Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-02

I
he announced. Tell him all he needs
10 know, and ask him how much he'll
take to stand I'm with us. 1t will pay him
/ best to agree"
He sat listening attentively. head for
ward frowning while Seager made mat
tiers clear to the staring due, having
promised his story with the curt warn
ing that they three were quite alone,
entirely cut on from communication with
the outer world, fact further attested
by the urgent ringing Of the door bell,
which no one answered.
Monsieur knew that he was helpless in
their hands. He could easily understand,
too, that they were desperate men. Sea-
ger had told him their side Of the story
in cunning details. They had staked their
all and were determined to win.
Were waiting you answer to our
proposition Sager reminded him
sternly.
| 1T needs no answer" returned the due.
but. since you think that it does-I re-
J fuse"
Tell him that he does so at the risk
of his wife's life, as we'll as his own"
Arendsen suggested craftily.
| L refuse" he repeated, with stubborn
hxity of resolution. My own life is as
nothing to me-and you two will pay very
dearly for any harm which may happen
Nine. la Duchesse des Reeves"
Arendsen started up with an oath which
he could not repress. At midnight Miles
! Quaintance's millions would fall prey to
/ charity. And, since 1t seemed that the
| due could not be coerced, there was moth
| ing left for it but to play his last card,
with which he must, at all costs, recoup
] himself for the loss he had so far suf-
| fered.
ASK the duke how much he's willing
| to pay for the safe return of the duch-
/ h. -.tI nj 1oxr
back in his chair with a quick chuckle
Of amusement.
! Monsieur thought long and earnestly
ere replying. That was not the first time
! he had had to do with blackmailers.
/ He had alsc repented already his hasty
condemnation of the duchesse, his first
suspicion that she had befooled him. And
It seemed that the younger Of the two
scoundrels confronting him was that same
\ cousin who, but for him, might
have shared with her the dead Ameri-
cans millions. He foresaw heavy drain
on his purse, but was prepared to meet
that IL he could not otherwise succor the
/ innocent victim of his own ildoing He
had almost groaned aloud at thought of
what she might have suffered in hteir
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-conspira-
| tor.
1T will cost him a hundred thousand
| francs to settle with me" said that indi.
vidual decisively. And, look here, Sea-
gerl 1t Will be the very worst nights
work you ever did If you spoil this deal"
| Seager's face fell. He would fain have
exacted an equal amount for himself, but
the cold menace in his confederate's hiss
| ing speech caused him no little uneasines
wen take a hundred and fifty thous-
| and francs" he told the due, brusquely
| And you needn't haggle about 1t, 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. Well 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 re-
source And II was no time for bargain
ing.
'Bien, monsieur" he agreed. 81 shall
write you a chez 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 stip-
ulated. "One 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"
II give you my word" said the due,
simply. 'And-nere are the cheques.
They will be honored whenever you
care to present them. Now-let us
go. if you will be so good"
The due followed Seager, and Arend-
sen followed the due closely, but sucn
precaution proved needless, for mon
sieur, having resigned himself to their
demands, had no intention of breaking
the promise which he had made them.
Seated, silent, within the cab, Seager
mad time to think over his own griev-
ances against fate. What were a pal
try $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 almost
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
without a final desperate effort.
"DirckI'' he said, whispering ex-
citedly, while the due strove to under
/
stand, I've got a plan, one that can't
fail us. I'll tell you afterwards. We
must take Maitre Georges along"
Dirck Arendsen appeared to cogitefe,
but only for moment He, too, had
been regretting very bitterly the paltry
outcome of their enterprise
AN right" he answered. wen
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 Arend.
sen until the former came back accom-
panied by a little, mean-lool1ing, black
clad fellow who clambered in with a nod
of greeting, and they drove on to the cor
ner where all alighted. The cab was dis
missed, and, after it has driven away,
the four turned down the cul-de-sac to-
ward the deserted house at the top of
which the duchesse was confined
! Monsieur lie Due was no coward, and yet