The Elk Mountain pilot. [volume] (Irwin, (Ruby Camp), Gunnison County, Colo.) 1880-19??, 1919-08-07
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had killed somebody. and I must save
heri
Suddenly I realised that my eyes
were wide open and that was star
ing At the moon over the housetops.
With consciousness came pain. Ny
head throbbed almost unbearably. and
I was stiff with cold. I raised myself
weakly, and then I became aware that
somebody was bending over me.
II was a roughly dressed. rough
looking denizen Of the low quarter Into
which had strayed.
'Diablel thought you were deadl"
I 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 r. I asked, stu bound
BY that nrst memory of New York.
I'm sous-le-Cap. m'sieur." answered
the man.
felt in my pocket for my watch
and drew 1t out. II was strange that
the men had not robbed me. but sup
pose they had become terrified at their
work and had run on. However did
not think Of that at the time.
It was q few minutes past eight.
And the boat sailed at nine. must
have lain stunned In Sous-le-Cap
street for an hour and half, at least.
and only the supreme necessity Of
awakening, realised through uncon-
sciousness, had saved me from dying
under the spowA
found that I could walk. and hav-
ing explained to the man that wished
to 20 to the Chateau, was taken BY
him to the top Of winding road. near
at hand. from which I could sec my
destination at no great distance from
me.
Dismissing my friendly guide and
sending him back rejoicing with lib
eral largesse, I hurried n quickly ~ I
could make my way until burst into
the Chateau at half past the hour.
I must have presented . dreadful
spectacle. for my hair and collar were
matted with blood. and I saw the
guests stare and shrink from me. Tho
clerk came toward me and stopped
RIO at tho entrance to the elevator.
Where II Miss Hswlettr' gasped.
Didn't you meet herf She Left here
nearly an hour ago"
caught him BY the arm, and
think he imagined that was going to
seize him by the throat also. for he
backed away from me. and I saw q
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. 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. I
raced wildly across the court and
toward the terrace.
The meaning Of the scheme was
clear. Jacqueline was on Captain Du-
hamel's boat, which sailed at nine. and
only twenty minutes remained to me.
I 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. should have
read him better. had always daw-
died. I trusted to the future Instead
of acting. What chance had I against
a mind like hist
must have been running aimlessly
ND and down the terrace, blindly
searching for q road down to the lower
town. for q man seized me BY the
sleeve and looked Into the face Of
the hotel clerk again.
'This wayi" he said, and hurried me
to a sort Of subway entrance and down
a flight Of steps. Before me saw the
turnstile which led to a cable railway.
He paid my fare and thrust me into
a car. A boy came to close the lat
ticed door.
The car giided down the cliff and
stopped few seconds later. I
emerged through another turnstile and
found myself in the lower town again
at the foot Of the precipice, above
which rose the Chateau with its i'm
posing facade. the ramparts and the
towering citadel.
reached the wharf and raced along
the planks. ! was in time. although
the engines were throbbing in the
Sainte-vierge. But II was not she. but
the dark Claire sought at that mo-
ment, and dashed toward her.
A man barred my approach. He
caught me in his strong arms and held
me fast.
''Diablel Are you mad. monsieur"
he burst out as / continued to struggle.
And then I recognised my captor as
Captain Dubois.
"Jacqueline Is on the Clairel" I
cried, trying to make him understand.
they took her there. They"
ut L. all right" answered Dubois,
holding me with one hand, while with