The Ocala evening star., 1908-12-12
~ H0
kim
THE PRISONER AT THE BUNGALOW.

lamp that hung suspended from the
ceiling Of room of the inn, store and
postoffice at Lamar
Meanwhile, this being but Wednes-
day, we have our work to do"
Which is not so simple. after all, as
one studies the situation. Mr.. Armitage
is here, quite within reach. We sus-
pect him OF being a person Of distinc-
ton. He evinced unusual interest in a
certain document that was once in
your hands
"Our own hands, If you would be ac-
curate."
"You are captious.' But. granted so,
we must get them back. The gentle
man is dwelling in a bungalow on the
mountain side for greater convenience
| In watching events and wooing the
lady Of his hearts desire. We employ
ed a clumsy clown to put him out Of
the world, but he dies hard. and now
We have got to get rid of him. But If
he hasn't the papers on his clothes then
you have this pleasant scheme for
kidnapping him, getting him down to
your steamer at Baltimore and cruis-
ing with him until he Is ready to come
to terms. The American air has done
much for your imagination, my dear
Jules, or possibly the altitude of the
hills has overstimulated it,"
"You are not the fool you look, my
dear Durand. You have actually TAX
en- a fair grasp of the situation
But the adorable young lady, the
fair Mile. Claiborne-what becomes Of
her in these transactions?
THAT is none of your affair."" replied
Chauvenet. frowning. Il am quite
content with my progress. have not
finished in that matter"
Neither. it would seem, has Mr..
John Armitage. But l am quite well
satisfied to leave it to you. In a few
days we shall know much more than
we do now. l should be happier if you
were in charge in Vienna. A false
step there-ugh! / hesitate to think Of
the wretched mess there would be-"
"Trust Winkelried to do his full
duty. You must not forget that the
acute Stroebel now sleeps the long
sleep and that many masses have al
ready been said for the repose Of his
intrepid SOUL"
The splendor of our undertaking is
enough to draw his ghost from the
grave. Ugh! By this time Zmai
should have filed our cablegram at the
Springs and got your mail at the hotel
hope you have not misplaced your
confidence In the operator there. Com
ing back our giant must pass Armi-
tage's house."
Trust him to pass it. His encoun-
tiers with Armitage have not been to
his credit"
The two men were dressed in rough
clothes, as for an outing. and in spite
OF the habitual trifiing tone of their
talk they wore a serious air. Du-
rand's eyes danced with excitement,
and he twisted his mustache nervous
ly. Chauvenet had gone to Washing
ton to meet Durand. TO get from him
news Of the progress Of the conspiracy
In Vienna and, not least, to berate him
for crossing the Atlantic. Il do not
require watching, my dear Durand,"
he had said.
"a man in love, dearest Jules, some
times forgets." But they had gone
into the Virginia hills amicably and
were Quartered with the postmaster.
They waited now for Zmai, whom
they had sent to the Springs with a
message and to get Chauvenets mail
Armitage, they had learned. used the
Lamar telegraph Office, and they bad
decided to carry their business else
where
While they waited in the bare upper
Wan tramped up the mountain side
with an aching head and q heart heavy
with dread. The horse he had left tied
in a thicket when he plunged down
through the Claiborne place had bro
ken free and run away, so that he
must now trudge back afoot to report
to his masters. He had made a mess
of his errands and nearly lost his life
besides. The bullet from Oscars re-
volver had cut a neat furrow in his
scalp, which was growing sore and
stiff as it ceased bleeding. He would
undoubtedly be dealt with harshly by
Chauvenet and Durand, but he knew
that the sooner he reported his calami-
ties the better, so he stumbled toward
Lamar, pausing at times to clasp his
small head in his great hands. When
he passed the wild tangle that hid
Armitage's bungalow he paused and
cursed the two occupants In his own
dialect with a fierce, vile tongue. 1t
was near midnight when he reached
the tavern and climbed the rickety
stairway TO the room where the two
men waited.
Chauvenet opened the door at his ap-
proach, and they cried aloud as the
great figure appeared before them and
the lamp light fell upon his dark. blood
smeared face.