Jackson County journal., 1919-10-10
CHAPTER XIX.
The Bait That IJred

wall on either hand. And l was abou
nalr way through when / saw q shadow
running in front of me and making NJ
sound.
1t was Duchaine. There could be ne
mistaking that tall, gaunt figure, jus1
visible against the distant day.
l raced along the tunnel after him
But ne seemed to be endowed with the
speed of deer, for he kept his dis
tance easily, and 1 would never have
caught him had he not stopped for an
instant at the approach of the ledge
Ihere, just as he was poising him
self to leap. I seized him by the arm
he did not attempt violence but
gazed at me with hesitation and pa
thetic doubt.
IN. Duchaine," pleaded. "won't
you come back with me and let us talk
IL over? Jacqueline is with me"
NO, no." he cried, laughing. "You
can't catch me with such trick as
that. My little daughter has gone to
new York to make our fortunes at M.
Days gaming house. She will be back
soon, loaded down with gold.Y
She has come back" 1 answered
"She Is not fifty yards away
with gold?' he inquired, looking at
me doubtfully.
with gOld," I answered. irving to
allure his imagination as Leroux bod
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"
l grasped him by the arm and tried
70 lead him with me. My argument
had moved him. 1 thought I had won
But just as I started back into tbe
tunnel, holding the arm of the old
man, who fingered reluctantly and vet
began to yield, pebble leaped from
the rocky platform and rebounded
from the cliff. 1 cast q backward
glance and there uI'on the opposite
side saw Leroux strnding.
BonJour, M. Hewlett!" he called
across the chasm. 'DDn't be afraid of
me any more than an afraid of Won
just walt moment l want to talk
business"
have no business to talk with
you," l answered.
But l did not say It was with Won
monsieur" he answered in sneerino
tones. 1T Is with our friend Ducbaine
Hola, Duchaine!''
AT the sound Of Leroux's voica tho
oiu man Strengthened himself and be-
gan muttering and locking from the
one to the other of us undecidedlv.
suddenly 1 saw him turn his head |
ana nix his eyes upon Leroux He
craned his neck forward: and tban
very Slowly, he began TO walk toward
LIS prosecutor. craned my neck.
Leroux was holding out-the rou-
lette wheel!
come along, Charles, nv friend ;,
ne cried. Come, let us trv orr for
tunes! Don't you want to stake some
money upon your system against me2~
The old figure had leaped forward
over the ledge, and in a moment Le-
roux had grasped him and pulled him
Into the tunnel.
hastened back to 3acqueline and
encountered her in the passage inst
"here the light and darkness hlendad
standing with arms stretched o,,t
against the wall to stearly herself: and
III her eyes was that look which tells
man more surely than anything.
think, can, that woman loves him
On, l thought you were dead!, she
soDDed, and fell into my arms.
l held her tightly to supnort ber
ana led her back to the gold cave
In few words 1 explained what had
occurred.
NOW Jacqueline, yoa must LET mo
guide you," l said. "Don't you see that
tnere Is no chance for us unless we
leave your father 70: the present
wnere ne Is and make or own escape?
we can reach Pere Antoine's cabin
soon after midday, and we can fell
MIN your father is pri soner here. He
would not come with us, Jacoueline
even If he were here"
She did not respond. It was the I
safety of us two and Fer fathers life
ner, and / knew not what for me I
though l thought Lercux would give 5
ne little shrift once I was in his power
again.
she was so silent that l thought 7 8
1ad convinced her. I urged her to her 7
.eet. But suddenly / heard a stealthv 8
'ootfall close at hand, between the
ave and the cataract.
thought 1t was Charles Duchaine 8
hoped 1t was Leroux. 1 placed nv y
niger on Jacqueline's lips and crent E
'tealthily to the passage, revolver in =
land. Il
Then, in the gloom, saw the villain =
'us face of Jean Petitjean looking into 9
hine' twelve pafes away, and in his
lhnd was o revolver too. -
We fired together. But the SUNRISE .
poiled his aim, for his bullet whis- :,
leo past me. think my shot struck =
I'M somewhere for he utterod q 1oll :