The Washington herald., 1911-03-05
CHAPTER XIV.
The Pines of Aitone.

gorges now, OF deep red and salmon
tinted granite, storm-worn, strangely
followed out, as If some Titan's hand
had been at work; and always the sud-
den disappearance and temperance OF
the blue Mediterranean.
The two young women rode in The
same carriage. Occasionally the men got
down out of theirs and walked on either
side of them Whenever an abrupt turn
showed forward, Fitzgerald put his hand
in his pocket From whichever way ii
came, he, at least, was not going to be
found unprepared. Sometimes, when ne
heard M Ferrauds laughter drift back
from the admirars carriage, he longed
to throttle the aggravating little man.
Yet his admiration of him was genuine
What a chap to have wandered round
with, in the old days! He began to real
ize what Frenchmen, must have been
hundred years gone And the strongest
point in his armor was his humanity
he wished no one i'll. Gradually. the
weight on FitzgeraId's shoulders light
ened. If NJ. Ferraud could laugh, why
not he?
Isn't that view lovely" exclaimed
Laura as the Capo di Rosso glowed in
the sun with all the beauty of a taou-
Ious ruby. Are you afraid at all, Hide
garde?'
No, Laura: am only sad. wish we
were safely on the yacht. Yes, yes; l
am afraid of something. I know what.
Il never dreamed that he could be dls-
honest He was a gentleman, somewhere
in his past. 1 do not quite understand
it all The money does not interest my
father so much as the mere sport OF hnd-
ing it. You know il was agreed to dlVloe
his share among the officers and seamen;
and the balance to our guests. 1t would
have been such fun.
And the woman who knew everything
must pcrforce remain silent With what
eloquence she could have defended MN .
DO YOU think we shall find it,? visit
fully.
No. Laura
How can he find his way back with
out passing U.s.?
For desperate man who has thrown
his all or this one chance. he Will hnd
hundred ways of returning.
A carriage came round one OF the PIN
nacIed ca caIenChes II was empty NJ. FER
raud casually noted the number. He was
not surprised. He had been waiting for
this same vehicle. 1t was BreItmann s.
but the man driving it was not the man
was an Evisan small butterfly fiut-
tered alongside NJ. Ferraud jumped out
and sVooped with his hat. He decided
not to impart his dircOvery to the others
He was assured that the man from EviSa
knew absolutely nothing. and that to
question him would be a waste OF time
At this very moment it was not unlikely
that Breitmann and his confederate were
crossing the mountains: perhaps with
three or four sturdy donkeys. their pan
niers packed with precious metal And
the dupe would go straight to his fellow
ConspiratorS and share his millions. Curl
Gus old world!
They saw Evisa at sunset one OF the
seven glories OF the earth. The little vii
laGe rests on the side of a mountain.
rearIy 1900 feet above the sea- the sea
itself lying miles away 10 the west,
V-shaped between two enormous shafts
of burning granite. Even the admiral
forgot his smouldering wrath.
The hotel was neat and cool. and all
the cook had to do was to furnish dishes
and hot water for tea. There was very
little jesting. and what there was Of 1t
fell to the lot of Coldfeld and the
Frenchman. The spirit in them all was
tense. Given his way, the admiral would
have gone out that very night with Ian
terlrs.
Folly, To find a given point in an un-
known forest at night; impossible! Am
7 not right, Mr.. Cathewe? OF course.
Breitmann's man knew Aitone from his
youth. suppose. continued NJ Ferraud,
that we spend two days here?"
What? Give him all the leeway?"
The admiral was amazed that NJ. Ferraud
could suggest such a stupidity. NO. In
the morning We make the search. If
there's nothing there we'll return at
once
NJ. Ferraud spoke to the young woman
who waited on the table. please find
Carlo. the driver. and bring him here"
Ten minutes later Carlo came in, hat in
hand. curious.
Carlo" began the Frenchman, lean
ing on his elbows, his sharp eyes bor-
ing into the mild brown ones OF the
Corsican, we shall not return to Car
ghese tomorrow but the day after"
Not return Tomorrow" cried Carlo
dsmayed. All but the signore does not
understand. We are engaged day after
We have promised. We must return to-
morrow"
Fitzgerald saw the drift and bent for
ward. The admiral fumed because his
Italian was an indifferent article
But" pursued NJ. Ferraud, I'VE will
pay you twenty francs the day, just the
same
shrugged
and spread his hands but the glitter in
his questioners eyes disquieted him.
What's this about?' growled the ad-
miraL
THE man says he must take us hack
tomorrow, or leave us. as he has prom
ised TO return to Ajaccio to carry a
party to Bcnifacio," NJ. Ferraud ex-
planned
Then. il we don't go tomorrow It
means a week in this forsaken holey'
1T is possible" NJ. Ferraud turned to
Carlo once more I'VE will make it fifty
francs per day
Impossible. signore!"
Then you will return tomorrow with
out US"
Carlos face hardened But
Come outside with me-" said M. Fer
raud in tone which brooked no further
argument.
The two stepped out into the hall, and
when The Frenchman came back his face
Was animated.
M Ferraud." said the admiral iciIy.
my daughter has Informed me what
passed between you. I must say that |
you have taken deal upon yourself"
Mr.. Ferraud is right" put in Fftz-
You. too7''
"Yes. I think the time has come for
Mr: Ferraud to offer fun explanations" |
The butterfly hunter resumed his chair. |
They will remain or carry us on to /
Corte. From there we can take the train /
hack to Ajaccio. saving a day and a /
half Admiral, have a confession 20
make. 1t will surprise you, and 1 offer
You my apologies at once" He paused i
He loved moments like this when he /
could resort TO the dramatic in perfect