The evening world., 1914-02-10


to his little office In the yard and turned
over the pages OF the register contain
ing the names OF the passengers who
had booked their seats. Patrlce booked
one for himself. inside. II would be
time enough later to show himself on
.he top when they were Ear away.
Then Patrice called on n. Dc Meyren.
tin and told Of the preceding nights ex.
periences. including the plot to rob the
pay trunk.
And what do you say the accom-
trate.
something like--like Bilbao. DO you
know whom they meant by 'Switch?'
Do you know him."
"Ye.es. slightly" replied the Mag.s-
trate evasiveiy. "And now. young man.
i must Eo-I have not q moment to
lose
II am going. too. Monsieur 10 Jugs.
and have not n moment to lose.
pursuit Of Zoe, ] don't care to stay In
the vautrlns' neAghborhood. And. az
the trains don't suit I am taking the
diligence"
"Oh, is that settled?" asked n. de
Meyrentin. WI: n . certain surprise.
~ have s. 4 booked my seat"
The Magistrate seemed to turn some
thing over In his mind.
Very well.' he said. "Goodby."
And he gave him his hand. But Pa
tricc held IL for . moment.
You appeared TO understand that
sentence. ''Tain't yellow. its red" and
you have not told me what II means
'Oh. It's 4 private matter. Goodby.'
And he walked away. Leaving Pa
trice to ask himself whether the Magts-
trate was not making fun Of him.
Patrice called for a bowl Of milk. and
presently the time came when the
diligence was due to start But he per
ceIved that II was not yet ready. i,
had been brought out into the yard. but
the horses were not harnessed to u and
It stood on three legs. or. properly
speaking. three wheels; the place OF the
fourth wheel had broken down.
The hour passed and the Ave ddsconso-
late passengers grouped around the
great motionless diligence were IN
formed that the wheelwdght wanted
another hour to fix a piece OF wood ia
the felly. They thereupon decided u
abandon their journey for that day.
Patrice. In spite Of his reluctance to
change his plans. seeing that the Jill.
gence was playing him false. and more
firmly decided than ever to get away
resolved to run to Who station, where
there was stll time for him TO take
tho train. on reaching the station the
first person no saw was Zoe. who
seemed to DO looking out for his ar
rival.
After what had happened tho nigh
before. he felt certain that she wal
there on his account, and that. failins
to see him at the manor-house, she mac
told her brothers. who had sent her fe
keen a watch on him. For aught M
knew they might at that moment b'
busy wrecking the line somewhere. WIZ
view to causing his death.
Clear-sighted as were Zoos eyes, ia
tries succeeded In cluding them snt
returned 10 tho Inn In an unspeaisabl'
state Of collapse.
, Eether with the wheel, a fresh ARA!
OF passengers. newly aliGhted from tn
, train. who were taking advantage o
the delay of the diligence to make us
Of this unhoped-for connection wit
. the Chevalet district.
There were fourteen OF these new
, passengers. Never had the yard o
the Black Sun contained such a crowd
1t did not occur to Patrice to feel sur
, prised At this rush of travellers no
at their curious demeanor.
The horses were put to and stoo
shaking their bells impatiently.
"ltll be q nice time to get there.
grumbled Michael. adding between hi
teeth. ~ we get there at ALL"
do you think that we shall rea g
Saint -8arthelemy before dark" Pa
. trice asked tho driver ~ they started.
Not before 10 o'clock tonight" "a
Piled the other. ill-temperedly. crackin
I his whip. We sha'n't be at Mongero
, for lunch until q"
The prospect OF travelling part OF tn
!. night through the forest was far froi
= delightful to Patrce, who relapsed int
=. his very gioomiest thoughts.
Michel was clearly not . talkativ
person. lie did not even turn his hea
e when the young man spoke to him; h
seemed very busy with his horses an
also with the road. which he watche
carefully and constantly with his Iitt
n red-lidded eyes. Patrice was surprise
at being alone on the roof when ther
were so MANY inside, and impaired TIL
=, reflection to Michel, who replied, drlly
= That's their business"
e Most of the passengers stepped ol
" Ell the diligence began 10 toll uphill
Only two travellers with a large port
mantesu did not sur from their corn'
Q on the back seat. near the coupe. The
A. "A. 80 A. b h.