Evening star., 1912-06-27
CHAPTER XX.-Continued.


changed. Nor did he answer.
What was the meaning OF the warn
ing" Surcon asked.
That will appear l said There fol-
lowed the visit of the committee. the
terday morning Esper informed me that
Jean had been injured. was asking ior
me. Never thinking of a trap. ] hurried
to the village and came to the door OF
Pilon's house where Jean was supposed
to lie. Then I thought Of the warning
hesitated. but 1t was too late, for was
showed into the room and a blanket nung
over my head. I was then carried up
to the empty third story where was
kept a prisoner. 1t seems that Andrew
and Miss Moore missed me- as | was 70
go to the station In Antoine's cart to
meet my friend. the army officer
That is true" Antoine roared. with
my little Papillon Charles. you never
came. though I had fed him an extra
measure of grain"
Each will speak only when called
upon," he said.
But it is true, Surcon.' Antoine re-
piled stubbornly. "And 1 fed him an ex-
ira measure
'Silence thou!' The owner OF Papillon
subsided into mutterings.
The villagers were with me. II not in
sympathy. at least in interest. Half a
dozen called on Antoine to hush and for
me to continue.
II was a prisoner in Pilons house from
10 in the morning until night. About I
o'clock l broke the pane of glass in
window with my head in order to shout,
but the street was empty, 1t still being
supper time Then Pilon and Descarte
and Esper came out of the inn. and l
was in fear lest they perceive the splin-
ters Of glass upon the pavement. thing
which they finally did Presently my
friend, Lieut.. Harrington appeared COM
ing up the street: l shouted. Pilon rush.
ed into the house and dragged me away
before the lieutenant could discover who
called to him.
Thou lest" Pilon said fiercely.
II speak the truth. During the after
noon Senior Del Hervalle paid me visit
in order to persuade me to give him the
that had been made q prisoner, no, but
because I knew he was no other than the
French mechanic and he was determined
that I should die. Pilon. Descarte and
ESper were to carry me out to sea that
night. stab me and cast my body into the
waters. Pilon had his boat ready. When
I had been dragged away from the win
dow-see, here the glass cut my face-I
gave up hope"
I paused in my story. Excitement in
the room was intense. but 1t was with
tension Of immovability. The fisher folk
ously twirling his mustache and glaring
at me. Del Hervalle's eyes had narrowed
to Sits, though smile rested upon his
lips; old Gaspard had ceased to write. re-
naming with pen poised: even Jean had
given over his surveillance OF Esper and
not new to his ears. Had 1 hoped to pro-
duce dramatic effect, could have been
no more successful.
"And so it came to 8 o'clock: then l
escaped just as was about to be led
away to Pilon's boat. Descarte, Esper
and Del Hervalle were in the room when
I leaped up and hurled the chair on
which / sat 1t struck the senior in the
breast. knocking him over. and l fled
down the stair and into the street.
How did you escape, monsieur" the
mayor demanded, leaning across the
table.
"Esper was accommodating enough to
cut the rope at the last minute"
Something like gurgle sounded in Pr
Ions throat. His eyes darted murder at
he gazed at the floor. while his fiickering
smile came and went. Surcon bade me
go on.
"Descarte and Esper pursued me. l
became confused. ran among the boats
and was cornered. Descarte attacking
me, 1 knocked his knife from his hand.
we grappled and next instant
I was fighting for my life. But had had
neither food nor drink during the day. in
addition to being bound for ten hours-I
was weak-he got his hand on my throat
and almost finished me. Then Esper
killed him and saved my life
Drawing a long breath, l leaned back
in my chair. My defense was made. how
good or how poor 1t was not for me to
say; the countenances Of the fishermen,
which had betokened varying astonish-
ment and excitement during the recital.
now resumed their stolid and inscrutable
look. Moved they had been, but moved
to believe was another thing, though with
that peculiar prescience for which we can
hardly account I felt that I had shaken
Pilons story; the evidence of Betty and
Stevens. slender as it was, supplementing
my narrative, showed them that there
was more here than they had dreamt Of
and that Del Hervalle despite his denial.
merely to shake belief is not enough:
Esper would succeed me, that treacherous
little scoundrel, who would sell his soul
for money. Even at this instant he was
leering at me sardonically, like a satanic
gargoyle. His affirmation Of Pilon's tale
would swing the scale once more to the
other side, and / would, indeed, be brand
ed as a villain or q madman.
There was no one saw you enter the
village when you went to Pilon's house?"
the mayor inquired.
mo, the street was empty"
Mote that fact. clerk" Old Gaspard.
seeking in bewildered haste to remember
rs much of my story as possible and set
1t down, nodded his head. You stated
that you were captured by the German
last night and taken aboard q yacht
There seems a discrepancy. NJ. Wood
WORTH
mot at all. Andrew and Lieut.. Har-
rington were searching for me; they came
up the beach about 10 and met me. 1t
was after we returned to Stag Lodge that
the German sprang his surprise
A considerable pause ensued. During the
interval I again perceived the singular
operation of Stevens eyelid: this time it
was a distinct, unconcealed, bold wink
What did he mean? Had he not told all
he knew. I studied him, watched for a
further sign, but there was none. He
now sat stoEd. apparently Indifferent.
Monsieur, you are excused" Surcon
stated.
rose. glad that the ordeal was fin
ished. 1t was then, as stood ready to
step off the platform, that my eyes
strayed to the group filling the door. At
first l perceived nothing different from
what had been. for I was gazing against
the light: directly, however. I noted sew
eral new heads. strange ones in La
vouche. One man smiled at me and put
q finger on his lips-a wild tumult burst
forth in my heart, sense of triumph
swelled my soul. For the man who had
placed a finger upon his lips, cautioning
silence. was the one person who knew
Del Hervalle for what he was, aye. knew
the villain from tho top Of his bald, shiny
head to the tips of his patent leather
shoes.
And with my first care-free breath that
day. with q singing In my heart, / step
ped down and walked to my seat