The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-10-10
CHAPTER Xiii.
Some Plain SPEAKING.

Some Plain Speaking.
l took three steps toward her and
stood still. For this was Jacqueline,
but 1t was not my Jacqueline. 1t
might have been Jacqueline's grand
mother when she was a girl-this
naughty belle with her high waist and
side curls and her fiounced skirt and
aspect Of cold recognition.
She did not stir as / approached her
but stood stiIi, framed in the doorway,
looking at me as though I we're an
unwelcome stranger. My outstretched
arms fell to my sides.
"Jacqueline |" I cried. "It is I, Paul I!
You know me, Jacqueline2"
J~acqueline inclined her head. "Oh,
yes; / know you, monsieur" she an
swered. why have you come here?"
"To save you, ~Jacqueline"
She made me a mocking courtesy.
~ am infinitely obliged to you. mon
sieur, for your good will" she said
'but i do not need your aid. I am
with friends now, Nm. Paull"
do you want to see me, Jacque-
liner I asked, watching her through
a whirling fog.
mo, monsieur" she answered chill
lingly. mo. monsieur"
do you wish me to go?'
She said nothing, and I walked IN
steadily toward the door. She fol-
lowed me slowly. I went out Of the
room and pulled the door to behind
me. / knew that after ii had closed
/ should lever see Jacqueline again.
She opened It and stood confronting
me, and then burst into a food Of i'm
passioned speech.
"Why have you followed me here
TO prosecute me?" she cried. "Are
you under the Illusion that / am help
less? Do you think the friends who
rescued me from you have forgotten
that you exist? You took advantage
Of my helplessness. I do not want to
see you. / hate your
"You told me that you loved me,
and I believed you, Jacqueline." I an
swered miserably, watching the color
flame into her lovely face. And /
could see she remembered that.
"When I was Ill you used me for
your base schemes" she went on with
cutting emphasis. "And you-you fol-
lowed me here. Have you not had
money enough? Do you want more2"
/ seized her by the wrists. Thus /
held her at arms length, and my fin
gers frightened until I saw the flesh
grow white beneath them. The inten-
sity of my rage beat hers down and
made 1t a puny thing.
"Jacquelinei Only q few nights ago
you said you loved me that you would
send mi away until I wished to
60. What Is 1t that has happened to
change you so, JacQuelineT
I had her In my arms. She strug-
gled fiercely and / let her 60.
"How dare you, monsieur she
painted. go at once, or I shall call
for aid I"
So ! went into the passage. But be-
for ! reached the end of the little hall
J~acqueline came running back to me.
Monsieur !" she gasped. m. Paul I
For the sake of--of what ! once
thought you, I do not want You to be
seen. You are In dreadful danger.
Come backw
mo. Nine. d,Epernay," I answered.
and she WINGED again, as though I had
struck her across the face.
"Fcr my sake" she pleaded. catch
ing at my arm, and at that moment l
heard a door slam underneath and
heavy footsteps begin slowly to ascend
the stairs.
mo. madame" I answered, trying
to release my arm from her clasp.
"Then for the sake of-our love,
Paul |" she gasped-
1 suffered her to lead me back into
the room. As she drew me back and
closed the door behind us I heard the
footsteps pause and turn along the
corridor.
knew that heavy gait al well as
| though I already saw Ler0ux's hard
face before my eyes.
The room was completely dark. ]
heard Leroux tramp In and his voice
mingling with the click-click Of the
ball In the rouette wheel.
who IL herer he demanded.
81 am" answered JacQueline.
sNfaudit" he burst out explosively.
.Where is d'Epernayf ! am tired of
waiting for hint"
II have told you many times that
I do not know" answered JacQueline.
How long viii you keep up this