distrust them. y suspicion,
false or just, is always based on some
thing. But we must not stay here
forever; and, as Raoul has fastened
the gate, we shall have TO climb back
again"
But there is the ladder"
"Let IL stay where it is; as we can
not effaoe our foot prints, he will
think thieves have been trying TO
get into the house"
They scaled the wall, and had not
walked fifty steps when they heard
the noise of a gate being unlocked.
They stood aside and waited; man
soon passed by on his way 70 the sta
ton.
THAT is Raoul," said NJ. Verduret,
and Joseph will report 10 us that he
has gone TO tell Clameran what has
just taken place. II they are only
kind enough to speak French,"
He walked along quietly for some
time, trying TO connect the broken
chain of his deductions.
How in the deuce" he abruptly