Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1914-10-09
CHAPTER X.
Mine Enemy Intervenes.

"a war of witS, IN which learn that 1
am very much married indeed)
l stepped briskly out of my aero
plane and walked over to Zeuxis, who
still crouched abjectly before me. AS
/ advanced the superstitious Corsicans
gave way again and retreated before
me, running in all directions in fear of
my supernatural descent from the
realms of the heavens. Small wonder;
this was the first aeroplane that had
ever entered the island. To them
must have appeared none other than
some saint, made manifest out of the
clouds.
The sight of zeuxis unnerved me,
but for a moment only. At all costs
must keep the dominance that l had
won. But six and thirty hours re-
manned at most before / must begin
my return fight to France; and during
that brief time l must obtain the
bonds from him, and then, by hook or
crook, so work upon his mind that he
would consent to brave the perils of
the return flight with me, to give that
evidence which would save Charles
from the ignominious fate of traitor.
| stepped toward him and touched
Then, as he obeyed, like a man dazed,
! added in louder tones so that the lis
tening Corsicans might hear:
Have, you not hospitality enough
to offer shelter to such an old friend
as II"
Eyes, yes, mademoiselle," he STAN
mered. Permit me to conduct you to
my house. 1t is but a poor one-not
such as you have been used to-but, if
you will condescend, lady"
Lead the way!" answered, sitting
II desperate inclination to burst into
hysterical laughter. AS Zeuxis dragged
himself along the struggling road, at
his elbow, and the villagers following
at a respectful distance, cast glance
backward to the aeroplane. | did not
like to leave it there. But where else
could | take it? l felt confident that
superstition would restrain any of the
Inhabitants of Scouto from laying
hands upon it, and then perforce dis
missed the matter from my mind. At
the very end of the road we turned in
to small cottage, a peasants howell,
containing but two rooms, yet not un-
comfortably furnished in their print
tive fashion. A tallow candle was
burning upon a small table. At the
door a dark-browed woman stood and
glared sullenly at me before stepping
aside and permitting me to enter.
knew whom she must be. This
was the woman for whose sake the
Greek spy had deserted his wife in
Paris, the woman of whom Nine. Ecu
xis had told me.
"You-you will eat, mademoiselle?
faltered my involuntary host.
Indeed | would, for | was furnishing.
At few words from Zeuxis the wom-
an stepped into the kitchen, returning
with bowl of curdled goats milk, a
dish of black beans and some rye
bread, which she placed before me on
the table. made hearty meal
When | looked up at last, satisfied, a
throng of Corsicans was gathered
around the door.
l advanced to the threshold. BE
gone!" | cried, in Italian. They scut
tied away like hares. Zeuxis and
having sullenly retired into the kitch
en- after removing the remains of the
repast. | closed the door and began
speaking in French to him.
you know why l have Gomez" de
manded
"Signorina mademoiselle, have
mercy" he pleaded. 'You will not be
tray me? All the spies of France are
on my track. have repented, truly.
have burned eighteen candles before
the shrine of st. Christopher! have
! cut him short
do you know" began, that an in
iaocent man stands in danger of being
convicted of having sold the treaty? 2
He nodded. Let him suffer-" he
answered. THAT is between himsel
and Magniff. was only Magniff's tool
And he betrayed me, the scoundrel!
ne CCHCiuuSu, 6llIIIIS ulo lcSth ii
rage "But just wait, mademoiselle
Wait till the spies have forgotten me
Do you know what shall do? | shall
creep back to Paris, so softly that nom
will know, and shall draw my sharl
knife across Leopold Magniff's throa
so"-he initiated the action-"in re
,enge for the money that he stol
from me-"
His words gave me the clue that
had been searching for.
Suppose promised you an am
nesty," | hazarded. "If / tell you tina
you will not be molested, would you b
willing to return to Paris with me an
to give evidence which will save tn
Chevalier DIVES from a shameful cor
viction?"
He peered at me as If not under
standing, or suspecting trsachery.
will you come back with me tc
morrow in the aeroplane?" continued
Zeuxis uttered a scream.
"The acceptance" he cried. Never
II should die of terror | would &c