The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-07-01
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~ HudsoND ou8lAe. G

CHAPTER XXI.--Continued.
Cornoyer still looked glum, but
more was said on that subject,
ID O'Ferral turned to Quaintance
lth quick inquiry.
you've told ]. J. who you were"
}. exclaimed. What's been hap
bning?"
"All my plans have miscarried
ost damnably," Quaintance ex-
aimed. 1.-THE dead man on whom
bestowed my identity does not
eem to have supported it long.
here's spurious Stephen Quain.
hnce turned up, in the person of
hat very fellow ]. J. had with him
t the Cornucopia. We met him
gain last night, but he'd gone be-
pre- / found out what his game
vas. He must have robbed the
ody of all my papers, and thought
hat by posing as me he might
make his fortune.
"But he's just too late. Miles
buaintance's adopted daughter Is
BARRED already. She is the
Duchesse des Reeves"
q was speaking in slow, inn
personal tone, but his listeners
|could hear through that the hert
|lhe was suffering. Z
1.-The Due des Reeves gave me to
understand a couple of hours ago
that his wife had disappeared. and
called me a liar because l stated
that did not know where she was.
/ had never spoken to the man be-
fore. Tomorrow at dawn he and !
are going to settle accounts, on
that score and others"
O'Ferral was regarding him with
q deep frown.
"The Duchesse has disappear
ed!". he said. Now that's strange
very strange. l saw the Duchesse
leave the Elysee last night. was
seeing Madame Cornoyer into her
carriage, and we had to walt for a
few seconds while the Duchesse
stepped into her car. 1t was the
Dues car she drove off in, know,
but the chauffeur was that same
fellow you had at the Cornucopia,
j. j., and who, 1t seems. is now
posing as Stephen Quaintance.
recognized linn with some diff
Guilty, but Ill swear that 1t was
he And perhaps he could tell the
Due des Reeves something as to the
Duchesse's whereabouts.
when does the twelvemonth
term of the will expire, Steve?"
Quaintance was on his feet.
What dates this?" he muttered.
"The sixteenth. 1t must be tonight.
Yes, that's right. kept a careful
note in my memory. Times up at
midnight.
Domination! What a fool I was.
He must have kidnapped her.
wasn't bothering much about him
Il thought he was too late to do
any harm. l must get after him at
once. | saw him and that scoun.
drel with We black beard at door
in the Impasse de Paradis. I'll try
that first. I'll shoot him like a
dog if"
He hurried into his bedroom,
muttering threats. and came back
charging revolver.
Put that thing down." said
O'Ferral in his sternest voice, his
back against the door, whittier he
had sprung in quick precaution.>
Listen to me. Steve, or I'll lock
you in here till you learn sense.
Where's this Impasse de Paradis
'>.sxplain the thing coherently and
we'll sort it all out by degrees,
Your methods will only make 1t
worse"
Quaintance looked at him with a
puzzled scowl but that soon
cleared before the correspondent 3
steady eyes, and he related the cir
cumstance of which the others
were still in ignorance.
well and good" said O'Ferral
judiciously. Now sit down for two
minutes while l change my clothes,
and then we'll take a casual squint
at the Impasse de Paradis.. Under
stand plainly that you and are
taking the thing up together at this
stage, and don't let me hear you
move hand or foot till | come back
for you"
His masterful tone did not fail OF
effect on his friends fevered mind.
You're very good, O'Ferral,'
Quaintance said, much more
calmly. Excuse me. must be a
bit on edge. think"
He pocketed his weapon and sat
down, gripping the elbow rests of
his chair so that great dents
showed in the leather 1t was the
worst that had befallen yet to
think that actual harm might have
come to his lost duchess through
him.
O'Ferral reappeared without un.
due delay, and to him as com.
mander Of the expedition Cornoyer
addressed modest request that
be might be permitted to join 1t.
81 don't want to butt in," said
he, but I might be useful II there
were row."
Glad to have you with u.s." re.
piled O'Ferral. Come on. Well
get q cab by the way"
1t had been dark for nearly an
hour before they set out, and. when
they reached the street. 1t was
raining. They drove to the Place
st. Michel, and from there made
their way on foot to the Impasse.
"Cut into the Blue Rabbit and
ask the proprietor If he's seen any.
xh;pn IotaIy IF an Av,,ar;nap nolInl