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

The Postern in the Impssse De Paradis.
.-Confound you, O'Ferral"' Quaintance
cried GROSSLY. Where have you been? 1
sat I'D all night expecting you"
Cornoyer winked warningly from be-
hind but O'FerraI needed no hint as to
his friends unfortunate frame Of mind.
Been to Havre." he rejoined pleasant
". and. having helped himself to a drink
and a cigar. sat down. Caught the 1913
there. and have just got back. Had
hurry call at the last moment 10 say that
I was 10 go. Only time to send you
line. and-here I am. what's doing?'
Cornoyer came forward and Weir
asked Quaintance-
Tomorrow. at dawn said he. behind
a cottage at the edge OF the Bots de Yer
rieres- Pistols. at % PAGES TWO shots
'.One viii be sufficient" commented
ouaIntance but you were quite right
TO agree 10 a second. J. J"
O.Ferral looked grave
y J." he remarked. seeking nc SUI
perfiuous explanations, Il want you TO do
me a favor
.-.Conside- il DONE" replied the other
without hesitation
4 want you TO let me take your place
Tomorrow at dawn I introduced you 70
Newman and you must let me take
hand in this trouble. I'm better situated
s than you for any affair OF the sort. be-
cause I have no family. II / had, -
stand out, as you're going TO do-to oblige
me"
"AH right" agreed Cornoyer with ar
obvious effort IF Newman-Quaintance
doesn't object. have il your own way
ouaintance had taken Cornoyer complete
" into his confidence that morning, tell
ing him the strange story OF Stephen
Ouafntance. his uncle's will. and the girl
who was now the Duchesse des Reeves.
O'FerraI turned 10 Cuaintance with 4
"Au my plans have miscarried most
damnabiy." Quaintance explained The
quick inquiry What's been happen
ing .
dead man on whom bestowed my identi-
~ does not seem 10 have supported il
long There's a spurious Stephen Quain-
lance turned I'D, in the person OF that
verv fellow ]. J. had with him at the
Cornucopia- We met him again last
night but he'd gone before Z found out
what his game was. he muse have robbed
the body q all my papers. and thought
that BY posing as me he might make his
fortune.
But he's just too late. Miles ouain-
tance's adopted daughter is married al
ready She is the Duchesse des Reeves.
The Due des Reeves gave me 10 under
stand n couple OF hours ago that his wife
had M1EAnnEEE@Q~ ana GAAAEu me a AAAE Dr-
cause stated that I did not know where
she was. had never spoken to the man
before. Tomorrow at dawn he and l are
going to settle accounts. on that score
and others
O'Ferral was regarding him with deep
frown.
The duchesse has Disappeared he
said. Now that's strange-very strange.
/ saw the duchesse leave the Elysee last
= ~
OF IN. I know. but the chauffeur was
that same fellow you had at Cornucopia,
J. J.. and who. II seems. is now posing
as Stephen Quaintance. I recognized him
with some difficulty. but I'll swear that
e 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 viii expire, Steve7''
Quaintance was on his feet.
What dates this?'' he muttered. The
sixteenth. It must be tonight. Yes. that's
right. I kept a careful note in my MEM
Dry Times up at midnight.
"Damnationi What a fool was. He
must have kidnapped her. I wasn't both
ering much about him-I thought he was
too late 70 do any harm I must get after
him at once saw him and that scoun-
drei with the black beard at a door In
the Impassee de Paradis. I'll try that first.
III shoot him like dog If
He hurried into his bedroom. mutter-
ing threats. and came back charging a
revolver.
Put that thing down" said O'Ferral
IN his sternest voice. his back against
the door. whittier he had sprung in quick
precaution- Understand plainly that you
and ] are taking the thing up together
1T this stage"
His masterful tone did not fail Of eff
feet on his friends fevered mind. and TO
him as commander Of the expedition Cor
meyer addressed a modest request that he
might be permitted TO join IL.
II had been dark for nearly an hour
before they set out. and. when they
reached the street, IL was raining.