Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-09
CHAPTER VIII-Continued.


M, Bring the map and we shall de-
cide."
That was final These fishermen were
stubborn folk. as we'll "a curious. thes
had me corucrcd and did not hesitate
shTewdly to press the advantage ANY
other time | should have smiled, but did
no: do - now. | hestated. To snow
the chart 10 them would be only to half
satisfy their desire for knowledge of the
affair. not 70 grant their demand would
put me in the position Of being afraid 10
do 80. and their doubts would instantly
change Ia belief in my guilt = this
knew. for had grown up in avouche.
50 10 speak learning the quirks and erin
l,leS 81 their minds As ] say. | hesi-
tated between the two courses: Del Her
vale had certainly east me into a guam
dary ~ this trick Well. what he would
gain by il was Vet IL be seen
went into the house where ! found
Andrew gazing solemnly through a win
dow ut the small assemblage. Carrying
the silver tankard into the kitchen, |
poured forth the wine into pitcher. ex-
tracted the plug which held the dish in
place and slipped the latter out. The
map was dry and safe.
SET a table on the grass ] babe An
drew.
When this was done I spread the sheet
upon IL where all could see. The men
pushed back their souwesteTS and bent
StoIidly over the chart. no doubt ii car
RED little information 10 their minds. but.
nevertheless, they studied il with salts
faction: they could return to the village
and report that they had, indeed. behe.d
the disputed drawing.
is Pion a liar" Scornfully asked that
worthy. who had been gazing upon the
table eagerly as the others.
1T looks like nothing. one fisherman
said sasely
Nothing al ALL" agreed another
With a stubby foreiinger still resting
upon the sheet Surco0 regarded me. rs
ii fort?'
Yes"
OF France"
No"
'Wiil YOU swear to ii .?
How can | swear when | don't know
of what country it is? But | believe il is
one of GermanyS.
Then why can't you swear
Because ! do not know positively.
tie looked at the map. then at me then
again at the map. All the others listened
with avid ears. Only Jean stood back
pace. with arms folded. declining to join
in their business. For him my word was
sufficient.
France. said a fisherman.
None Will come TO her. Use Your eyes.
nan-this IS German map | declared.
That is true. Charles Woodwork.
f'uI Hdu counted 100 soon upon the
effect of such statement. Here Del
HeTvalle through his pupil. showed his
genius: his scheme had been thoroughly
thought out. no detail overlooked. no pro-
vision against mistake missed Pilon
went on with his part. and il he We're a
ruffian, Vet he was not a fool
"One moment. NJ. le Maire,'' he address
ed Surcon. consider the writing. If il is
a French map for Frenchmen. il would
be in the French language. But il ii is a
French ~ IN l
YOU. would il be written in French or in
German
Mon Dieu. German. to be sure.
Pilon stretched forth one of his hands.
This is a French map in German
OR German map III German, |
countered.
The others stood in silence, their minds
balanced bet zen two opinions. | said
IL was German and my word had always
been respected-and yet stranger things
had occurred than maps being sold to
. reputable people. Pilon maintained il
was French. OF course. every one knew
what PilonS word was worth: yet had he
not been right and ] wrong when he de-
scrbed the map? As for Pilon. he was
Well satisfied with the way affairs We're
going. One thumb was hooked in his
belt as was it's habit: the other together
with foretnger. twisted and twrled and
fiourished first end of his muStache
and then the other. He was in his ele
ment: he stood in the iimelight: he had
nence. which i had temporarily dashed
when ! drove him wading to Lavouche.
From time TO time he cast an insoent
look at me. while the fishermen studied
and weighed and considered. From time
TO time he smiled triumphantly. And lie
Was not Vet done.
ASK NJ Woodwork what a certain
German gentleman does here in La
vouche. if this is not French map for
Germans he said to Surcon. Why
does that gentleman stay here in the vii
lage apparently doing nothing? Did he
not arrive the same afternoon NJ.
Woodworth? Does he not visit at this
house? Is il likely that such gentle
man would stop here if he had not spe-
cial business: Possibly monsieur can in
form us of the nature of that business"
Now. as he concluded and before any
one could speak, Fortune. who had until
now stood neutral. stepped over to Pilon's
side. Ii was a scurvy trick: without any
additional weight of evidence against me
had all tile difficulties to contend with
! could well manage Then to fling an
other weight into the opposite scale,
Vt this instant when matters hung by
hair. tn" German himself strolled out
81 the wood. Surprise sprang upon his
face at the unexpected group before the
door. ne paused, but only for brief in
torNaL then continued To advance. lightly
switching stalks of grass with his bam-
BOO stick. Ills face once more was COM
posed. IL he experienced any curiosity
X.
apparent. and since all eyes were fasten-
ed on him. making retreat impossible he
came forward without hesitation.
But since the gentleman himself is
here. perhaps he VIII relieve NJ. Wood
worth az tho necessity of answering"
continued Pilon.
The turn of the affair was dramatic
and In his favor; the scoundrel could be
nothing else but pleased. Chances passed
among the fishermen. They, too. were
well suited by the dramatic occurrence.
~ for the baron. he looked from one
I" another of the group. until his eyes
suddenly Tell on the map spread out upon
the table However. he BETRAYED no emo
ti"n. Ills look rested on me th-ushtfully.
then he smiled
Il beg your pardon. he said. in French
Was unaware that interrupted a con-
ference. ! will withdraw
Remain. monsieur. Ii concerns Won
SurCon replied. May l. as mayor of the
village OF laNouche. inquire the purpose
Of Your residence on the iSland?'
BY The i!nc that creased his brow |
could see that tile baron was doing some
fast thinking. To come all M once into
council a. ne mad done. to perceive the
map spread open to dozen eyes. the
map which he was determined 10 have
That would have disconnected any man
Mud. further. TO he Immediately asked
the explanation OF his sojourn was under
IN" circumstances. extremely eiubarrass-
Ing. What his thoughts were would
nave been Interesting TO know The
NSherfnen, myself. the open map-what
did he imagine concerning il ALL
We private interests with this gen
tleman. he responded indicating ME bv
gesture.