Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-02
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They went on down the Impasse, and
Quaintance pointed out the postern.
O'Ferral pulled a little electric torch from
his pocket and scrutinized the keyhole
carefully.
! Someone has been out and in quite
lately" he said. Wen have look at
the front OF the building"
! weatherbeaten board announced that
: Il was TO let furnished, for term OF
years, and that the keys might be had
/ from a nearby bakery.
Get the keys" O'Ferral ordered
/ Cornoyer came hurrying back, with the
news that the keys had been granted no
/ later than that forenoon to a man who
answered in every respect to his descrip-
/ ton Of the soi-dsant Stephen Quain-
I lance.
! "H'mr' said O'Ferral Steve, think
we've struck the scent. But we'll have
/ to break in. unless you'd perfer TO do
things legally"
Don't lose a moment" Quaintance
whispered IF she's in that Villains
hands. O'Ferral. her life's not safe"
( Quaintance braced himself at his full
/ height against the wall. Cornoyer clam
/ bered on his shoulders and over ii.
] An instant OF expectation followed. and
they heard dull, grating wrench. Then
silence for two or three minutes which
seemed interminable It'll that was broken
/ by a quick creak and a heavy body fell
/ from above at the back of the door. The
door opened.
How did you get in?'' they asked Cor
meyer.
There is a small skylight above. dug
! the glass out OF it's frame"
Looks all right from here" said O'Fer-
raj. in a whisper. Boots off now, boys"
/ They set Off the correspondent leading
the way. II was eerie work. and each
! felt glad that the others were there. They
crept upstairs. and found a locked door
which they could not open. O'Ferral mo-
toned 10 them to pass on in the mean
time. and mounted another flight, where
there were only empty rooms. A third
and fourth afforded no more encourage
ment. and the lamps faint CLEAN showed
that one more would take them TO the top
OF the house.
There were only two doors on that flat
and one stood ajar. The other was lock-
ed. O'Ferral put his ear to the keyhole'
but could hear nothing.
House seems to be empty" he whis-
pered TO Quaintance. who held up his
hand, got down on his knees. and listen
ed for anything the floor might have to
tell He stayed thus for quite a minute
before he got quietly to his feet again.
There's someone inside" he said, and
I at InaL moment were ulSAluCNAg dhdA-
I BILE above the patter OF rain on the roof
( From the darkness below came the duh
thud of door closing. The stairs creak-
/ ed ominously.
stand by" said Quaintance. and they
lined up beside him, their backs to the
wall.
CHAPTER XXI
Maitre Georges is Required to solemnize
Dominic Seager's Marriage.
When Seaxer and Arendsen left the
Blue Rabbit together, and after the lat
ter had induced his half intoxicated COM
panion OF leave the duchesse alone for the
present, had led him away from the pos
/ tern past Quaintance in the shadow Of the
brasserie door, II was almost in the
morning of the last day allowed by. Miles
| Quaintance's will for wrestling his mill
lions from the outstretched hands of char
ity And it infiamed Black Dirck's mind
still more to think that that had begun
/ so I'll.
! They reaged their rooms. Seager threw
himself down, dressed as he was, fell into
a sodden sleep. But Arendsen sat up long
after Paris was wide awake-to the last
day which stood between him and the
loss of that great fortune almost within
| his grasp, only Is hours of 1t left. He sat
immobile, hands clenched. teeth showing,
eyes fixed on vacancy but his brain was
very busy. and when he rose stiffiy from
his straight chair, the frown on his face
had relaxed a little. He had formed fresh
plans.
At s o'clock ne shook Seager into sullen
consciousness. and his accomplice, raising
/ himself on one elbow, glowered over at
him out of bloodshot eyes.
You'll have plenty of time to sleep"
the other assured him, with ominous
/ quietude. after I'm through with you.
And I'll be through with you soon after
! II tonight. Get ready quickly. We're
/ going out"
seager started as he was thus reminded
of the fight of time. rose obediently.
Where are we going now?" he demand
/ ed morosely as they turned toward the
north, bank Of the Seine.
! We're going TO talk to the duke now.
got his address and the story OF his So
called marriage from that man Chevral,
while you were bemuddling yourself with
those others at the Blue Rabbit"
Their errand proved to be vain, for mon
sieur had left his rooms.
They set out to seek monsieur high and
low elsewhere, not to be baffied till mid
night should strike and Miles Quaint
ance's millions be finally beyond their
grasp.
It was already evening before they re-
! turned to the Rue st. Honore and, once
more plodding YEARLY upstairs. found
the oaken outer door OF monsieur's apart
/ ment wide.
Wen walk right in" said Arendsen
determinedly, and did so. CLOSE both
! these doors. and bolt them"
/ Who's there?" asked a curt voice
which came from a curtained doorway al
the other end Of the corridor. rs that
you, Tissot-Latour?"
Arendsen strobe forward without hesita-
ton, and. pushing into the room, found
N. lie Due on his feet. very angry at get
tings no answer TO his inquiry.
who the devil are your" demanded
monsieur, regarding this unexpected in
truder with pardonable asperity.
Arendsen held up a huge hand, and,
"One moment" said he, looking over his
shoulder for Seager.
Tell him that we're here on behalf
Of your cousin, Miss Lorraine" he in
/ structed that individual, and Seager
bowed to the due with ironic ceremony.
| You mean Nine. la Duchesse des