The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-06-30

his first suspicion that she had
befooled him. And 1t seemed thai
the younger of the two scoundrels
confronting him was that same
cousin who, but for him, might
nave shared with her the dead
Americans millions. He foresaw
a heavy drain on his purse, but
was prepared to meet that IL he
could not otherwise succor the in.
nocent victim of his own illdoing
He had almost groaned aloud al
thought of what she might have
suffered in their hands.
He asks how much we are
willing to take" Seager explained
to Arendsen, as soon as the due
had spoken, and looked curiously
across at his fellow-conspirator
1T will cost him hundred
thousand francs to settle with
me-" said that individual decisive
ly. And, look here, Seager! II
VIII be the very worst nights
work you ever did IL you spoil
this deal"
Seager's face fell. He would
rain have exacted an equal
amount for himself, but the cold
menace in his confederate's hiss
ing speech caused him no little
uneasiness.
We'll take a hundred and
fifty thousand francs" he told the
due, brusequely. "And you
needn't haggle about il, my
friend. Let me tell you that my
cousin is cheap at the price, even
without my uncle's money
money that by rights is mine.
You'll give us your cheque for a
hundred and fifty thousand. Wen
take you to where she is, and
you'll stay there with her till
we've drawn the cash."
The due did not hesitate. The
payment of such a ransom would
pinch him most sorely, but he
could see no other resource. And
1t was no time for bargaining.
"Bien, monsieur" he agreed.
Il shall write you a cheque at
once IL you will allow me, and
you will restore the duchesse to
me tonight?"
| Seager nodded sulkily, stung
by the thought that he might
have had more for the asking.
you'll write two cheques" he
stipulated. Zone for a hundred
thousand, the other for fifty. And
you'll give us your sacred word
of honor not to modest us in any
way, either now or afterwards
Il give you my word said the
due, simply. And both are to
bearer They will be honored
whenever you care to present
them. Now-let us go, IL you
will be so good" -
The due followed Seager, and
Arendsen followed the due close
ly, but such precaution proved
needless, for monsieur, having re-
signed himself to their demands,
had no intention of breaking the
promise which he had made them
Seated, silent, within the cab,
Seager had time to think over his
own grievances against fate.
What were a paltry $4,000 to
him in comparison with the ten
millions the man Arendsen at his
side had cost him! There must
be some way out, some slim last
chance for him to clutch at.
There WAS!
The inspiration came to him al
most too late. There WAS a way,
a way not perhaps altogether
clear, but we'll worth following.
They were not going to give ten
millions-and the girl-up with
out final desperate effort.
"Dirck!" he said, whispering
|excitedly, while the due strove to
understand. 1--WE got a plan, one
that can't fail us. I'll tell you
afterwards. We must take Maitre
Georges along.
Dtrck Arendsen appeared to-
cogitate, but only for a moment.
He too had been regretting very
bitterly the paltry outcome of
their enterprise.
"All right he answered.
Well take him along. It's at
your risk"
The cab was stopped. Seager
jumped out, after a hasty word
of explanation to the due, who
sat impatiently with Arendsen
until the former came back, ac-
companied by little, mean-look-
ing. black-clad fellow who clam
bered in with a nod of greeting,
and they drove on to the corner
of the Impasse de Paradis, where
they all alighted. The cab was
dismissed, and, after 1t had
driven away, the four turned
down the cul-de-sac toward the
deserted house at the top of
which the duchesse was confined. /
Monsieur lie Due was no cow-l
ard, and yet he shivered invoIun-
tarily as he followed Seager into
the dark. dank corridor, while
carefully closed and
locked the door.
The little man had not enter
ed, was waiting outside in a state
Of extreme perturbation. For
Maitre Georges, sworn notaryI|
public, and the most rascally II
among the rascals of his profea- II
sion in Paris, had been mixed ub h
In many shady transactions, but II
IN none heretofore which promrIl
sed SO Ill as this. But the adj
vance fee he had pocketed hadIl
been very liberal one. His fears
also kept him quietly waiting II
where he was until his clients II
should call upon him. II
They came forth, 10 minutes
alter, the two Of them, leaving Ii
he room in which they had been
With the due dark and strangely II
silent, and SeaEer, cropping for
him In the gloom. laid hand on
Ills: sleeve. causing him to start