The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-04-01
CHAPTER XIV.
Continued.

leTSQ ATlDul IL seat CcSluS -lilH.
baker, Mounier, was going the same
way, and he offered old Nanon a lift
Mounier was evidently anxious to see
and hear.
The house looked foriorn 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 a most miserable.
trembling old creature.
Antoinette hardly noticed the
Mayor. She sprang forward to meet
Arthur with a little cry. AT last!'
she exclaimed. How thankful I am
to see you! Now we can force open
the door. / 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-
ette," said Arthur, hastily. He has
come to help u.s."
You are very kind, Monsieur" she
said, looking at him with a sad little
smile. "You will forgive my anX-
iety."
Monsieur Tasset glanced at Arthur
in establishment when he saw the
thickness of the doors.
We shall need more help he
said, and he turned to old Battiste,
who was almost crazy with anxiety,
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. 1T 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.
"Antoinettei" 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, / beseech you,
yield in this" But as he actually
uttered the words the great door fell
in with a 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 a death-like
stiffness.
On the ground lay the body of her
father-horribly, brutality 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 vas right
in his fears, for this vas where he hid
them. and they are ali gone, al.
gone!'
He pointed out a piece i'll the flocl
where a plank had been removed
and showed a yawning aperture be
low.
What was it? What did he keel
there?" said the Mayor, very gravely
His treasured His diamonds
But they are all gone. Oh! master,
My old MASTER" cried the wretchet
man. ut is my doing! All NJ,
DOING" and he burst into a passion
ate wall, moaning and dashing him
self upon the ground. Tasset did no
speak, he only looked at him with 3;
grave, puzzled expression.
Then A~ntoinette showed a veT.
slight symptom OF returning con
seriousness, and Arthur rapidly car
ried her away. He took her into thu
nearest room, where fortunately III
found a wide, old-fashioned sofa, o!
which he laid her gently, and began
to chafe her hands. She opened he
eyes once, but evidently the horrible
recollection of what she had seel
flashed across her mind, for anothe'
little cry escaped her. and she tainted
away once more.
For the next hour her condition
caused him the greatest anxiety, ant
he felt that he could not leave he