The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-06-24
AflILLION
81 HudeoND ouSlas

CHAPTER XVII.
Black Dick Adopts Strong


much of the conversation which
had taken place. He and his ally
had secured Paris, Systematically,
but without result, until that
afternoon, when he had suddenly
been inspired to call by himself
on the two old maids in the Ave-
nue. Marceau, to see what he could
find out from them on his own
account. There were only three
days left in which to win or lose
the enormous stake for which he
was now prepared to back Seager
to finish. Great had been his
citation, therefore, when he had
met the girl herself leaving the
Misses Winters.
He had cursed bitterly after
wards, in the first place because
he had not trusted her to tell the
truth when she had at length and
with unfeigned reluctance given
him her address for her overall
fectionate cousin. Had he not
wasted time in tracking her there
to, he might still have got Seager
to the spot in time to intercept
her. AS it was, it had cost him
so long to discover that untrust-
worthy wanderer, that she had
escaped them again in the interim
1t was very CALLING to have been
so near success, to be once more
baffled.
"Well?" he asked wrathfully
Whats doing? Did you find
out"
"She's gone off with the Due
des Reeves" snapped Seager. his
voice no less vicious. 81 don't
suppose she knows that he's one
of the greatest scOundrels unhung
I'm going to get her from him
and, IL he'll only stand up to me
I'll break his noble neck with q
great deal of pleasure"
Than that, Arendsen could gel
no more out of him, but was con.
tent seeing him thus spurred tc
action. Lately, and fretting I'M
der repeated failure, he had beer
drinking good deal again, was in
too dangerous a mood to stand
Inagging. Silence obtained between
them during the long drive from
the Rue des Trois Freres to the
Faubourg st. German.
PAY the cab off, Arendsen, >
Seager ordered, over his shoulder
and walked up to the nearest gate,
keeper.
II want to see the Due des
Reves," he said abruptly.
A more conciliatory manner
would probably have evoked g
Ipleasanter reply. He would have
been informed that M. lie Due
might be found at his town ad.
dress, in the Rue st. Honore. Al
lit was, the man responded with
lequal brevity.
THAT is impossible"
eff the due isn't m" he
said more smoothly, "I'll see Miss
Lorraine"
That is also impossible, said the
man stubbornly, but his compan
ion was more polite.
There is no such person here,
he asserted.
The reply enraged Seager be
lyond measure.
"Stand aside" he commanded
and made as If he would have
pushed past, ignoring all Arend
sens cautions.
The gate-keepars did not hest
tate to withstand this irritable
lcverbearing foreigner. He STRUCK
iat one, and a fracas began, which
jended In his being ANONYMOUSLY
detected.
Arendsen went across to the
gutter in which the aggressor wa.
lying, half stunned, and, having
first revived him by the old deep.
sea method of biting one of his
thumbs savagely, got him onto his
feet again. When Seager recover.
ed his senses he would forthwith
have besieged the Hotel des Reeves
but his confederate at last sue
ceeded in restraining him from
such immediate folly, and they
were still swearing hoarsely al
one another when there stepped
forward from the shadow of &
near tree a stout, sharp-featuret
individual, who made some essay
to soothe them.
Monsieur has been outrageous
| ly maltreated," he said in French
to Seager. did / hear rightly thaf
he asked for Mile. Lorraine?"
"Who the devil are your" asked
Seager, much astonished by hi.
unexpected appearance and not a.
all approaching his sympathy.
81 might prove friend, i
monsieur would only permit me,
Tho .,nknn nwnfaofaJ z~,o1th1x
1T may be that can serve mon
sieur. My name is Cheyrel-Jules
lChevrel. I was formerly in the
confidence of M. lie Due des
Reeves. / also sought the honor Of
AN interview with Mile. Lorraine
and was turned away with con
tumely."
"You were, Ell? WE'LL Sea,
/ ger looked him over again
Wed better get out of this. Nc
use of butting against stone walls
Join me In brandy-and-soda, anc
well have chat"
He spoke peremptorily, and the
lothers followed him without de
muir. A few minutes later the
gates of the Hotel des Reeves were
thrown wide open again.
The Brasserie of the Blue Rab
bit was but sparsely patronized Al
that hour, and they found its sane
tum quite empty. There they In
stalled themselves at corner
table. and, having given a sleepy
waiter an order for absinthe, ant
brandy, and beer, tried some pre-
liminary tricks of fence until II
was quite clear to all that all wers
rogues, without a scrupie among
them. Then they began to tall
business.
| Look you, gentlemen" sait
Jules Chevrel, after he had swal
l1owed the greater portion of the
liquor the waiter had
just brought him, an example