The Detroit times., 1909-06-10
Af0LLION
On HudeoND 0uslas
CHAPTER xxIII.-(contInued.)

Seager overheard her He had been
watching them with u ferocious In.
tensity. knew all that he needed 70
know for the present. His drawn face
shaped itself TO a grin. cruel. mock
ing, malevolent. II might be too lace
now to win the hazard himself but
lie could still spoil their chances Of
happiness.
The due Is not dead" he cried
across. Drawing OFerral's uplifted PTS
toll. We only dragged him. He Is
not dead
He licked his lips at sight of the
shadow which came down on Quain-
tance's face. So much at least OF the
score between them, he had paid off.
For. the due living, and since he him
self must perforce give up all hope
OF winning Miles Quaintance's mil
lions. the man whose birthright he
would have usurped was no better
on And neither could gain the girl.
But mis- heart failed him utterly rs
OFerral spoke, With a quiet certainty
which appalled, him. And Arendsen
o also covered and sbuddered under the
portent OF these curt words.
The Due des Reeves Is dead" said
the correspondent. II went down to
Gee him myself You must have drug
ged him too deeply. He's been dead
for a good half hour"
They looked at the clock. II want
ed but 20 minutes to midnight. And
no more was said for a space. so
harshly had the horror of 1t all grip
ped their minds.
IL had nothing to do with II" Ar
endsen urged. his strangled words
breaking the tense silence. Seager
stood huddled shrinking. against the
wall. Cornoyer, revolver in hand. con-
fronting him watchfuliy The mans
lips were blue, his face the color or
chalk.
You'll both have TO answer for X,
anyhow" Quaintance told them con-
cisely. "And the best thing you can
do in the meantime Is &c make clean
breast OF IT as 10 the-Speak up, Sea
ger since that's your name. Let s
hear your story first and from the
beginning. How did you get hold NJ
my papers? And whore are they?"
Seager slowly Strengthened his shak-
ing knees. and stood for moment.
head bent, hands clawing. eyes dart
ing hither and thithor, teeth showing,
like a trapped rat. Then he spoke.
huskily, making full confession. in.
eliminating Dirck Arendsen whenever
he could. But Black Dirck looked
straight before him, and listened,
-spee1hess. The clock licked on in
its corner.
When everything was clear 10 them.
O'Ferral disregarding al! else. made a
quick suggestion TO Quaintance.
Steve" said he. without relaxing
his vigilance, for Seager was cycling
him very closely now, on the alert
for any least opportunity TO spring
past him, steve. saiG he sharply.
the notarys here. with the documents
all drawn out. and--its 10 To IL.
There's a million. a minute to be had
for the taking
Quaintance nodded, without a word.
He crossed 10 the door and locked 1t
on the inside. Withdrawing the key.
Then he signed to the duchesse, aud
she followed him dumtly 10 the fur
thest corner of the long room. They
sat down together there, and the clock
licked on.
The three men. their backs TO the
wall, watched the minutes pass one by
one. and soon, Five millions gone
Ave minutes | mean" said O'Ferral,
warningly But from the corner came
only a faint whispering
You're free now, dear heart" said
Ouaintance 10 the duchess, looking
with new and wonderful knowledge
into the depths of her tear-dimmed
eyes. We've strayed very far apart
In our ignorance. But you're free at
last"
Her heart was beating unanimously.
her white bosom rose and fell storm
ily to the stress within. She was
doubly beautiful In her distress. and
he longed above all things To take her
into his arms, and comfort her there.
IL she would only give him the right
to do that
Il meant very we'll by YOU" he went
on humbly. and surely you will not
blame me for the wrong | unwilling
ly did. Since the very first day | saw
You | have had no peace of mind. and
and ! didn't know then who you
were II is for yourself that | love
YOU, and. II you think as | do we'll
keep our hands clean. let my uncle s
millions go hang. Tell me what you
would have me do. Let me stand be-
tween you and further harm. You are
alone here In Paris. There's trouble
Of all sorts ahead. You need some.
one to see you through. Why not
take me--now-for what am worth.
IL you will? This notary. scoundrel
though he Is. may legally marry us.
The papers are all prepared, In my
rightful name. All ask till you're will
ing TO give me more. is the privilege
of protecting you. Say something.
Dagmar, but-for Gods sake. don't say
no."
She had moved little apart from
him, timidly. What he asked OF her
seemed so absolutely impossible then
and under such circumstances. But
his eyes still held hers inslstently, and
what she saw in them she had no
strength to withstand.
Her eyellds dropped TO hide the
o,,r~oHInr Tho urav haJ hann