The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-11-02

| to her and she recognized me with
a little fluttering cry OF welcome
that made my heart leap again
this time almost to suffocation.
Another moment and | was beside
her.
While darkness was not absolute,
as on the stairs below. yet 1t was
! impossible for me to make out the
surroundings.
"You are alone?" I asked to as
sure myself"
Eyes, Monsieur, / am now" and
/ could distinguish tremcr to her
voice. But he. was here an hour
ago. IL thought he was coming
back-he-"
He? Whom do you mean?"
do you not know. Monsieur, who
is here? who is the head Of these
bandits7"
you mean the villain La Porter"
THAT Is what they call him
yes. But did you ever meet any
one who really knew who that arch
flend was?"
mo. Mademoiselle. IT'S said
even his heutenants never look up
on his face unmasked. And do you
mean to say you have seen the fel-
lowf that you recognized him?'
She breathed hard. Eyes, Mon
sieur.' she whispered, as tho fear
full Of the very shadows. He has
talked with me unmasked. He
came first in disguise, thinking I
would not know who he was, but
from the very first word he spoke
I knew him."
But you have not told me-who
is the man? Do l know him?"
THE kings friend, the Duke de
Saule."
Il doubt 1t not" l said. Il met
his man, Gospele. below, and made
him tell me where you were."
And the dwarf-he has gone to
tell?"
Not he! I took no such chance
as that. And what is the dukes
purpose in this outrage?"
ITO compel me to marry him.
He told me, laughingly, the whole
plot. was victim Of his plans
before I even left Paris. 1t was ar
ranged that / should carry the dis
patch to Louis. There was no dis
patch; only a blank sheet of paper.
enclosed in an envelope, stamped
with the official seal of France. All
tn = wished was to get me alone
away from Paris, here into st
Quentin. where I would be helpless
and without friends. The very
guide they sent with me was in
de Saule's pay, with instructions
where to be at a certain hour. It
was the unexpected coming of the
English scouting party which dis
arranged the plot.
de Saule's party was not large
enough to attack them, and could
only skulk about In the dark, seek
ing some chance to lay hand on
me. Then fortune favored them.
They we're hiding In the very hut
beside which you left me. The
first | knew | was seized roughly
and cloth flung over my face.
could not scream, or make the
slightest cutlery.
They dragged me with them
there were five In the party-and
they must have had a horse, for
/ was lifted to the back Of an AMI.
NAL, and bound there with ropes.
AT last, and while 1t was still
dark, We arrived at this old castle
they call 1t Roisel, Monsieur-and
they kept me down below until day
break, because they were all afraid
of ghosts, and none would venture
up the dark stairs. Then they led
me up here, and locked me In. Not
until I saw the dwarf Gospele, did
l ever dream Of why I had been
captured. Then suspected de
Saule might be behind 1t all"
And he was! he came himself"
1.-TWO hours ago. He pledged
me instant release IL would marry
/ him. l am sure he told me more
than he meant to tell, but he
thought I would admire him IL he
boasted OF what he had done, and
could do"
did he tell you he held your
brother prisoner also?"
Yes, but | knew that was not
true, altho / did not tell him.
Where did you hear, Monsieur
from Gospele?"
1T was part Of his tale. but
cannot deem 1t possible" l replied
regretfully, telling her Of the empty
cell. Believe me, Mademoiselle,
do not know that your brother is
dead. 1t may indeed be that the
capture OF d'Enville was also a part
of the plot, yet 1t is my judgment
that these fellows have made prls.
oner a man resembling the cheva-
lier-of the same rank-and have
taken 1t for granted II is he"
"Oh, Monsieur! hope he is not
here In the power OF these cruel
men, and | pray that he be alive
II cannot bear to think that
that you killed him."
You care then? and for my
sake?"
How could I help It, Monsieur?
You have been my friend. I can
not bear to think that Charles
d'Enville died from your hand.
Hushl What was THAR"
It was some movement below US
ON the dark stair.
CHAPTER XIV.
We Face the Situation