The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-06-05

l,ll.l.IAbD
as to his friends unfortunate frame OF
mind.
Been TO Havre," he rejoined pleas
antly, and, having helped himself &c
a drink and a cigar. sat down. Caught
the 12:45 there, and have just got
back. Had hurry call at the last mo
ment TO say that / was TO go. Only
time TO send you line. and-here
am. What's doing?"
Cornoyer came forward. and
"Well?" asked Quaintance.
Tomorrow. at dawn" said he. be
hind a cottage at the edge OF the Bots
de verrieres. Pistols. at 20 PAGES
Two shots"
"One will be sufficient" commented
Quaintance. but you were quite right
TO agree to a second. j. j."
O'Ferral looked grave.
u. j." he remarked, seeking no
superfuous explanations, Il want you
10 do me a favor"
Consider 1t done" replied the other
without hesitation.
Il want you to let me take your
place tomorrow at dawn. introduced
you TO Newman and you must let me
take hand In this trouble. I'm bet
ter situated than you for any affair
of the sort, because l have no family
II had. I'd stand out. as you're going
TO do-to oblige me-
"All right" agreed Cornoyer with
an obvious effort. IF Newman
Quaintance doesn't object, have II
your own way" Quaintance had taken
Cornoyer completely into his con-
fidence that morning, telling him the
strange story OF Stephen Quaintance.
his uncle's will, and the girl who was
now the Duchesse des Reeves.
O'Ferral turned to Quaintance with
q quick inquiry. What's been hap
pening?"
'All my plans have miscarried
most damnably," Quaintance explain
ed. THE dead man on whom | be-
slowed my identity does not seem 20
have supported it long. There's a
spurious Stephen Quaintance turned
up, In the person OF that very fellow
j. J. had with him at the Cornucopla.
We met him again last night, but he'd
gone before found out what his game
was. He must have robbed the body
OF all my papers, and thought that by
posing as me he might make his for
tune.
But he's Just too late. Miles
Quaintance's adopted daughter Is
married already. She is the Duchesse
des Reeves.
THE Due des Reeves gave me TO
understand a couple OF hours ago that
his wife had disappeared, and called
me a liar because | stated that l did
not know where she was. had never
spoken to the man before. Tomorrow
at dawn he and | are going TO settle
accounts, on that score and Others"
O'Ferral was regarding him with a
deep frown.
The duchesse has disappeared" he
said. Now that's strange-very
strange. saw the duchesse leave the
Elysee last night. II was the dues
car she drove OF in, know. but the
chauffeur was that same fellow you
had at the Cornucopia. j. j., and who.
II seems. is now posing as Stephen
Quaintance. I recognized him with
some difficulty, but I'll 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. II must be tonight.
Yes, that's right l kept a careful
note in my memory. Times up at
midnight.
"Damnation, What a fool I was.
He must have kidnapped her. | wasn't
much about him thought
he was too late TO do any harm.
must get after him at once. l saw
him and that scoundrel with the black
beard at a door in the Impasse de
Paradis. I'll try that first. I'll shoot
him like a dog f.
He hurried into his bedroom. NUT
tering threats. and came back charg-
ing a revolver.
"Put that thing down." said O'Fer-
raj In his sternest voice, his back
against the door, whittier he had
sprung in quick precaution. Under
stand plainly that you and l are TAX
ing the thing up together at this
stage"
His masterful tone did not fail Of
effect on his friends fevered mind,
and 10 him as COMMANDER OF tne
expedition Cornoyer addressed a mod
est request that he might be permitted
TO join it.
II had been dark for nearly an hour
before they set out. and, when they
reached the street. ii was raining.
They went on down the Impasse,
and Quaintance pointed out the
postern. O'Ferral pulled little cleo
trio torch from his pocket and scrutin-
lied the keyhole carefully.
Someone been on: and In quite
lately" he said. Wen have a look
at the front OF this building"
A weatherbeaten board announced
that It was TO let furnished. for term
Of years. and that the keys might be
had from a nearby bakery.
Ito Be Continued.)