The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1909-02-12


Quick ] have IL. We are going.
Pack Don't forget the arms and
plenty Of ammunition, and put in those
four automatics We got the other day.
There may be hot work before we ever
see Chicago again. Let's see. the
train leaves in an hour and n quarter"
But whore We are going?" | asked,
invuluntarily
New Orleans" he shouted as he
dashed into his room to throw his
clothes out to me TO pack.
We reached New Orleans at dusk and
took a cab from the railway station.
As we drove away looking out of tho
cab window ] saw swarthy, roughly
dressed man enter another cab which
Immediately followed us. | thought
nothing OF the incident at the time
except to wonder how such a looking
individual happened to be riding in
cabs.
And then the full import of Clarkes
dovlish cunning, his mastery of the
minds Of men by the use OF forces
which bordcrcd on the supernatural
dawned upon me Here was the pilot
which would guide us to the lair Of
the wolf and to Thaida, the spy turned
10 account against his own employer.
The path lay by water, this evidently
Clarke had discovered
WOO uyog al ~
marked Clarke, quietly, divining as he
80 often seemed to do my train of
thought
AS soon as ! found we were watched
! knew ! had the master key to the
situation II was easy to turn from
the Swallowed to the shadow. slipped
out OF the hotel through the kitchens,
prepared the way for you, and while
our pilot here was watching the front
entrance OF the hotel | was within n
step o. him and watching him. You
know my method and IL was not long
before ! had him in my power and
knew all that he knows. II is not
much except that de Loup has some
sort OF rendezvous on an obscure is.
land about 30 miles up the coast from
the delta. 1t is called the lie des
Serpents and we are going to find out
what goes on there. God send we do
not get there too late!" Clarke's eyes
took n faraway look and ! knew he
was thinking OF Thaida.
Before midnight we make eet,"
said Bloc. who was steering by the
compass. Silently we drew on the
larder for u rcpast consisting Of what
cooking. Then despite the tossing of
our craft | succeeded in making q pot
OF steaming hot coffee. We we're too
near the unknown to be in the mood
for conversation.
About II o'clock Bloc. who was peer
ing into the darkness ahead. whis.
pered. "A Ia droit Lille des Serpents."
looked and rising out of the dark.
ness was black mass against the
softer shades OF the shore line.
With directions given In whispers
we made fast to the landing.
You will stay here with the
launch" whispered Clarke to Bloc.
"and have II ready to get away at
once in case we need It."
We stepped lightly out on the land.
ing and found ourselves facing a door
of iron In the otherwise blank wall;
a heavy door incrusted with knobs and
beset with strange heraldic devices in
bas relief. These latter drew Clarke's
attention and he studied them earnest
ly In the dim light. Then turning to
me with a smile of triumph he whis-
pered: "Ah, thought so. have the
master key. Come, we will go In"
No sound broke the stiffness. There
was nothing to denote that a human
habitation of any sort lay beyond the
blank wall.
Clarke lifted heavy knocker in
the center of the door and began O
tattoo of alternating long and short
raps. These were answered from
within and my companion in his turn
answered these signals
What is your ageg' challenged q
deep voice.
l was thunderstruck at Clarke's an |
swer in an even, fearless tone.
Five years." he said,
Whence do you Gomez again In
CURED the voice.
From the eternal flame" answered |
my companion.
whittier do you go?" rang out the |
question.
"To the flame eternal" was the 70