Las Vegas optic., 1914-12-03

ueSerLlnB reiaLlVe IN LrOuDle. Su6
ielt relieved when the train started.
Then she stared In wonder and even
suspicion at the other occupant Of the
carriage. There sat a person who un-
til the day previous had been SER
yant, sort Of major domo in the SER
dce of her uncle. He lifted his cap
with serviIe smirk on his face Alma
did not at all like.
"The master is in trouble" he re-
marked. II have heard Of it. /, too,
may be prescribed and am bound for
another country. If mademoiselle will
allow, ! will do what | can to see her
safely across the border"
Alma murmured her thanks She
did not like the man. She was sus-
picious of his ready presence. She
fancied her uncle had said something
about his being untrustworthy. An un-
protected young girl, however, she re-
fiected that because Of his former en-
ployer Boyard might strive to really
serve her.
There was no etoppage to the train
during the long night. Alma did not
sleep. She felt uncomfortably con-
scious somehow of the constant glance
Boyard kept upon her. Was it pos
sible that he knew Of the rich treasure
she carried?
Just at daybreak the train was halt.
ed at little town in the mountains,
A body of soldiers ordered all to
alight; Boyard was carrying the little
satchel belonging to Alma. Suddenly
he disappeared. He did not return,
Then Alma was persuaded that he had
made away with it, believing its con-
tents valuable. Her passport was
gone. She was ordered to remain In
the country.
What fate for the delicate young
girl, when that evening, distraught.
footsore, affrighted, she neared the
| light of lonely hut in the mountains
She dared not remain in the town
where the prejudice against an alien
would pursue her. She feared being
imprisoned, searched, and the jewels
taken from her, so she had wandered
away from human habitations, blindly
hoping some chance might put hel
across the bordei
Once she believed she was pursued
and in the distance fancied she noted
the lurking Boyard Now, hungry
athirst, exhausted, she hastenet
toward the light. AS she neared it {
cry of acute pain came from the hut
| A wild figure of a man dashed by her
The cry from the hut was repeated
Alma entered to find a peasant woman
| lying on a bed in a spasm Of pain.
Then she aroused to minister to tht
| sufferer It was her keen womanll
| sympathy that helped her successfully
The man, who had hastened for neigh
Dor and found no one at home, camI
back frantic. When ne learned, how
ever, of the timely aid of Alma h,
| overwhelmed her with his sincere
gratitude.
| That night there was dread alarm
ut the lonely hut. Half dozen armed
/ nen appeared outside and demanded
that Alma be handed over to them al
a prisoner When Alma recognized
Boyard as their leader she knew tina
he was after the diamonds.
She had learned during the evening
that her host was smuggler of lace
over the border of France, yet in he
dire extremity Alma felt that she mus
trust In him. She told him her stor,
while the group outside were clamoT
ing voeiferously for admission. Tht
smuggler's eyes frightened.
"Ah," he said, you wish to save
your jewels from that horde? Then
can help you and chow my gratitud,
for your kindness to my wife. Tel
me the Paris address of your friends
The diamonds shall be there withir
two days"
And then the speaker whistled fol
a keen-eyed little dog Alma had no
ticed about the place. He secured the
chamois bag about its neck scrawleC
a few lines, and inclosed the screeC
inside of padded coat he fitted to the
dog, and, going to the window, opened
it, dropped the intelligent animal II
the dewy grass and away it sped.
Boyard soon learned that he haC
been bafied. Three days later tn,
smuggler managed to get Alma across
the border. There was great re
union when Mr.. Dacre arrived to fnt
the gems safe and sound, for the SNUG
gler's dog had carried the treasure
safely over the border to trusty friends
of his master, who had sent 1t on Il
Paris.
Copyright 1914 by W. G. Chapman.l
chanLI