Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1919-06-26
Victor Rousseau
coPyriShs w. O. Chapman

had killed somebody, and must save
her!
Suddenly realized that my eyes
were wide open and that I was star
ing at the moon over the housetOps.
With consciousness came pain. My
head thrObbed almost unbearably, and
I was stiff with cold. l raised myself
weakly, and then became aware that
somebody wns bending over me-
1t was n roughly dressed. rbagh-
looking dcnizen OF the low quarter into
which I had Strayed.
"Diable! thought you were dead !"
I could make out amid the stream Of
his dialect. but the remainder Of his
looked around in bewilderment.
"Where nm II" asked. still bound
by that first memory Of New York
I'm Sous-le-Cap, m'sieur," answered
the man.
I felt in my pocket for my watch
and drew 1t out. 1t was strange that
the men had not robbed me. but sup
pose they had become terrified ut their
work and had run off. However did
1t was n few minutes past eight.
And the boat sailed at nine. must
have lain stunned in Sous-le-Cap
street for an hour and a half, Mt 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 I wished
to go to the Chateau, was taken by
him to the top of II winding road. near
Mt hand. from which I could see my
destination ut no great distance from
me.
Diminishing my friendly guide and
sending him back rejoicing with lib
eral largesse. hurried as quickly as
could make my way until burst into
the Chateau at half past the hour.
must have presented dreadful
spectacle. for my hair and collar were
matted with blood, and saw the
guests stare and shrink from me. The
clerk came toward Inc and stopped
me at the entrance to the elevator.
"Where Is Miss Hewlett?' I gasped.
Didn't you meet her? She left here
caught him by the arm, and I
think he imagined that I was going to
seize him by the throat also. for he
backed away from me. and I 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. l 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. Jacqucline was on Captain Du-
hnmel's boat. which sailed Mt nine. and
only twenty minutes remained to me.
had underestimate Leroux's
shrew(neSS. 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 JacQucline was
stolen from my care. I should have
read him better. had always daw-
OF acting. What chance had / against
a mind like his?
/ must have been running aimlessly
up and down the terrace, blindIy
searching for rOad down to the lower
town. for man seized me by the
sleeve and I looked into the face Of
the hotel clerk again.
"This way!" he said. and hurried me
to sort Of subway entrance and down
a flight Of steps. Before me I saw the
turnst!le which led to n cable railway.
He paid my fare and thrust me into
n, car. A boy came to close the lat
ticed door.
The car glidrG down the cliff and
stopped n few seconds later. ]
emerged through another turnstile and
found myself in the lower town again
at the foot Of the prec;pice. above
which rose the Chateau with its i'm
posing facade. the ramparts and the
towering citadel.
reached the wharf and raced along
ths planks. ] was in time. although
the engines were thrObbng in the
Sainse-Vicrge. But 1t was not she, but
the dark Claire l sought Mt that mo-
ment, and | dashed toward her.
man barred my approach. He
caught me in his strong arms and held
me fast.
"Diablei Are you mad, monsieur?"
he burst out as continued to struggle.
And then recognized my captor as
Captain Dubois
"Jncqueline ~ on the Clairew I
cried. trying to may, him understand.
"They took her there They"
"It Is all right" answered Dubois.
holding me WITH one hand while with
the other he wiped Il blood drop from