Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-05-14

you want; you want to go in yonder
and use the telegraph. What the
DEVIL" he burst out, do all you bour-
geois want with that telegraph in
there?"
HAS anybody else asked to use it?"
l inquired, disturbed.
Anybody else?" he mimicked.
well, / think SO; there's somebody
in there nowhere, give your hundred
francs or l tell you nothing. you un-
derstand!"
"Who is in that hut?"
"a lady-she comes often-she
gives ten francs each time. Zut!-
what is ten francs when a gentleman
gives hundred! She pays me for my
complaisance-bon! Place aux danes!
You pay me better-bon! I'm yours.
pulls the trigger!"
"Wait here" said. disgusted, and
walked toward the stone station.
The side door was partly open; l
stepped in noiselessly and found my
self in small. dusky closet. parti-
toned from the telegraph office. I'M
mediately the rapid clicking of the
Morse instrument came to my ears,
and mechanically read the message
by the sound as it ratified on under the
| fingers of an expert:
| Must have already found out that
the signals were not authorized by the
government. Before the Fer-de-Lance
returns to her station the German
cruiser ought to intercept her off
Groix. Did you arrange for this?"
| There was a moments silence. then
back came rafting the reply in the
Morse code, but in German:
| "Yes. all is arranged. The Augusta
took French merchant vessel of
Pont Aven yesterday. The Augusta
ought to pass Groix this evening. You
are to burn three white lights from
Point Paradise if landing-party Is
needed. 1t rests with you entirely"
Another silence, then the operator
in the next room began:
1.-The insurgents here. under an indi.
vidual in our pay, one John Buckhurst.
are preparing to wreck the train at
the Lammerin trestle.
'If the Augusta can reach Point
Paradise tonight. landing-party could
easily scatter these insurgents. seize
the treasures, and re-embark in safety.
There is. you declare. nothing to
fear from Lorient; the only thing.
then, to be dreaded is the appearance
of the Fer-de-I.ance off Groix. She is
not now in sight; will notify you II
she appears. II she does not come
will burn three white lights in triangle
on Paradise headland. This is all. Be
careful. Good-by."
"Good-by," clicked the instrument in
the next room. There was a rustic OF
skirts, tap of small shoes on the
stone floor. l leaned forward and
looked through the little partition win
dow; Sylvia Elven stood by the table,
quietly drawing on her gloves. Her
face was flushed and thoughtful.
When she had gone, closing the out.
er door behind her. sprang to the
key, switched on, and at a venture set
the switch on the arsenal line, got a
quick reply. and succeeded in alarm
ing them sufficiently, think. for in a
few moments / was telegraphing di.
rectly to the governor Of Lorient, and
the wires grew hot with an inter.
change of observations. which resulted
in my running to the locker. tumbling
out all the signal bunting. cones. and
balls. sorting five flags. two red cones
and ball, and hastening out to the
semaphore.
had set the signal for the Fer-de.
Lance to land in force and wipe Buck.
hurst and his srotesque crew from the
face OF the earth.
ROLAND" ! said. here is another
hundred francs. Watch that halyard
and guard it. Tonight you will string
seven of those little lamps on this
other halyard, light them, hoist them,
and then go up that tower and light
the three red lamps on the left. That
lady will never come here again.
think. IL she does, she must not touch
those halyards. DO you hear? If she
offers you money, remember will
double 1t. But, ROLAND. If you lie to
me ! will have you killed as the Bre.
tons kill pigs; you understand how
that is done?"
Walking fast over the springy heath.
l told Speed briefly what had done
that the treasure-train would not now
leave Lorient, that as soon as the Fer
defiance came in sight of the sema.
phore Buckhurst's game must come to
an end.
Far ahead of us we saw the fiutter
of light dress on the moor; Sylvia
Elven was going home.
| "A spy!" rnuttered Speed.
~ think" said l, that she had bet
GER leave Paradise at once. Mornac
) knows her racori. Agckhurst would
/ / )tray tsr in q slcnept II he drought
4. might save his -'wr skin. She ought
!, to loave before the Ferde.Lance sights
the semaphore and reads the signal to
land in force"
Then you'll have to tell her." he
said gloomily.