Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-08-19
CHAPTER XIX.
The Bait That Iured.

It was Duchaine. There could be no
mistaking that tall. gauDt figure, just
visible against thu distant day.
1 raced along the tunnel after him.
But he seemed to be endowed with the
speed of a deer, for he kept ais dis
tango easily, and l would never have
caught him had he not stopped for an
instant at the approach of the ledge
There, just as he was posing MINI
self to leap, l seized him by the arm.
He did not attempt violence but
gaZed at me with hesitation and pa
thetic doubt.
M. Duchaine," 1 pleaded, won't
you come back with me and let US talk
it over? Jacqueline is with me"
''NO, no." he cried, laughing. you
can't catch me with such IA trick as
that. My little daughter has gone to
New York to make our fortunes atm.
Days gaming house. She will be back
soon, loaded down with gold"
"She has come back" l answered.
''She Is not fifty yards away"
with gOld?" he inquired, looking at
me dOubtfully.
with gold" I answered, trying to
allure his Imagination as Leroux had
done. "She has rich gold, red gold,
such as you will love. You can take
up the coins in your fingers and let
the gold stream slip through them.
Come with. monsieur"
| grasped him by the arm and tried
to lead him with me. My argument
had moved him. l thought had won.
But just as l started back into the
tunnel, holding the arm of the old
man, who fingered reluctantly and yet
began to yield, pebble leaped from
the rocky platform and rebounded
from the cliff. l cast a backward
glance, and there upon the opposite
side l saw Leroux standing.
"BOnjOur, NJ. HEWLETT" he called
across the chasm. "DOnt be afraid of
me any more than l am afraid of you.
Just wait a moment. 1 want to talk
business"
Il have no business to talk with
you" l answered.
Put l did not say 1t was with you.
monsieur" he answered in sneering
tones. at is with our friend Duchaine.
HOla, DuChaine"
At the sound of Leroux's voice the
old man Strengthened himself and be-
gan muttering and looking from the
one to the other of us undecidedly.
Suddenly 1 saw him turn his head
and fix his eyes upon Leroux. He
craned his neck forward; and then,
very slowly, he began to walk toward
his prosecutor. craned my neck.
LerOux was holding out-the rou-
latte wheel!
Come along, Charles, my friend"
he cried. Come, let us try our for
tunes! Don't you want to stake some
money upon your system against mef"
The old figure had leaped forward
over the ledge, and in a moment Lee
roux had grasped him and pulled him
into the tunnel.
I FASTENED back to Jacqueline and
encountered her in the passage lust
where the light and darkness blended,
standing with arms stretched out
against the wall to steady herself; and
in her eyes was that look which tells
a man more surely than anything.
think, can, that woman loves him.
"Oh, l thought you were dead!" she
sObbed. and fell into my arms.
1 held her tightly to support her,
and l led her back TO the gold cave.
In q few words / explained what had
occurred.
Now Jacqueline, you must let me
guide you," said. Don't you see that
there is no chance for us unless we
leave your father for the present
where he is and make our own escape?
We can reach Pere Antoine's cabin
soon after midday, and we can tell
him your father is a prisoner here. He
would not come with us. JacQueline,
even if he were here"
She did not respond. 1t was tie
safety of us two and her fathers life
assured, against miserable fate for
her. and l knew not what for me.
though l thought Leroux would give
me little shrift once was in his power
again.
She was so silent that l thought
had convinced her. urged her to her
feet. But suddenly 1 heard a stealthy
football close ut hand, between the
cave and the cataract.
I thought it was Charles Duchaine.
| hoped il was LerOuX. l placed my
finger on Jacqueline'S lips and crept
stealthily to the passage, revolver in
hand
Then. in the gloom. saw the villain
Gus face of Jean Petitjean looking into
mine. twelve PAGES away, and In his
hand was a revolver too.
We fired together. But the surprise
spoiled his aim, for his bullet whis-
tied past me. think my shot struck
him somewhere. for he uttered a yell
and began running back along the
tunnel as ha-1 as he could.
I followed him. firing as fast as
could reload. Fortune helped the ruff
fan, for when I reached the light he
was scrambling across the ledge, and
before I could cover him he had sue
ceeded In disappearing behind the pro-
jecting rock on the other side.
Sc Leroux had already scaled one
exit-that by the Old Angel. where
the road led into the main passage.
God grant that he had not time 10
reach the exit by the minel
II I made hastel II / made haste
ut would not argue the matter any
Irther. I ran back at full speed. /
reached the cave.
"JacQueline! Come, Conner I
called.
She did not answer.
ran forward, peering round me in
the obscurity. l saw her near the
essrth-Sacks. lying upon her side. Her
ewes were closed. her face as white
as dead woman'S.
The bullet from Jean Petiuean's re-
volver that missed me must hal e pen