The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-10-30

u NtutldIu.
The chamber seemed at one time Tn
have been prepared for such con-
tingency as had occurred, for there
were wool rugs on the stone floor.
though they had rotted and partly dis
iniegrated from the dampness.
M. Duchalne, he make this place in
case gov'ment come take him." ex-
planned Pierre as he placed the rugs.
"NO can find. no can break down
stone door. Other way Simon not
knOw-only m'sleur and me. Old Carl
boU he come that way: he see you tied
and know II time TO come here. Soon
time to hill Simon come as WELL"
"When, in heavens name, win It
conner ! cried.
"COme soon. His dlable tell me-"
answered Pierre Caribou.
II go now" he announced. "To-
morrow come for you. take all
through tunnel. You stay here till
come; all sleep till morning"
"i will GO with you. Pierre" said,
still under my obsesslon. But he laid
his heavy hand upon my arm and
pushed me away.
"YoG no kill Simon" he answered.
why you no kill him again when you
have sword? Only diable can kill him.
When time come diable tell old Carl
bou. You sleep now. ] go for take
my woman and gal safe through tun-
mel to place know. When my woman
and gal safe come back. to m'sieur
and ma'm'selle."
/ lay down. The silence was loneli-
ness itself. and not rendered less
lonely by the occasional cries OF the
old man and the drip. drip. OF water
could not see anything. and Jacque-
line might have been n woman Of
stone, for she made not the least move
ment
At last I spoke to her.
"Jacquellne
heard her start, and knew that she
had raised her head and was looking
after me. crawled toward her, drag
ging my blanket after me. / felt in
the darkness for the place where l
knew her hand must be and tool, It I'm
mine.
"Jacquellne said again.
"Ah, VI. Hewleit"-the weariRess in
her voice went TO my heart-"lt might
have been so different-if-"
III what, JacQuelineT
"lf there had not been the blood Of
n dead man between u.s." she moaned.
"If-you-had not-killed hint"
Her words were revelation TO me,
for / learned that she had merelfully
been spared the full remembrance of
what had happened in the Tenth street
apartment She thought that it was !
who had killed Lofts d'Epernay.
And how could I deny this. when to
so would be to bring TO her mind the
knowledge of her own dreadful quilts
The hours wore away, and we three
lay there. two waiting and one dream
ing Of the old days Of youth, no doubt
I tried 10 light the candle TO see the
time, but my shaking hand sent IL fly.
ing across the cave. and when ]
searched for my matches | found tliat
the box was empty.
IL seemed an eternity since we had
come there. 1t Is one thing to wait for
dawn. and quite another thing TO wait
where dawn viii never come.
i resolved 10 follow the exit for q
little distance TO see whittier IL led
and If i could discover the light OF
day.
So took my sword and sailed out
through the passage in the cliff.
/ had only proceeded few steps
when the air grew cold and sweet
And before had traversed two hun,
dred yards l saw dim light in the
distance. This was no candle light
but that Of day. SO Ind endured all
those agonles Of mind with the open
air but short distance away
As advanced | fancled that heard
the soft patterlng of feet behind me
I halted and listened intently
crouched against the wall and waited
But | heard nothing now except the
distant roaring of the cataracts. How
sweet they sounded now
/ listened intently, leaning against
the wall and facing backward. holding
my sword ready 10 meet any intruder
But there was no sound from within
except the soughing which one hears
in tunnel. and satisfied at last that
l had been the victim OF an over
wrought Imagination / pursued my
course. But | had not gone six PAGES
before ! heard a scream that still
rings in my ears today, and a shadow
sprang out Of the darkness and rushed
AZ me. II was old Charles DuchGine,
bis white hair streamed behind him ;
his face bore an expression Of indelible
horror and rage, and in his hand he
held the other sword.
He struck al me. a great. sweep,ng