Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-04-16

You are contemplating NAoichSC Va
some order. know II, l feel IT.!
"Not so loudv' impatiently.
you arer' she repeated. crushing
her hands together.
"Well, all there remains to do is to
tell the admiral. He will perhaps d.
vide with me-"
"How can you be so cruel to me-
1t is your safety-that is all ] wish to
be assured of. Oh. am pitifully
weak! / should despise you. Take
this chest Of money; it is yours. &c
to England. to America. and be hap
py."
"Who cares?"
Il carer with sob.
The bitterness In his face died for
Il space "Hildegarde. I'm not worth
II. Forget me as some bad dream
for that IS all l am or ever shall be-
Marry Cathewe. I'm not blind. he
will make you happy. I have made
my bed. or, rather. certain statesmen
have, and I must lie IL It. If I had
known what I know nOw," with re-
gret, "this would not have been. But
I distrusted every one. myself too"
She understood. "Karl. had you
told me all In the first place should
have given you that diagram without
question gladly"
"Wen, ] am sorry. Forget me"
And with that he left her standing
by the side of her chair and walked
swiftly toward the hotel. When next
she realized or sensed anything she
was lying on her bed, her eyes dry and
wide open. And she did not 90 down
to dinner, nor did she answer the
various calls on her door.
Night rolled over the world, with
a cool breeze driving under her mil.
lion planets. The lights in the hotel
flickered out one by one, and In the
third corridor. where the adventures
were housed, only a wick floating in
tumbler of oil burned dimly.
Fitzgerald had waited In the shadow
for nearly IN hour. and he was grow
Ing restless and tired. All day long
he had been obsessed with the cOnvic-
tion that II Breitmann ever made q
start 1t would be some time that
night. Distinctly he heard the light
rattle Of carriage. 1t stopped out
side the gardens. He pressed closer
against the wall. The door to Brett,
mann's room opened gently, and the
man himself stepped out cautiously.
$50" began Fitzgerald lightly, your
majesty goes forth tonight?
But he oyerreached himself. Brett
mann whirled. and all the hate In hts
breast went into his arm as he struck.
Fitzgerald threw up his guard, but
not soon enough. The blow hit him
full on the side Of the head and top,
pied him over, and as the back Of bis
head bumped the floor the world came
to an end. When he regained his
senses his head was p!llowed on a wo'
mans knees. and the scared white
face Of woman bent over his.
whats happened?" he whispered.
There were thousand wicks where
there had been one. and these went
round and round In circle. Present
ly the effect wore away. and he rec
ognized Laura. Then he remembered.
by George
what is it," she cried, the bands
of terror about her heart loosening.
"As hero I'm a picture" he an,
swered. "Why. had an idea that
Breltmann was of tonight to dig up
the treasure himself. Gone! And
only one blow struck and In front
Of it,
"Breitmannw exclaimed Laura. She
caught her dressing gown closer about
her throat.
"Yes. The temptation was too
great. How did you get here" BE
ought to have struggled to his feet ut
once, but 1t was very comfortable to
feel her breath upon his forehead.
81 heard a fall and then some one
running. Are you badly hurt"
The anguish in her voice was as
music to his ears.
Dizzy; that's all. Better tell your
father Immediately. No, no; can gel
up alone I'm all right. Fine rescuel
of princesses. eh?" with an unsteady
laugh.
"You might have been killed."
Scarcely that. I tried to talk like
they do in stories. with this result. The
maxim Is, Always strike first and ques
tion afterward. You warn your father
quietly while l hunt up Ferraud ant
Cathewe."
Seeing that he was really uninjured
she turned and flew down the darl
corridor and knocked at her fathers
door.
Fitzgerald stumbled along toward NJ
Ferraud's room murmuring: "All right
Mr.. Breitmann; all right. But hans
me II l don't hand you back that ont
with interest. Where Is that French
manY" as he hammered on Ferraud's
door and obtained no response. HI
tried the knob. The door opened. Th'
room was black. and he struck
match. NJ. Ferraud, fully dressed. lay
upon his bed. There was a handker
chief over his mouth. and his hands
and feet We're securely bound. His
eyes were open.
The hunter of butterflies rubbed his
released wrists and ankles. tried his
collar, cOughed and dropped his legs
to the floor.
81 am getting old" he cried In sell
communion, ''nearsighted and old. I've
worn spectacles NO long In jest tha
now ] must wear them In earnest"
"How long have you been heref'
asked Fitzgerald.
81 should say about two hours. Il
was very simple. He came to the door
1 opened it. He ctme In. Zut! He Il
as powerful az a lion"
"Why didn't you callT
II was too busy. and suddenly 1t be
came too late. GoneY'
yes" And Fitzgerald swore as h
rubbed the side Of his head. Brief!
he related what had befallen him.
"You have never hunted butterflies? 2
"No." sharply. "Shan we start fol
him while his heels are hot"
II have. laid the trap. He and hh