The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-09-25

: cealing the knowledge of your husband
from me?"
IN. Leroux, why will you not be-
lieve that ! remember nothingf" an
swered JacQueline. "After my father
had turned NJ Louis d'Epernay out OF
his home, whittier he had come to beg
money to pay his gambling debts, you
| brought him back. You made my ia.
| ther take him back in. He wanted to
marry me. But l refused, because j
had no love for him. But you insisted
l should marry him, because he had
| gained you the entrance to the seigp
Tory and helped you to acquire your
power over my father"
"Go on" growled Leroux, biting his
| lips. perhaps l shall learn some
thing"
Nothing that you do not already
know, monsieur" she flashed out with
spirit. "My father came here, long
ago, political fugitive, in danger of
death. You knew this. and you played
upon his fears. You drained him of
his last penny, and then offered him
ten thousand dollars to gamble with
in Quebec. telling him of the delights
of the city and promising him immu-
nity," the girl went on remorselessly.
"And for this he was to assign his
| property to Louis, thinking, of course,
| that he could soon make his fortune
Mt the tables. And Louis was to marry
me, and in turn sell the selgniory to
| you. And so 1 married Louis under
| threat of death to my father.
"Oh, yes, monsieur, the plan was
| simple and well devised. And knew
nothing of IT. But Louis d'Epernay
blurted 1t all out to me upon our
knowing that had been sold to him
unhlnged my mind, for ran out into
the SHOWS.
"Now you know all, monsieur, for ]
remember nothing more until I found
myself travelling back with NJ. Hew-
lett In the sleigh. You say / was in
New York. Well, do not remem.
Der It.
"And as for Louis d'Epernay, know
nothing of him-but will die before
| he claims me as his wifew
And then I had the measure of Le-
roux. He laughed and he beat down
her scorn with scorn.
"You have underestimate your
price, madame" he sneered. "Since
you have learned so much / will tell
| you more. You have cost me twenty
thousand dollars, and not ten; for te-
sides the ten thousand paid to your
father Louis got ten thousand also,
upon the signing of the marriage con-
tract. So swallow that, and be proud
of being priced so high! And the
selgniory is already his, and 1 am
waiting for him to return and sell me
the ground rights for twenty-five thou
sand more, and IL I know Louis
d'Epernay he will not wait very long
to get his fingers round it,
'Listen to me, Simon Leroux," said
Jacqueline. standing up before him, as
indomitable in spirit as he. "All your
plots and schemes mean nothing to
me. My only aim is to take my father
away from here, from you and NJ.
dEpernay, and let you wrangle over
your spoil. There are more than four.
legged wolves, NJ. Leroux; there are
human ones, and, like the others,
when food is scarce they prey upon
each other"
"Pardieu, / like your spiritw ex-
claimed Simon, staring at her with
frank admiration.
And Jacqueline's head dropped tfen.
Cnwittingly Simon had pierced her
defenses.
But he never knew, for before ho
had time to know the graybeard rose
upon his feet and rubbed his thin
hands together chuckling.
"Never mind your money, Simon"
he said. I'm going TO be richer than
any of you. Do you know what did
with that ten thousand? I gave itstc
my little daughter, and she has gone
to New York to make our fortunes at
Mr.. Days gaming house. No, there
she is !" he suddenly exclaimed. "She
has come back"
Leroux wheeled round and looked
from one to the other.
'Diable! So that was the purpose
Of your visit to New York;" he asked
the girl. "So-you have not quite for
gotten that, madamel Where is the
money!"
Jacqueline's lips quivered. I saw
her glance involuntarily toward the
door behind which l was standing.
And suddenly the last phase Of the
problem became clear to me. Jacque-
line thought I had robbed her.
stepped from behind the door and
faced Leroux. II have that money"
I said curtly.
saw his face turn white. He stag
gered back, and then, with bulls bell
low, rushed at me. his heavy fists
aloft.
But he stopped short when he saw
my automatic pistol pointing at his