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


oualntance. backed to the wall on the
landing at the top OF the stairs. heard
them coming. He pushed o'Ferral ana
Cornoyer toward the open room behind.
and they all slipped soundlessly into IL
And. presently. three pairs OF shutting
feet came 10 a stop the landing out
side a key turned in the locked door.
The feet shufrled onward. II seemed
that another door barred their way. That
IN turn opened with faint click. = ray
OF light shot outward ere IL closed again
mans voice spoke, and was answered
o. womans $
She's In there" said Quaintance, under
his breath.
O'Ferral caught at his arm.
Don't burst in on them. Let's hear all
those fellows have 20 say first. IL We
possibly can. They haven't locked the
door behind them"
They halted within the passage between
tho two doors. and listened intently
QCaintance had one hand on the key
one ear az the keyhole.
Within the dimly lighted. disheveled
studio, the duchesSe and Fanchette hac
sprung to their feet as Seager pushed
past the frail barricade they erected lest
anyone entering should surprise them
asleep. After him came another, little
wtzened. dried-up mannikin. black-clad,
OF evil countenance. behind whom ap-
peared Arendsen. his swart features
grinly infiexible. He pulled the door to
and Seager spoke first
Hope you haven't been anxious while
I've been away. Dagmar." he observed
with pretentious solicitude. I've been
very busy on your behalf the whole day.
snd-rve brought you news. I was going
70 say bad news. but I'm sure you won't
break your heart over Il; your husband
was nothing to you, you know. He's
a
ly-heart disease. the doctors say"
She stared at him. in doubt and dis
nav uuspeakGble. striving TO understand
fam - disbelieve what he said. And
Rite cause rs she had to esteem the
due the shOcl. OF such news; told thus,
almost stunned her.
What your cousin says is quite true
Miss-Duchesse." Arendsen affirmed SOL
ernly. This gentleman is a lawyer
Hell tell you anything else you may
wish 10 know"
She darted a quick. despalring glance
IN the direction OF Maitre Georges. and
that individual. well primed with wills
pered Instructions by Seager on their
way upstairs shambled forward
Alas, Madame" said he with a great
assumption Of sympathy. what my
friends tell you is a sad fact NJ de Due
lies dead-downstairs. The body was
brought hither that-that-that'''-
The clock In the corner struck the hour
with sudden. sonOrous clang. and al
most instantly NOtre Dame tolled IL
The duchesse shivered violently.
leaned still more heavily on Fam
ehette's trembling arm. Seager start
ed forward.
Come. Dagmar." he said. in what
he meant for q tender tone. you
mustn't give way. you know. It's
sudden. OF course. but think-it's all
for the best. isn't Il! He was moth
ing TO you. and-you're free of him
now. Think what that means to you
and to me"
His face darkened as she chrank
from him in such loathing fas was
plain 20 all And. spurred on by
virulent glance from Arendsen, he
made his fell purpose more clear to
her.
This is no time to stand on cere-
mony. You know what I want you
to do for me, Dagmar. and-you're
free to marry me now. Take my
word for that-or. II you won't. we'll
take you downstairs and show you the
body. It was brought here to satisfy
you that you're really free.
And just think OF me as well as
yourself" he went on querulously.
I'm more than fully entitled to my
half OF our uncle's fortune. and you'll
be none the worse OF the other half.
the form OF marriage with me, and
III swear you'll never see me again
after that unless you send for me. All
wants the marriage certificate to
show 10 the lawyers in San Francisco
IA little enough thing, too. consider
ing all that my uncle did for you.
You viii. Dagmar. won't you? For
my sakeT'
He looked at her in impatient ap-
peal. a great sense OF his own unfor-
tunate plight moving him 10 unusual
pathos And she at length spoke.
I will not" she said very dis
tinctly.
he cried hoarsely, glaring at her,
quite beside himself. "and without
any more ado. II you won't be led
I'm the man to drive you.
Get your papers ready. you fool"
he snarIed 10 the cringing notary.
He strobe over to the duchesse, his
hands raised to wrest her from Fan
chette. his face flushed. his eyes shot
With blood. blindly set in his desper-
ate purpose And Arendsen. at his
shoulder, no less determined, had
Criticized cruelty at the old serving
vrornan's arm when a stihed exclama-
ton from Maitre Georges. very busy
IN the background with his portfolio.
unused them TO turn on their heels.
Hands up. botn OF you. shappeo a
voice that sounded TO them like the
crack OF doom, and both withdrew
empty hands from behind their backs,
raised these in instant obedience before
two revolvers. cooked, not foot from
their foreheads.
step back TO the wall commanded
their captOrs. pressing upon them. and
they were wise enough TO comply with
out a seconds delay. Keep your
hands up"
They remained in that ignominiouS
posture while the whining Maitre
Georges was indicted between them by
the third Of the three men who had
thus surprised them. and who forth
with relied Seager and Arendsen Of
the concealed weapons they carried.
Now stay where you are You may
drop your hands. but the first OF you
who makes the slightest movement
otherwise will make no more Under
standT'
seager nodded. He was breathing
stertorousIy. through set teeth. eyes
II 6IIADTe