Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-15
CHAPTER XII.-Continued.

CHAPTER XII.-Continued.
He stopped. staring past me into an I'M
known and unimagined world. Not cum
ming schemes were the sole food or MS
mind: like other human beings. he had
dreams of fame and greatness. The I'M
penetrable mask in which he wrapped
himself had been dropped for a moment
and I had been allowed to see his auda-
cious soul He would mount to the top
of a great people. he would set his hand
on the destinies of nations. What
dream. How petty seemed the strivings
of his former partner in crime. Douglass.
How insignificant were Forge and La
vouche before the face of such an amei-
ton. And I. Charles Woodworth. had
pitted myself against that seething brain
and vast ambition. / had thought ne
sought a map. when he burned Tor an
empire
He flung away his cigarette.
Il fear you'll see nothing OF reason.
he continued. you are one or the blocks.
one OF the little things, must kick out
of my way: you CHANGED to be the fooi
who stumbled into Forge and saw me
there
Therefore I must remove you. You'll
not give me the map-very we'll. | viii
see if l cannot persuade your servant to
hand II to me before l leave Lavouche.
1t Ia not necessary to my plans. but IT will
be useful" He arose and shook out his
coat tails. Il leave you TO your refiec-
tons. BY reflection one gains wisdom
and sometimes consolation. The latter l
especially recommend to you now. Until
this evening then. my dear Charles
With which farewell he went briskly out.
The personality Of the man remained
with me. seemed still to MI the spaces
man, though a ruthless. Memory OF his
little figure was forgotten; there remain
ed but the boundless scope OF his con-
ception AS looked around me. how
ever. at the walls and roof and floor.
common sense reasserted itself. Five hum
bred years earlier he could have triumph
ed; for his was the mind Of Mazarin.
OF a Machiavelli But crimes were not
the rungs by which men rose to power
in this day and age Of the world.
And what Of Charles Woodworth. the
little block he was about to kick out OF
the way? That. after ALL was the I'M
portant matter to me, not fame ana EN-
pires. The afternoon was wandng--it was
now near 8. II were to do anything
to save myself from ending my career In
The manner Of the mackerel which Pfion
had taken pains TO describe. l had best
be at II. ! glanced about the room: my
ewes fell on one of the stools. With it I
could stand full above the board that
barred the lower part Of the window: but
to what purpose. unless to save toes
Suddenly inspiration fell upon me Ike
u
tween me and a shout for help? Quickly
/ rose went to a stool and began to Kick
II along the floor. IT tumbled and rolled:
but knocked IL forward until II stopped
over and set II right. after which
mounted. The window was composed 0!
six panes: the space between the edge OF
the board and the top OF the frame was
some twelve inches. Between these ! In
serted my head. crown against one OF the
panes. and pushed. Snap went the glass,
whereupon In rushed q gust Of fresh air.
and i heard the smash on the pavement
below. The street was empty. no one
was in sight. Wait until q man shows
up. said 1 to myself. then ! shall use the
voice God has given me!
Such are the vain inaginings of men.
I did not shout when the first man ap-
peared. nor when the second came into
third. For of all the hundred-odd NOV
ing, breathing human beings who might
have opened . door and walked out. II
had to be my three atrocious scoundrels-
stepped from the Inn and advanced to the
door OF their own dwelling. Would they
see the glass which sprinkled the Iaxe-
ment? Did they do so. would they ascribe
whom they had locked in the attic room
At the door they paused.
Pilon shifted the air.
There is fog comng-or rain. he said
That is good. Well not have so far to
go out upon the water"
we will tie a stone to his feet" Des-
carte remarked.
NO, that il not web. Let the current
carry him. Pilon answered. Esper die
not Join In the talk. Perhaps he was
thinking of the watch with the fiashins
jewels embedded in its case.
Would they never go in? With my
head half out of the window I hung
over them in a spell Of terrible fascina
nj he NJ n
who has staked his last handful OF golt
coins in final desperate coup anc
watches the little marble spin about TIT
wheel before his eyes. God knows 1t wa:
were discovered. or IL the trio ascendet
and entered my attic before any othel
man stood in the street. would neve'
find the chance TO shout an alarm The,
smoked and loafed and dawdled: the.
discussed the disposal Of my person a
indiferently as II had been lump o
carrion.
20, la yawned Piion. I'VE shoult
Unless these pigs Of fishermen go 4
bed late We have to row far" Des
carte growied What about som
brandy?'
We'll carry mask to keep US warm.
In the intensity Of excitement that pre-
vailed over me I had now got my hea
WHOLLY out OF tne mole III the WINDOW
So invisible was all Lavouche, with tn
exception of my three jailers. that
might have been a village of the dead
and even these three were discussln
death. Yet II was the most natural thin
in the world. for il was supper time
smoke drifted from chimneys. and 4 coul
smell fish and onions frying. But to m
imagination. inhamed by the prospect c
being kept captive. By the possible dis
covery and estoppei Of my one means Q
communication. and the eventual dis
missai of my person into the sea, ther
seemed I'm the fact of the streets empt
ness q conspiracy of evil powers.
The men continued TO talk and idle an
breathe the evening. Esper joined tn
conversation.
This fellow. now. We should keep hi
q week and squeeze him dry" he sal,
rubbing his long nose. There's none
10 be wrung out of his clothes
Piion twirled his mustache. "Expiai
the joke. nay little Esper''
He Is an orange. Yesterday he ga,
up three drops OF juice for a single que
tion-three dollars. He is too rich
dump all at once into the gutter
Rogue, and you kept them?" Pile
shouted. Without dividing?"
Nay, I kept not the dollars, I spell