The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1910-07-22
=, CHAPTER XVI.
Continued.

as If his heart were breaking. He
drew together branches and leaves;
made them into a rough pillow with
his own coat over them, and kneeling
beside her chafed her cold hands.
The other two men proceeded to
make a minute search round the hut,
but for a long time could discover
nothing. Suddenly Arthur caught
sight of some tiny glittering spark
upon the ground and pointed to it.
It was the diamond which had
dropped from Antoinette's hand when
she lost consciousness. He spoke in
a low voice.
Look there, my friends he said.
"It is possible that in the ground it.
self you may find something to re-
ward your search.
The spirit of the chase was upon
them now. They knelt down and
with fingers and rude pieces of wood
tore up the soil.
The earth yielded up her secret at
last The fragment of wood with
which Tasset was digging hit upon
something hard. He renewed his ex-
ertions, and with both hands drew
to the surface the black leather case
that Arthur Denstone knew SO well.
"That is it," he said, quietly. "You
have discovered it. See, the lock is
broken"
The Bramah lock was- torn open,
and the box was only fastened by
leather strap. They loosened it and
raised the lid. Tasset put in his
hand, raised it, and let the contents
fall back into the case, a shower of
diamonds, shimmering and shining in
the f1aring light.
The looked at each other with
strange looks, and the Cure crossed
himself For this an unhappy sin
ner has sold his immortal SOUL" he
price of blood!'
ST think it would be best to return
them to the same place of conceal
ment for the present." said Monsieur
Tasset to Arthur. What do you say,
Monsieur? Or do you think that we
are now at the end of the quest, and
may go home again."
at his companions with despairing
eyes. "The task is not done," he
said. Heaven help her, the worst is
still to come. She would not have
entered upon the quest merely fol
this and he pointed to the treasure
''It was to save life and to fulfil the
ends of justice; to save from injus
tice. You will, in my opinion, de
very wisely in burying them once
more. We do not know where we
may be led tonight. Let us not be
hampered by that treasure"
The Cure and Monsieur Tasse
agreed; in few minutes they ha(
replaced the box and destroyed al
traces of the earth having been dis
turbed. There was nothing for i
now but to wait until Antoinett
awakened from her swoop. They sa
down, leaning against the rougl
walls of the building. Arthur con
tinued kneeling by her side. Grad
ually it seemed to him that the swool
had passed into deep sleep. TIL
other men slept also. There was
profound silence. The hours role
on, and the first white streaks o
dawn appeared in the east, and
slow gray twilight spread over tn
sleeping world.
Then quietly, silently, Antoinett
opened her eyes. She sat up with
strange bewildered look, and a star
of terror as she perceived her strang
surroundings. Arthur, bending fol
ward eagerly, saw no sign of recog
milton in her glance. At her sligh
movement the other men awoke, raj
idly on the alert again.
Antoinette put out both hand:
groped a little blindly till the
reached the wand, then once NOR
the terrible Medusa look came bac
to her face. She stopped suddenl.
and once more came from her liz
that awful sound of exultation. Sh
had between her fingers now an ol
at each other 1t was a kid GLOW
the glove of a gentleman.
Antoinette once more led on tt
fearful pursuit. The grey light sprea
upward and increased; an ice CO.
wind rushed round them; the graz
under their feet cracked with an ca
ly frost She led them straight baC
across the forest and down the viii
highroad, straight through GouC
into the inn in which Arthur hs
= slept the night before, and, witho1
moments pause, up into Paul L
dues bedroom.
She did not wait there; she we
ali around the room, then turned
go again.
But by this time, early as it wa
not five O'Clock, a report that som
thing strange had transpired respec
ing the murder of Mon Repos h;
got about; and a further rum
spread from mouth to mouth that Il
English stranger had set bloc
hound on the track of the murdere
The crowd began to gather round Il
doors of LA Pie Blanche" a gapin
staring crowd, augmenting every N
ment.
With a generous determination
afford all the protection in their po'
er, the Cure and the Mayor bo
pressed forward close 10 he IS T.
went out into the open street.
Arthur s4atched up a shawl tn
Law on the staircase. Could he b
throw it round her, but veil her
little from the crowd, he felt wou
be something; but already they h
closed in behind her. He was part
from her. Only by strong eIerti
could he regain his place by her sit
Antoinette passed straight throu
the town, across the market pla
where the market women left tn
goods and Joined in the hue and C