The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-03-22
ospyrisht, 1884 By Stanley J. wsymAn.I
CHAPTER Iv.-CoSrINUED

and without lie. MY departure ndu
not. as l half expected it would. drawn
the secret into light.
watched a while, at times cursing
ny own meanness; but the excitement
of the moment and the quest tided me
over that. Then l determined to go
down into the village and see whether
anything was moving there. | had
been down to tho inn once and had
been received half sulkily, half courte-
ously. as a person privileged at the
great house and therefore TO be &C
cepted II would not be thought odd II
went again; and after a moments
thought, I started down the track.
This. where 1t ran through the wood,
was so densely shaded that the sun
penetrated to Il little. and in patches
only A squirrel stirred at times, slid
ing round a trunk, or scampering
ecross the dry leaves. Occasionally a
pig grunted and moved farther into
the wood. But the place was very
quiet and I do not know how 1t was
that I surprised Clon instead Of being
surprised by him.
He was walking along the path be-
fore me with his eyes on the ground
walking so slowly and with his lean
frame so bent that I might have sup
posed him III II had not remarked
the steady movement Of his head from
right TO left and the alert touch with
which he now and again displaced a
biod OF earth or a cluster Of leaves.
By-and-bye ne rose stifhy and looked
round him suspiciously; but by that
time had slipped behind trunk and
was not to be seen; ana after a brief
interval he went back TO his task,
stooping over IL more closely. II posi-
BILE. than before and applying himself
with even greater care.
By that time had made up my mind
that he was tracking some one. But
whom? could not make a guess at
that. I only knew that the plot was
thickening. and began to feel the ca
eerness of the chase. OF course, II the
matter had not TO do with Cocheforet.
Il was no affair of mine; but though
iksseemed unlikely that anything could
bring him back so soon, he might still
be at the bottom of this. And, besides,
] felt a natural curiosity. When Clon
at last improved his pace, and went
on to the village, | took up his task.
1 called 70 mind all the wood-lore l had
ever known, and scanned trodden
mould and crushed leaves with eager
eyes. But in vain. I could make moth
sng of il at all, and rose at last with
an aching back and no advantage.
I did not go on to the village after
that, but returned to the house. where
I found madam pacing the garden. She
looked up eagerly on hearing my step;
and was mistaken If she was not dis
appointed-if she had not been ex-
pecting some one else. She hid the
feeling bravely. however, and met me
with a careless word; but she turned
TO the house more than once while
we talked, and she seemed 40 be all
the while on the watch, and uneasy.
I was not surprised when Clon's figure
presently appeared in the doorway,
and she left me abruptly and went to
him. I only felt more certain than
before that there was something
strange on foot. What it was, and
whether it had 10 do with NJ de Coch-
eforet, could not tell. But there 1t
was. and | grew more curious the
longer I remained alone.
She came back 70 me presently, look
ing thoughtful and a trihe downcast.
THAT was Clon, was it not?" said,
studying her face.
"Yes," she answered. she spoke alb
sently, and did not look at. me.
"How does he talk to your" asked.
speaking a trifie CURLY.
AS intended, my tone reused her.
by signs" she said.
lis he--is he not a little mad?" I
ventured. | wanted 10 make her talk
and forget herself.
She looked at me with sudden keen
ness. then dropped her eyes.
"You do not like him." she said, a
note Of chaliange in her voice. II have
noticed that, Monsieur"
Il think he does not like me-"
replied.
'He is less trustful than we are"
she answered naively. 1T is natural
that he should be. He mas seen more
OF the world"
That silenced me for a moment, but
she did not seem to notice II. II was
looking for him a little while ago, and
I could not find him." l said, after q
pause.
"He has been into the village" she
answered.
I longed TO pursue the matter far
Their; but though she seemed to enter
tain no suspicion of me, dared not
run the risk. tried her. instead. on
another tack. "Mademoiselle de Coch-
foret does not seem very well to-day?"
I said.
"No?" she answered carelessly.
'Well. now you speak Of It, | do not
think she is. She IA often anxious
about-my husband"
She attered the last two words with
. little hesitation. and looked at me
quickly when she had spoken them.