Evening star., 1912-06-10
CHAPTER IX.-Continued.


was plain to see that there was little love
lost between the rogues: Esper and Des-
carte squirmed under their leaders domi-
neering. I handed him the dollars. Three
facts I had discovered as a result OF our
brief transaction: Del Hervalle was keep
ing the men In his pay for some purpose
or other: Pilon had aroused the secret
jealousy OF the other two by retaining the
major part of the hire money. and this
rascal in front Of me could be purchased.
Esper proved to be not such an un-
pleasant companion as l had imagined.
He possessed a certain lively form OF wit.
and regaled me with tales OF escapades
through which he had passed in various
European cities. BY a natural inference
he should now have been in the galleys.
but when mentioned that fact to him he
looked at me in panied surprise.
What the galleys for rev little
jestsn' he exclaimed.
Descarte. who had been sent to watch
the baron. did not find his task so
pleasant. The German simply ignored his
presence. made no response TO the man
ed him about until the fellows feet were
blistered. As l amused myself by joking
with Esper, Won Hussman took his pleas
ure in seeing the other fellow exercise.
As he told me afterward. he had In the
beginning no intention OF making Des-
carte earn his wander's pence. but when
the man protested that his feet were
growing sore the baron then deliberately
put himself in motion. Lavouche could
not interfere; indeed. Il began TO see the
humor Of the match. Won Hussman
walked from the village to the dock OF
La Dent: he followed up the main beach
five miles to the lighthouse: returning
ne made me brief visit, circled the
island and went south. BY noon he had
covered fifteen miles. Descarte thought
at last he was done. but he did not guess
the depths OF Teuton villainy. At l
O clock Won Hussman set forth again and
walked this time ten miles beyond the
lighthouse They arrived at the village
toward evening and entered the inn.
Madame" said the baron. bring me
a pint OF wine. must walk thrice around
the island before supper. Afterward--"
But there was to be no afterward for
Descarte. He staggered to a table and
fell into a seat.
Mon Dieu, mon Dieu! This wild beast
has killed me!' he cried; and sat In
stupor until the inn woman brought him
glass Of brandy.
About the middle of the afternoon Jean
came to inform me that both letter and
telegram had been sent and were now
speeding toward New York. That eased
my mind Of weight. With Maitland
and Mr.. Fenton present to identify Del
Hervalle as the D'urville Of Forge. thief
and murderer. even Mr.. Moore could no
longer deny acknowledgment OF the mans s
identity. Cheered by this thought and
having fresh confidence that now things
would begin to run Alright, l set out Tor
Moore House with my mind made up to
lay aside worry and enjoy Betty's COM
pany. Whether Esper would have the
courage. or perhaps the better word Is
audacity. to follow at my hees into
Moore House was question whose sOlu-
ton afforded me minor interest. The
rascal did not oppose my movements: at
a meal better than he had tasted for
many day. and this. with a handful OF
cigars which / discovered he had appro-
priated from my jar. kept him In good
humor. Andrew. to be sure. was Mortified
at having such guest at Stag Lodge.
but then Andrew was always fastid GUS.
found Betty and Muriel Nesbit UP on
the lawn.
.Who is that?" they both exclaimed.
when they beheld Esper lounging at my
side.
This is my squire" The little French
man smirked. Take of your hat"
ordered. He did so. And retire to that
tree"
He held out bis hand.
What do you want?"
Tapping his trousers pocket SO that the
dollars l had given him linked, he low-
cred one eyelid and again sire ched forth
his hand. This was bargaining carried
too far. / caught him by the scruff OF
him to the tree to which / had earlier
pointed.
"Oh. la, il you desire. monsieur" And
he composed himself in comfort.
I'm the name of mystery, what does
this mean?" Muriel exclaimed.
THAT fellow Esper presumed on our
new acquaintance. The village has taken
1t into it's head that I'm about to injure
France by selling q document have to
Germany. Hence. Esper. He is my
guard"
How ridiculous
ION the contrary, it's serious. I'm q
watched man. When Lavouche makes
up its mind to do a thing. Lavouche does
1t in earnest. The esteem in which !
supposed myself to be held by the good
vii ayers has turned out to be suspicion.
and this fellow has been assigned to act
as my guard
They looked at him as if he might have
been strange fish out Of the sea-a
in Lavouche waters. Unembarrassed.
pleased in fact. as he afterward related
to me. by the fine attention Of such beau
nful ladies. an honor he had rarely been
accorded, he smirked and smiled impu-
IDENTIFY and cooked his old hat on one
side.
We strolled upon the lawn. Some time
later a servant approached and informed
me that Mr.. Moore would be pleased to
have me join him in the library. Making
my excuses to the young ladies. fol-
lowed him into the house and to the room
designated. where l found Mr.. Moore,
Senior Del Hervalle and the latter's Sec
retary. all sitting about a table. The top
was strewn with papers: the gentlemen
were busy on diplomatic affairs An
between the representative OF our goy-
ernment and that Of Venezuela In regard
to a certain concession which an Amerf-
can rubber company had purchased In the
republic to the south and which had SUBJ
sequently become involved In dispute.
The company had appealed to the United
States government; this was one OF the
minor matters which had occupied Mr..
Moore while upon his mission and en-
gagged him now during his sojourn here
in Lavouche. wnere he and his guest
might work without interrurtion and en-
JOY the COO ness of q northern climate.
A memorandum OF agreement had been
prepared, and as they wished witness
name appended to the same before they
submitted Ii to the various parties con-
cerned, affixed my signature to the
papers. In the course Of the converse
tion I learned that Senior Del Hervalle
would presently return to Venezuela. The
most pressing matters upon which the
two men had been negotiating had been
concluded: others would be
later settled: a week. perhaps, would yet
he necessary to discuss certain details
and arrange for a future continuance Of
diplomatic inquiries. In a week at the
latest Senor Del Hervalle planned to take
his departure from Lavouche to visit
New York, Washington and afterward
sail to South America.
And during that week? l looked at the
plump Frenchman: he complacently re-
turned my gaze. Suave. dignified. pleas
ant. garbed in his official frock and wear