Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-04-16
CHAPTER XII.
Jaequeline.

Inc Stars were Stlll SHINING Wnen i
awoke in my blanket. lighted a candle.
and stepped into the wooden tub OF
salt water outside the tent.
shaved by candle-light, dressed in
my worn riding and jacket.
then, candle in hand, began cropping
about among the faded bits of finery
and tarnished properties until found
the silver-scaled swimming-tights once
worn by the girl of whom we had
heard so much.
The stars had begun to fade when
stepped out through the dew-soaked
clover carrying in one hand satchel
containing the swimming suit, in the
other gun case, in which, carefully
oiled and doubly cased in flannel, re-
posed my only luxury-my breech-load-
ing shotgun
The Lizard was standing on his door
sill when l came up; he returned my
greeting sullenly. his keen eyes of a
sea-bird rowing over me from head to
foot. A rumpled and sulky yellow cat.
evidently just awake. sat on the door
step beside him and yawned at inter
walls. The pair looked as though they
had made a night of it.
You took my letter last night?"
asked.
"Yes."
WAS there an answer for me?"
Yes"
So | took the letter and read it-a
formal line saying the Countess de
Vassart would expect me at five that
afternoon.
a 7 I,,
tend to be friends with you, and I
mean to make you look on me as n
friend. It's to my advantage and to
yours"
ITO mine 2" he inquired, sneeringly.
"And this is the first thing l want"
| | continued; and without further pre-.
face ! unfolded our plans concerning
Jacqueline.
"Entendu." he said. drawling the
word. sis that all?"
mo, aot all. want you to be my
messenger in time of need. want
you to be absolutely faithful to me-"
And what is there in this. to my ad
vantage. m'sieu?"
This. for one thing" said, care
lessly. picking up my gun case.
slowly drew out the barrels of Damas.
| Gus, then the rosewood stock and fore
end. assembling them lovingly; for II
| was the finest weapon had ever seen
and it was breaking my heart to give
it away.
The poacher's eyes began to glitter
| as fitted the double bolts and locked
breech and barrel with the extension
rib. Then l snapped on the fore-end !:
and there lay the gun in my hands. a
fowling- piece At for an emperor.
Give it?" muttered the poacher
huskily.
Take it. my friend the Lizard" !
| replied, smiling down the wrench in
my heart.
There was a silence; then the poach.
er stepped forward. and. looking me
square in the eye. flung out his hand
! struck my open palm smartly against
his. in the Breton fashion; then we
clasped hands.
"Strike!" he cried; take my friend
ship If you want 1t. on this condition
what l am is my own concern. not
yours. Don't interfere, msieu; it
| would he useless. should never be.
tray you. but might kill you. Don't
interfere. But II you care for the good
will of man like me, take 1t; and
tell me. and I'll not fail you, by Sainte-
Eline of Paradise!"
He turned on his heel. kicking on
his sabots on the doorsill Break
bread with me; ask it." he said, gruff-
ly. and walked before me into the
house.
From the ashes on the hearth a
spiral OF smoke curled. The yellow
cat walked in and sat down, contem-
plating the ashes.
Slowly saffron light flied the
room; Jacqueline awoke In the dim
bed.
She swathed herself in blanket and
sat up. looking at me sleepily.
You came to see me SWIM" she
said.
And I've brought you Hsh's sill
yer skin to swim in," replied. point
Ing at the satchel
She cast a swift glance at her IA
ther. who. with the gun on his knees.
sat as though hypnotized by the beauty
of its workmanship. Her bright eyes
fell on the gun: she understood in a
flash.
Turn your back!" she cried.
l wheeled about and sat down on
the settle beside the poacher. There
came a light thud of small. bare feet
on the stone floor. then silence. The
poacher looked up.
She's gone to the ocean," he said;
she has the mania for baths-like
you English" And he fell to rubbing
the gunstock with dirty thumb.