Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-06-13

had killed somebody, and 1 must save
herl
Suddenly l realized that my eyes
were wide open and that was star
ing at the moon over the housetops.
With consciousness came pain. My
head thrObbed almost unbearably, and
was stiff with cold. 1 raised myself
weakly, and then became aware that
somebody was bending over me.
1t was a roughly dressed, rough
looking denizen of the low quarter into
which I had strayed.
"Diable! thought you were dead ~
l could make out amid the stream of
his dialect, but the remainder of his
speech was beyond my understanding.
looked around in bewilderment.
"Where am II" 1 asked, still bound
by that first memory of New York
I'm Sous-le-Cap, m'sieur," answered
the man.
|. l felt in my pocket for my watch
and drew 1t out. 1t was strange that
the men had not robbed me, but sup
uOse they had become terrified at their
work and had run off. However did
net think of that at the time.
1t was q few minutes past eight.
And the boat sailed at nine. I must
have lain stunned in Sous-leCap
street for an hour and half, at least
and only the supreme necessity OF
awakening, realized through uncon-
sciousness, had saved me from dying
under the SHOWS.
found that 1 could walk, and hav-
ing explained to the man that wished
i to go to the Chateau, was taken by
him to the top of a winding road, near
at hand, from which I could see my
destination at no great distance from
me.
Dismissing my friendly guide anG
sending him back rejoicing with lib
eral Iargesse, hurried as quickly as
could make my way until l burst into
the Chateau at half past the hour.
l must have presented a dreadful
spectacle, for my hair and collar were
matted with blood, and 1 saw the
guests stare and shrink from me. The
clerk came toward me and stopped
me at the entrance to the elevator.
"Where is Miss Hewlett?" l gasped
'Didn't you meet her? She left her
nearly an hour ago."
l caught him by the arm, and
think he imagined that was going t.
seize him by the throat also, for h
backed away from me, and 1 saw
look of fear come into his eyes.
"Your friend came for her and sal
that you had met with an accident,
the clerk continued. "She went wit
him at once He took her away in
sleigh was sure that you ha
i missed her when you came in."
4 But already 1 was half way acros
the hall and running for the door.
raced wildly across the court an
toward the terrace.
/ The meaning of the scheme wa
clear. Jacqueline was on Captain d.
hamel's boat, which sailed at nine, an
only twenty minutes remained TO me.
1 had underestimated Leroux
shrewdness. He must have tel
graphed Instructions from New Yor
before my train was out of the countr,
secured the boat. laid his plans durin
, his journey northward, and had II
. struck down while Jacqueline We
! stolen from my care. l should haN
read him better. I had always day
died. 1 trusted to the future instea
: of acting. What chance had I again
) a mind like his?
I must have been running aimless
up and down the terrace, blind
searching for a road down to the low
' town, for a man seized me by Il
\ sleeve and looked into the face
/: the hotel clerk again.
"This wayv' he said, and hurried n
; to a sort of subway entrance and dow
flight of steps. Before me .saw Il
turnstile which led to a cable railwa
He paid my fare and thrust me in
car. A boy came to close the IL
ticed door.
The car glided down the cliff al
G stopped few seconds later.
Y emerged through another turnstile al
r. found myself in the lower town aga
h at the foot of the precipice. abo
h which rose the Chateau with its il
= posing facade. the ramparts and t
towering citadel.
reached the wharf and raced alo
It the planks. was in time. althou
st the engines were throbbing in t
Sainte-Vierge. But it was not she, b
the dark Claire I sought at that n
ment, and I dashed toward her.