Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1915-01-27
CHAPTER K.
Mine EnemY InterVenea.

"a war of wits, in which learn that
am very much married indeed0
stepped briskIy out of my aero
plane and walked over to Zeuxis, who
still crouched abjectly before me. AS
I 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 l
must have appeared none other than
some saint, made manifest out of the
clouds.
The sight OF Zeuxis unnerved me,
but for moment only. At all costs l
must keep the dominance that / had
won. But six and thirty hours re-
manned at most before 1 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 fight with me, to give that
evidence which would save Charles
from the ignominious fate of traitor.
I stepped toward him and touched
him on the shoulder. Get up!" l said.
Then, as he obeyed, like a man dazed,
l 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"
Yes, 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!" I answered, sitting
a desperate inclination to burst into
hysterical laughter. AS Zeuxis dragged
himself along the struggling road, at
his elbow, and the villagers following
at respectful distance, I cast a glance
backward to the aeroplane. l 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 perforcs dis
missed the matter from my mind. At
the very end of the road we turned in
to a small cottage, a peasants howell,
containing but two rooms, yet not I'M
comfortably furnished in their primi-
tive fashion. A tallow candle was
burning upon small table. At the
door a darkbrowed woman stood and
glared sullsnly 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
xts had told me.
"You-you will eat, mademoiselle ?"
faltered my involuntary host.
Indeed l would, for was furnishing.
At a few words from Zeuxis the wom-
an stepped into the kitchen, returning
with a bowl of curdled goats milk, a
dish of black beans and some rye
bread. which she placed before me on
the table I made a hearty meal.
When l looked up at last, satisfied, a
throng of Corsicans was gathered
around the door.
/ advanced to the threshold. BE
gone!" l cried, in Italian. They scut-
tied away like hares. Zeuxis and l
were alone together again, the woman
having sullenly retired into the kitch-
en- after removing the remains Of the
repast l closed the door and began
speaking In French to him.
"You know why have conner" l 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. l
have burned eighteen candles before
l cut him short.
DO you know" began, that an in
nocsnt man stands in danger of being
convicted of having sold the treaty? ?"
He nodded Let him suffer-" he
answered THAT is between himself
and Magniff was only Magniffs tool.
And he betrayed me, the scoundrel!"
he continued. gritting his teeth in
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 none
Will know, and shall draw my sharp
kuife across Leopold Magniffs throat
so"-he initiated the action-"in re-
venge for the money that he stole
from me-"
His words gave me the clue that
had been searching for.
Suppose I promised you an am
nesty," hazarded. ''If tell you that
you viii not be molested, would you be
willing to return to Paris with me and
to give evidence which viii save the
Chevalisr DIVES from shameful con-
Viction?"
He peered at me as II not under
standing. or suspecting treachery.
viii you come back with me to-
morrow in the aeroplane7" continued.