The Elbert County tribune., 1906-12-13
lll2 TNl1IY

on the door. He raised his eyes to lis
ten. The knock was repeated.
Come in," he said In a calm voice
The door opened, and a servant en-
tered with a message. Deneau tore
the seal-then his evil black eyes
danced in their sockets; the news was
so pleasing to him that he even tossed
coin to the servant-a thing which
caused that worthy to stare. for the
detective had not been known to dis
tribute his money very generously,
and was held in contempt by the SER
wants of the tavern.
ANY answer. Mr.. Duvalle?" Che
was known as Davalle)-said the
man, as he fingered the ccin to see If
1t were genuine.
That is ALL" said the detective,
who In his joy had forgotten the pres
ence of the man.
The door closed.
"Ah, at last-at last, La Prade
comes, and now my worthy Mr.. Lang
don of Paris-my mysterious Mr.. Val
dermere of the Mines. gentleman,
convict, magician, l have you now,
and / will yet give your head to the
czar and your body to the dogs. Your
trail comes to an end. We will soon
see into your den-we will soon know
the secrets of that damned hole, and
mayhap we will find treasure worth
our zeal.
Then he again read the cablegram-
he laughed sepulchrally-he grinned
into the cracked mirror, and shook his
bony fist at his bony face reflected
there-the image of a triumphant
devil. He again read the message
"Will reach New York the 20th.'
These were significant words to
Deneau, they would enable him to
plan and act with decision.
He left the tavern at nightfall, and
within an hour he was before the door
of the Indian.
AS he approached the dark, silent
hut, he was beset by a brace of saw
age dogs who rent the air with their
furious howls. Deneau kicked the
angry brutes from his path, and
knocked loudly upon the door of the
hut
A voice came from within, and the
old Indian was heard moving about in
the darkness.
who comes?" he demanded.
"a friend" said Deneau, "open
quickly"
at is early for friend. what do you
want?"
open quickly, damn you," cried De
neau, "or | will break in the door,"
The door opened slowly, and in the
moonlight which fell upon the thresh-
old the large powerful frame of the
old Indian stood, his long coarse hair
falling to his shoulders, and his black
eyes fixed upon the detective with
thlt watchful interest which marked
his race.
Deneau pushed him aside and enter
ed the hut-as barren and as barbaric
as the wigwams of his progenitors,
but less luxurious-a board table-a
rude stool, an inverted tub, together
with a coarse blanket, completed his
assets, unless the kettle which hung
by chain from the chimney could be
called an asset
Deneau took the stool and motioned
Uga to the inverted tub.
Master is early tonight" said the
Indian, indifferently, "and the air is
chill"
81 can't warm the air." said Deneau,
man." and he pulled a flask of liquor
from his pocket-he knew how to
please his host.
The eyes of the old Indian snapped
tire-he was transformed as by magic
from sullen evil-tempered savage to
an obliging, sycophanuc host.
"Ah, see," he said. casting an af-
fectionate glance toward the bottle,
you have brought warmth to my
lonely hut-you are welcome, master"
Uga, semicivilized Cherokee, who
lived but little among his own people,
had acquired a fair knowledge of Eng.
lish. He had been cared for by
wealthy planter. who had found him
useful servant during the early set
tlement of the country, for he still re-
tanned the cunning and the daring of
his race. He knew the country as Il
tiger knows the jungle. His master.
whom he had survived, was accredit.
ed with certain deeds which caused
even his memory to be held in abhor-
renee, and as the Indian had filled the
place of body-guard to the fierce old
planter, he. also. was avoided by the
timid-watched by the bold.
What can l do for my master?"
said he. for he always spoke to the
whites as his masters, from the habit
OF long service.
How are the spirits over in the
cave?' and Deneau smiled as he noted
the wild look of the Indian, in whose
nature superstition was the predomi-
nsnt sentiment.
ugh, l know what I told you,
know no more, and when my time
oomac I will 90 thara