The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-04-28
900 Ga o. Ga GA o. Q
CHAPTER XIV.
Continued.

door, drawn by staid pony, and Of
fered Arthur seat beside him. The
baker, Mounier, was going the same
way, and he offered old Nanon a lift
Mounier was evidently anxious to sea
and hear.
The house looked forlorn enough
as they drove up to it. Antoinette
was standing outside, leaning against
the parapet, with her hands shelter
ing her eyes, to watch for their ar
rival. Old Battiste was covering be.
hind her; he looked most miserable
trembling old creature.
Antoinette hardly noticed the
Mayor She sprang forward to meet
Arthur with little cry. AT last!''
she exclaimed. How thankful am
to see you! Now we can force open
the door, I have all the tools in
readiness; we have found them"
do not agitate YOURSELF" he said,
gently. Very probably we shall find
that your father has tainted, or that
some such ailment has overpowered
him" He held her hand tightly in
his.
"Oh! do not let us waste time in
conjectures, she exclaimed, leading
the way indoors.
This is Monsieur Tasset, Antoin-
etc." said Arthur, hastily. ''He has
come to help u.s."
you are very kind, Monsieur" she
said looking at him with sad little
smile. you will forgive my anx-
iety."
Monsieur Tasset glanced at Arthur
in establishment when he saw the
thickness of the doors.
I'VE shall need more help" he
said, and he turned to old Battiste,
and desired him to tell Mounier to
tie up the horses somehow, and come
to their assistance. They were glad
of the bakers strong arm, for it was
very long before the doors gave
way.
My brother-in-law put good work
in here" said Mounier, pausing to
wipe his brow ut does him credit;
but one is inclined to wish he were
not so good a workman"
"Hush!" said Tasset. The last
blows were being struck. 1t was evil
dent that in another moment the
door would fall, and the secrets of
the inner room would be revealed.
A solemn silence seemed to fall upon
them all, only the loud, ringing blows
and the trembling vibration of the
woodwork, as it cracked, and splint-
cred, and broke.
"Antoinette!" said Arthur. Dear
est, leave us now, I entreat you. I
will come to you at once. You shall
not be left one moment in suspense. !"
But it seemed as if the sound of
his imploring voice did not even
reach her ear
"Antoinette, do, I beseech you,
yield in this" But as he actually
uttered the words the great door fell
in with tremendous crash, and they
all rushed forward into the room.
Never till their dying hour did
those three men forget the awful
Shrek that came from Antoinette at
the first sight of what that room con-
tanned. 1t rang through the house
and re-echoed through the woods,
and it was followed by death-like
stiffness.
On the ground lay the body of her
father-horribly brutally murdered!
The feet and gown of the daughter
were dyed in the blood which had
poured over the floor. She would
have fallen on her knees beside him
but Arthur sprang forward and
caught her, thanking God as he saw
her become unconscious in his arms.
Monsieur Tasset was the first to
speak. His voice was hoarse from
horror. This is worse than we could
have anticipated, Monsieur" he said.
1T is just as well that you had wit
nesses."
Arthur made no answer; he was
watching Battiste. The old man
had thrown himself on his knees by
the corpse, and with his feeble arms
was trying to raise it."
See, Messieurs!" he cried, pas
sionately. See, he has been muir
dered and robbed! Yes, he was right
in his fears, for this was where he hid
them, and they are all gone, all
gone!"
He pointed out piece in the floor
where plank had been removed,
and showed a yawning aperture be-
low.
What was it? What did he keep
there?" said the Mayor, very gravely
''His treasured His diamonds!
But they are all gone. Oh! master!
My old master!" cried the wretched
man. ut is my doing! All my
doing!" and he burst into passion.
ate wall, moaning and dashing him.
self upon the ground. Tasset did not
speak, he only looked at him with 6
grave, puzzled expression.
Then Antoinette showed a very
slight symptom of returning con
seriousness, and Arthur rapidly car
ried her away. He took her into the
nearest room, where fortunately he
found a wide, old-fashioned sofa, or
which he laid her gently, and begar
to chafe her hands. She opened hel
eyes once, but evidently the horrible
recollection Of what she had seer
flashed across her mind, for another
little cry escaped her, and she tainted
away once more.
For the next hour her condition
caused him the greatest anxiety, and
he felt that he could not leave hei
for an instant, Old Nanon was far