The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-10-23
CHAPTER XVI.
legIs 9Epernsy.

He uttered an oath and took two
. sters backward. bat saw that he was
uusrIDed and that he realized his hesp-
isssness. He nung his hands shove his
head and stoyd facing ne. surprise
and terror twisting his features into
. Trfnzeing grin
Il have sonethInx Of importance TO
ssy 10 you. monsieur" he began.
4 can believe that answered. -Ie
IL about le Well Ange. Is II notY'
by God. did DOT rnean-I swear
TO you. monsieur-Iisten. monsieur.
one moment only" he sfammered
Lower your pistol You see that I
srn unarned,"
lowered y. Well. say what you
have 10 say" ] said to him.
Leroux IL a devil- he burst ont.
with no pretended passion. Il want
you to help me. N. Hewlett. and !
can help you in a way you do not
dream OF. NJ. Hewlett. low much do
you think this selgniory is worthT'
Some half a million dollars, per-
haps."
He came close 20 me and hissed into
my ear: Monsieur. there Is more gold
in these rocks than anywhere in the
worldi Look herel Herel"
He stopped down and began tossing
pebbles at 10y feet But they were
pebbles OF pure gold and each one Of
chem was as large as the first joint Of
my thumb. And / had mIsjudged his
courage. / think. for Il was avarice
and not fear that made him tremble.
1T is everywhere. monsieurI" cried
Lacroix. 'In this stream, In these
hills. too. You can gather a mortar
ful Of earth anywhere and II will show
color when II IL washed. We found
this place together"
You and LerouxT
"Noi l and"
He broke of suddenly and eyed me
with furtiye cunning.
"Yes, yes. monsieur. Leroux and I.
And we two worked here together.
with nothing more than picks and
shoyels and mortars and pestles. Lee
roux and ]. There was nobody else
II Is the richest gold deposit in the
world, NJ. Hewlett, and neither Raoul
aVA SfhA EhONH
only Leroux and !. One cannot light
upon this place save by a miracle OF
chance, such as brought you here. God
put this treasure In these hills, and he
did not mean II 10 be found"
] grasped him by the shoulder. DO
you see what this meansfT / shouted.
1T means a glorious llfel" he cried.
"All the wealth In the world"
''No. II means deathr / answered.
1T means that II Leroux succeeds In
killing me he will XIII you tool Do
you suppose that be will share his
hoard with your
mo. NJ. Hewlett" answered Lacrolr
quietly. -And that is precisely what
i wanted TO say 10 you. You are not
a hog like Leroux; l can trust you.
Come with me. monsieur. I don't know
how you got into the wrong passage.
but It is simple-straight ahead. Come
with mel ! will precede you"
followed him into the darkness,
nnd very soon heard the sound Of the
cataract again. And then once more
was standing at the tunnel entrance,
under brilliant moon and the chateau
was before me.
Btrode steadily across the snow
and opened the door in the dark wing.
entered the hall and ascended the
stairway. took the turn to the right
and passed through the little hall. r
heard Leroux's harsh voice within,
and II I stopped outside II was not
in indeclsion but because / meant 10
make sure Of my man this tmia
Il want you. Jacqueline," I heard
him say In a voice which betrayed no
throb OF passion. "And am going to
have you. always have my way. II
am not like that weak fool Hewlett"
1T was ! sent him away. not you"
she cried. do you think he was
afraid cf your
Lerou1 looked AT her in admiration.