Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-08-14


as capable an actor as she was. The
accuracy Of her description startled
him; for the affair had been carried
out so adroitly that he had been posi-
tive that until her real captor ap-
peared she would be totally in the
dark regarding his identity. And here
she had hit it off in less than dozen
words. oh, well; it did not matter
now. She might try to make 1t un-
pleasant for his employer, but he
doubted the ultimate success Of her
attempts. However, the matter was at
an end as far as he was concerned.
Have you thought what this means?
1t is abduction. 1t is a crime you have
committed, punishable by long impris.
onment."
IL have been mademoiselle's taller,
not her abductor. And when one is
poor and in need of money!" He
shrugged.
Il will give you a thousand francs
for the name and address of the man
who instlgated this outrage"
All, he thought; then she wasn't so
| sure? Il told you the name, mademol.
selle. AS for his address, dare not
give 1t. not for ten thousand francs.
Besides, have said that there has
been n mistake"
For whom have been mistaken?"
who but Monsieur Champeauxs
wife, mademoiselle, who is not In her
right mind?" with inimitable sadness.
Very WE'LL" said Nora. you say
that | am free. That 10 all l want
| freedom"
In twenty minutes the electric tram
leaves for Paris. You will recall,
mademoiselle," humbly, that we have
taken nothing belonging to you. You
have your purse and hat and cloak.
The struggle was most unfortunate.
But, think, mademoiselle. think; we
thought you to be insane!"
Permit me to doubt that! And you
are not afraid to let me go?"
mot in the least, mademoiselle. A
mistake has been made, and in telling
you to go at once, we do our best to
rectify this mistake. 1t is only FIVE
minutes to the tram. A carriage Is at
the door. Will mademolsclle be pleased
to remember that we have treated her
with the utmost courtesy?"
81 shall remember everything, "
ominously.
Very good. mademolselle. You will
be in Paris before nine" With this
he bowed and backed out of the room
as though Nora had suddenly made a
distinct ascension in the scale OF i'm
portance.
"Wait!" she called.
His face appeared In the doorway
again.
DO you know who am?"
Since this morning, mademolselle.
THAT is ALL"
Free! Her veins tingled with
strange eXultation. lie had lost his
courage and had become afraid OF the
consequences. Free! Monsieur Cham
peaux indeedl Cowardice was a new
development In his character. lie had
been afraid to come. She drank the
tea. but did not touch the toast OF
fruit. There would be time enough
for breakfast when she arrived in
Paris. Her hands trembled violently
as she pinned on her hat, and she was
not greatly concerned as TO the angle
She snatched up her purse and cloak
and sped out into the street A phae.
ton awaited her.
"The tram" she said.
"Yes, mademolselle."
"And go quickly" She would not
feel safe until she was in the tram.
A face appeared at one OF the win
dows. As the vehicle turned the cor
ner. the face vanished: and perhaps
that particular visage disappeared for
ever. A gray wig came on. the little
gray side whlskers. the bushy gray
eyebrows. revealing n clever face, moi
more than thirty. cunning, but humor
ously cunning and anything but scoun
drelly The painted scar aslant the
nose was also obliterated. with
haste the man thrust the evidences oi
disguise into a travelling bag. ran here
and there through the rooms, all bare
and unfurnished save the one with the
bars and the kitchen. which contained
two cots and some cosklng utensils
Nothing OF importance had been left
behind. lie locked the door and ran
all the way to the Place d'Armes
catching the tram to Paris by frac
tion OF n minute.
All very well done. She would b,
in Paris before the police made ans
definite move. The one thing that dis
turbed him was the thought OF the
blockhead Of chauffeur. who had goI
drunk before his return from Yer
sailles. II he talked: well, he coult
say nothing beyond the fact that h,
had deposited the singer at the hous,
as directed. lie knew positively moth
Ing.
Tho man laughed softly. A thou
sand francs apiece for him and An
toine. and no possible chance OF be
Ing discovered. Let the police flnt
tho house In Versailles; let then
trace whatever paths they found; IN,
agent would tell them. and honestly
that an aged man had rented III,
house for n month and had paid him
In advance. What moro could the
agent say7 Only one bit OF puzzle
ment: why hadn't the blond stranger
appeared7 Who was he. In truth. and
| what Ind boan hIa paua7 An ,at.