The evening world., 1914-02-10

did not get down either. He fsit not the
least inclination to stroll along the road
side and gather wild flowers.
The journey continued thus. monoto-
rously and without Incident. until Nom
Geron, where they arrived ~ . O'Clock
and where . cold lunch was served.
Then. In the afternoon. they entered u .
forest.
It might be 8 o'clock in the evening
Loup. so-called because the hill "
overhung by Q rock which. with .
slight stretch OF the imagination, AL
most resembles the shape Of wolf.
The coach was once more emptied or
It's passengers: and Michel. dosing on
his box. was letting the reins drag On
the horses cruppers, whom he was sud
denly reused from his slumbers BY q
voice that shouted to him from the
road:
''Dont 20 to sleep. Switch"
Patrice's own eyes were suddenly
opened. Switch! Who had shouted
for? Hs bent over the road and aAw
standing by the horses q man who. un.
III then, had stayed inside the coach on
all tho hills, one Of the two who had
hustled him on tho step. In the morning
a. they were ufting In the small. heavy
portmanseau. He was o irttle wixened
chan, with a cap on his head. and his
APPEARANCE corresponded pretty Hneeiv
with the description which Hubert van
trim had given Of ham when tetan9 nis
brothers about switch and the lNoe
bloke."
The little wizened chap had his nose
In the air and was looking up. half
iestins(y, At the driver. who playfhiy
xaye him one with his whip between
the legs.
Patrice moved his eyes from mo road
to tho box Of the diligence
What! he said, With an agtatni
which ne did not strive TO conceal
"Are you Swltch?" a..
What's rhat to do with YOU NJ!
names Michel Pottevln. but they con
me Svitch In these parts for fun"
Patrice was unable TO reply ~ once
The w,zens cd little fellow In the cap hat
scrambled up beside Michel and wa
Whispering In his ear. Tne oghol
shrusred his shouaders The little chaS
got down again and Switch said;
"Well end good, II II suits YOU l"
not keen on II. myselN -. a..
A strange gleam suddenly w UP tn'
situation In Pstrtcs's bewfdered Drain
was there ever such tuck ~ his! Here
VA. ne takdng the diligence to ESCAPE
adventures and finding himself let u
for one If the most danger0is aneil1
inasinable since tho attack on eh'
LyOns mail; Q coach robbery
The heavy little portmanteau CON
,ajned tho cash TO pay the worksnen
and Il did rot take much 70 euess "'s
kind OF cashier to which all thoce pa
sonsers belonged. He UNDERSTOOD y
ali: the two and = half hourS de'Ay u
the diligence. ~ ~,
An, the Magistrate had taken all IN
time he wanted, after contrl"nN w.. W..
protect,on Of the two hundred thou
sand francs, It was no who had sem
M tho prefecture by special train. 10,
ali those sham peasants, with tho aN
N whom he hoped to lay hold OF tn'
yautrin gang, tho whole gang, IN
Three Brothers. and the mysterious AZ
Have you a five.frsnc piece aoou
your suddenly asked the driver
What forT'
'CTve It to mel" said the other, tax
ing tho coin which Pstace produces
from his pocket.
And no threw It to the little wixene'
man who stood In the midst OF IN
group. cap In hand. Tho little MAJ
picked ND the Hve.franc pisce wNhou
, asking for expla nations and climbed IN
bank few steps away.
This bank was surmountsd by u
enormous Wolf Stone which vas see
no clearly from the bottom OF tho hll
Tie hung or to tho stone ana emptis
the contents OF his cap into hoiio'
, In tho stone. which emitted q silver
, sound. Then he threw tho hvc-fran
piece In and scrambled down again.
Patr!ce watched this perfornsnc
a.. NJ