Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-04-09

denial. and never soul to tell him 10
Is mad
The scars faded q little, but Brett.
mann's eyes never wavered
THE man hasn't ghost or
chance" To Fitzgerald It was now no
puzzle why BreItmann's resemblance
to some one else had haunted him.
He was rather bewildered, for be had
not expected 50 large an order upon
M Ferraud's promise. Fifty years
ago.
"Ahl Fifty years ago." interrupted
N. Ferraud eagerly. II should have
thrown my little to the cause. Men
and times were different then. The
world was less sordid and more ro-
mantle"
"Well. I shall always hold that We
have no right to that treasure"
"Fiddlesticks. Laura! This Is no
time for sentiment. The questions
buzzing In my head are, Does this man
know of the treasures existence?
Might he not already have put bis
hand upon IT.
"Your own papers discredit that sup
position" replied Cathewe. "A stun
ming yarn. and rather hard to believe
in these skeptical times. What is itT
he asked softly. noting the dead white
ON Hildegarde's cheeks.
"PerhaTm II Is the smoke" she an
swered with a brave attempt at a
smile.
The admiral In his excitement had
lighted heavy cigar and was con-
suming II with Jerky puffs.
81 should like to know the end Of
the story" said Rreitmann musingly.
'There is time" replied N. Ferraud
And Of them all only Fitzgerald caught
the sinister undercurrent.
The dinner came to an end. or. rath.
er. the diners rose. the dinner having
this hour or more been cleared from
the table. and each went to his or her
stateroOm mastered by various de
grees OF astonishment Fitzgerald
moved 10 a kind of waking sleep. Ma
poleon "! That there was bar sin
lister did not matter The dazzle "a.
dated from a single points, dream OF
empire. 81. Ferrnud had not jested
Breitmann was mad. obsessed. q mon.
omaniac. IL was grotesaue: trou
bled the senses as harlepuIn's dance
troubles the eyes A great grandson
Of Napoleon and plotting TO enter
France. And. good Lord. with whatl
Two million francs and half q dozen
spendthrifts Never bad there been q
wilder. more hopeless dreamer than
this whatever antagonism or singer
ne had barivr.d against Brei,mann
evaporated Poor devil. indeed.
He understood NJ Ferraud now
Breitmann was mad. but till he made
a decisive stroke no man could STAY
him. No many things were clear now
lie was after the treasure. and he
mesnt 10 lay nls hands upon u. psa"r
fully ~ be- could. violently n no other
way opened Like the admiral. fitr
gerald wished that there were no No
men on bosrd. There would be con
iesf of som. order going forward
where only men would h. needed
Pirates. Tie rolled into bis bunk with
q dry laugh
Meantime " ferraud walked The
deck alone. and finally when Brett.
mann approached him u was no morr
than he had been expecting
Among other things began the
secretary. with ominous calm. y
should like to see the impression OF
your thumb"
'SThaf Iork was an ingenious con.
trivance. II was only by the merest
accident I discovered H."
1T must be vile business"
Serving ones country: do not
agree with you Wait a moment. Mr..
BreitmHnn. Let US not misunderstood
each other. do not know what fear
is, but do know that am one Of the
few living who put above all other
things IN the world France-France
with her wide and beautiful valleys.
her splendid mountains. her present
peace and prosperity. And my life Is
nothing II in giving 1t may confer
benefit"
"why did you not tell the whole
story? A Frenchman and to deny
oneself a climax like thisT'
M. Ferraud remained silent.
"If you had not meddled. Well, you
have, and these others must bear the
brunt with you should anything sc
rious happen"
"Without my permission you Will
not remain In Ajaccio Il single hour.
But thai would not sntisfy me. ]
wish to prove to you your blindness.
will make you a proposition. Tear
up those papers. erase the memory
from your mind. and ! will place In
YOUR hunds every franc Of those two
millions"
Breitmann laughed harshly. "You
hive said that am mad. Very well.
am. Hut know what ! know. ana
| shall 70 on to the end. You are
clever. do not know who you are
nor why you are here with your warn
ings. But this | will say to you. To
morrow we land. and every hour you
are there death shall lurk Mt your el'
bow. 10 you understand meY
Perfectly. So well that shall let
you 70 freely"
Il warning for each. then. only
mine has death In 1t"
"And mine nothing but good Will
and peace"