Jackson County journal., 1919-08-15
Copyrights w. @. Chapman

had killed somebody, and must save
her!
Suddenly I realized that my eyes
were wide open and that l was star
ing at the moon over the housetops.
With consciousness came pain. Ny
head throbbed almost unbearably, and
l was stiff with cold. l raised myself
weakly, and then l became aware that
somebody was bending over me.
1t was a roughly dressed. rongh-
looking denizen of the low quarter into |
which l had strayed.
"Diable! thought you were dead!"
l could make out amid the stream OF |
his dialect, but the remainder of his |
speech was beyond my understanding. |
looked around in bewilderment.
"Where am I?' I asked, still bound
by that first memory Of New York.
"In Sous-le-Cap, m'sieur," answered
the man.
felt in my pocket for my watch
and drew 1t out. It was strange that
the men had not robbed me, but I sup
work and had run off. However I did
not think Of that at the time.
1t was a few minutes past eight.
And the boat sailed at nine. l must
have lain stunned in SOus-le-Cap
street for an hour and a half, at least,
and only the supreme necessity of
awakening, realized through uncon-
sciousness, had saved me from dying
under the SHOWS.
I found that I could walk, and hav-
ing explained to the man that l wished
to go to the Chateau. was taken by
him to the top of winding road, near
at hand, from which I could see my
destination at no great distance from
| me.
Dismissing my friendly guide and
| sending him back rejoicing with lib
| eral largesse, hurried as quickly as |
! could make my way until l burst into
the Chateau at half past the hour.
l must have presented a dreadful
spectacle, for my hair and collar were
matted with blood, and I saw the
guests stare and shrink from me. The
clerk came toward me and stopped
me at the entrance to the elevator
"Where Is Miss Hewlett?" I gasped
Didn't you meet her? She left here
nearly an hour ago."
[ caught him by the arm, and
think he imagined that I was going to
seize him by the throat also, for he
backed away from me, and l saw a
look of fear come into his eyes
"Your friend came for her and said
that you had met with an accident" !"
the clerk continued. "She went with
him at once. He took her away in a
sleigh. I was sure that you had
missed her when you came in''
But already I was half way across
the hall and running for the door.
raced wildly across the court and
toward the terrace.
The meaning of the scheme was
clear. JacQueline was on Captain Du.
hamels boat, which sailed at nine, and
only twenty minutes remained to me-
/ had underestimated Leroux's
shrewdness. He must have tele
graphed instructions from New York
before my train was out Of the country
secured the boat, laid his plans during
his journey northward, and had me
; struck down while Jacqueline was
stolen from my care. I should have
read him better. / had always daw
died. I trusted to the future instead
; of acting. What chance had agains
a mind like his?
l must have been running aimlessl,
up and down the terrace, blindl,
searching for a road down to the lowe
town, for a man seized me by tn,
the hotel clerk again
; '"This way!" he said, and hurried m
to sort Of subway entrance and dow
: a flight of steps. Before me I saw tn
turnstile which led to a cable railway
He paid my fare and thrust me int
car. A boy came to close the LAT
ticed door.
The car glided down the cliff an
stopped few seconds later.
emerged through another turnstile an
J found myself in the lower town agai
:. at the foot of the precipice, abov
II which rose the Chateau with it's in
- posing facade, the ramparts and tn
towering citadel.
I reached the wharf and raced alon
thu planks. I was in time, althoug
!, the engines were throbbing in til
- Saine eeVierge. But it was not she, bl
'o the dark Claire l sought at that M
3 ment, and l dashed toward her.
A man barred my approach. e
III caught me in his strong arms and he
1t me fast.
Sc "Diable! Are you mad, monsieur
De he burst out as / continued to strucgl
n And then l recognized my captor
III Captain Dubois
"JacQueline is on the Claire %
ey cried, trying to NAVE him understan
III "They took her the~a Thew,