The Washington times., 1912-10-24
CHAPTER VIII.
A False Samaritan.

~ YLANCE crossed the street to
~ one OF the taverns whose win
IN dows were still alight.
As he entered the taproorn he
saw little party Of Frenchmen playing
cards at q table In q corner. The pro-
prietor Of the place. a rotund man Of
middle age, who wore an apron that
extended from his neck to below his
knees, glanced toward the newcomer
Am / too late to get a support"
Rylance asked in French.
The innkeeper shrugged his Shout
ders, hesitated and glanced thought
rear OF the room. This was quickly
opened and an elderly woman appear
ed. It was apparent that the woman
had heard Rylance's question, for she
'eiS d %SnsisaI would be oon,.n, with
an eme In's some S cold 70 Fowl SYa andG wy"
enough" Rylanee interrupted with a
The innkeeper nodded and tho wo-
man disappeared. As Rylance seated
himself at one Of the tables the man
covered II with q cloth.
1--WE don't often have travellers
those who do come seldom ask for
meals SO late as this"
'1t Is an inconvenient hour. I'll ad-
nit" said Rylance penltently.
Nave you horses to be fedF'
Monsieur. came by boat, then"
after putting me ashore, has left me
here. and here I must pass the night;
Have you q place where / can sleep?"
The innkeeper shook his head:
mo. My house Is small and all the
rooms are occupied by. permanent
guests We have no beds for trav-
"How long win monsieur. stay in
players in the corner. The tone in
which the question was asked indi-
Gated that the speaker had aocomo-
II do not know" Rylance answered.
There was a silence. and Rylance was
aware that all the occupants Of the
room were looking at him with undis.
Ss:s se.Ss d o %as r. Ran Sns
among the fields that had been titled
by their fathers and grandfathers, were
not accustomed to being confronted by
strangers who might remain with them
Ryiance, sitting with one elbow on the
table, thought quickly. What was said
in the next five minutes might either
make or break him.
when truth spells disaster. and when
hope and falsehood are in alliance. This
| was the situation that confronted Ry-
lance now, II he was to retain bis
was must not know. or even be per-
mitted to suspect. the truth concerning
him. He must lie to then.
do any of you know Jacques Boreif'
| he asked.
The card players shrugged their shoui-
mo" said one. There is no per-
SON of that name near Basilton."
Rylance looked thoughtfully at the
II have come all the way, from Paris
to seek him-Jacques Borel," he said.
| He Is my cousin. and when last !
heard from him he was living on the
island Of Orleans"
island" said one Of the card PLAYERS.
True. I know that now, but when
left France I did not know your island
TT Is twenty miles in length and has
an area Of sixty-nine square miles. "
knives, forks, and spoons before his
guest. "Do you not know the name Of
"No. His letters were posted in Que.
land you will search the island fol-
him."
eyes"
You had better stay at one of the
villages then and write to the priests Of
the others. II he Is here one Of the
island priests will know.
How many VILLAGES are there l..
land is about 5000 souls. Most Of ouI
men are farmers. and their homes are
widely scattered. Was your cousin
weli-to-do7
Perhaps he has farm"
An! then he will be better known
than II he were a workman"
sen MI 70 the cards. and the inn:
Keeper seated himself near the table
In few minutes the woman re-enteret
with a steaming omelet. some COLI
Soon an sn,sy aasA .Ss mes.
had eaten since the death Of old JohI
Isbister, In Leeds.
While he was eating IL. no one aderesse 2:
no heed to the stranger: At a tabl,
near the door sat a sturdily built, shah
billy dressed man about ffty-fve year
Of age. His clean-shaven face wa
left cheek. Despite the fact that II wa
July, he wore a heavy. peaked winte
cap. He was reading an illustrate,
French paper. and. though raising hi
been speaking, he apparently was httl
interested In the stranger.
When Rylance had finished his mea
he took from one Of his pockets tn
channels skin bag and from this he drew
one Of the gold pieces II contained. Tn
piece was an English sovereign.
"How much do I owe you, landlord !?
he asked as he pushed the sovereign
toward the edge of the table.
"Seventy-fiye cents, monsieur" re
piled the innkeeper. rising quickly an
approaching the table. He glanced a
the coin, then. as he started for the I'll
behind the bar he said careiessly:
"Ah! you come by way Of England
monsieur"
The fugitive's heart leaped within
him. He remembered that no had give
to the storekeeper two similar coins
coins which bore the head of Quee
Victoria.
as Il not usual to come that way
he asked.
! For the English-yes. Most French
men come by the French lines"
Rylance said no more. Receiving hi
change he pocketed II. He had forgot
ten that Canada, unlike some of tn
other English colonies, had a monetar
system OF It's own, and he resolved I
have his English gold exchanged 70
Canadian currency at the earliest OF
portunity.
He was about to ask again whethe
or not any Of those present could In
= form him where he would be able
. get accommodations for the night, whe
, the man with the cap. who had bec
y - q