Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-06

4
ger-finger.
keep an eve on them for a moment.
O'Ferral and you, too, j. J., said
the same speaker, and turned to where
the duchesse and Fanch cite were still
standing in almost equal amazement
Your pardon" he said, bowling cour-
teously. and both reco tnized him at the
same instant He WAS the same man
whom the duchesse had met first It
Stormport, and lastly, at the Elysee,
the same to whom Fanchette had sold
/ her mistress runabout, whose car she
had commandeered. Your pardon said
! he but we've overh card all that's
nassed. We were waiting outside-at
your service. You have nothing more
to fear from these fellows. and"
He sprang forward, caught at the
duchesse or she would have fallen. Her
overtaxed strength had failed her, and
she lay helpless in his arms for bliss
/ full moment ere he carried her to the
sofa.
Fanchette, scarcely less overcome,
: flew to her, and for a brief space
they mingled their tears, sobbing with
out restraint since the most hurtful
/ strain OF the terror they had under
J gone was thus lately relieved. And the
chief OF their rescuers stood staring
| WlckeQly at LnelE dBEEcbSoAS AhNAA NAS
sobs ceased, the duchesse looked up
woefully and met his eyes again, so
that their anger died AMI there was
only left in them a look OF longing, At
which she flushed, so family that he
did not notice il.
! Tell me what has happened. please,
| Mr.. Newman" she begged piteously, ig-
/ noring all else in her stress of mind. Il
| have been held prisoner here for "a hours,
and-I don't understand"
.'I must tell you, to start with" said
Quaintance quickly. and must ask you
/ TO believe all I say without question
/ meantime, that my name isn't Newman.
I'm Stephen Quaintance, Miles Quaint
| ance's nephew"
I You're a damned liar" cried Seager
from the background, furiously, on the
d; impulse Of the moment. I'm Stephen
/ Ouaintance, not you. And 1 can prove
what I say. Don't believe him, Dagmar.
4 He must be mad!'
Quaintance wheeled toward him with
/ look which BODIED him Ill.
You ring off," he ordered imperatively.
! Break his head with the butt Of your
| gun, O'Ferral, II he opens his mouth
/ again till he's told to-"
| O'FerraI made as If to obey him, and
Seager subsidized, glaring, his mind in a
| ferment.
II changed my name because of my
uncle's will. and so that you shouldn't
have TO marry me. You ARE Dagmar
Lorraine. aren't your
| She nodded.
And Duchesse des Reeves" she said
drearily oppressed anew by the knowl-
J edge that neither man or woman may
safely interfere with the dictates Of fate
/ IT married the Duce des Reeves as soon
as heard OF Mr.. Quaintance's death. to
| escape
ITO escape me-" Quaintance supple
/ mented, as she paused, at a loss to ex-
/ plain herself without hurting his feelings.
he lowered his voice.
/ 1T made the mistake Of my life when
discarded my own identity, Dagmar. But
did 1t for your sake, that you might
nave my uncle's money and your own
freedom"
Her eyes fell again before his and the
story they told her. Her face was sur
FUSED now. But she would be honest with
him at all costs. "I. too, made a great
mistake" she said, very gravely in low
| whisper, and Fanchette, an arm about
her. fondled her trembling hand.
| We have both paid very dearly for our
| independence" commented Quaintance in
a grievous voice. ''but-you are safe now
at any rate"
They tell me my husband is dead" she
said. starting up, suddenly recalled to the
| actualities OF her position. They say he's
| dead here, downstairs"
Seager overheard her. He had been
watching them with ferocious intensity,
1 knew all that he needed to know for
the present. His drawn face shaped it
self to a grin, cruel, mocking, malevolent
1t might be too late now to win the
hazard himself but-he could still spoil
their chances of happiness.
| THE due is not dead" he cried across,
Drawing O'FerraTs uplifted pistol. I'VE
only drugged him. He is not dead"
He licked his lips at sight OF the shadow
which came down on Quaintance's face.
1 SO much at least of the score between
them, he had paid of. For, the due liv-
ing. and since he himself must perforce
give up all hope of winning Miles Quaint
ances millions, the man whose birthright
he would have usurped was no better of.
And neither could gain the girl.
But his heart failed him utterly as
O'Ferral spoke, with a quiet certainty
which appalled, him. And Arendsen also
covered and shuddered under the portept
of these curt words.
The Due des Reeves IS dead" said the
\ correspondent. ''I was down TO see him
myself You must have drugged him too
deeply. He's been dead for a good half
hour"
They looked at the clock It wanted
out twenty minutes to midnight. And no
more was said for a space. so harshly
had the horror OF it all gripped their
minds
IT had nothing to do with it." Arend-
sen urged. his strangled words breaking
the tense silence. seRger stood huddled,
shrinking, against the wall, Cornoyer, re-
volver in hand. confronting him watch
fully. The mans lips were blue, his face
the color OF chalk.
; You'll both have to answer for It,
anyhow" QuRintance told them concisely.
And the best thing you can do in the
meantime IL to make a clean breast of
Il as to the. Speak up, Seager. since
that's your name. Let's hear your story
first and from the beginning. How did
you get hold OF my papers? And where
are they7"
Seager slowly Strengthened his shaking
knees, and stood for a moment, head
bent. hands Nclawing. eyes dsrting hither
and thlther, teeth showing. like trapped
rat Then he spoke, huskily. making full
confession discriminating Dirck Arendsen
whenever he could. But Black Dirclc
looked straight before him, and listened.
speeches. The clock licked on in its
corner
When everything was clear to them,
lOFerral disregarding all else, made a
iouictx euRRestion to Ouaintance.