Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-06-24

had killed somebody, and 1 must save
her!
Suddenly 1 realized that my eyes
were wide open and that l was star
ing at the moon over the housetops.
With consciousness came pain. My
head thrObbed almost unbearably, and
L was stiff with cold. l raised myself
weakly, and then 1 became aware that
somebody was bending over me.
1t was roughly dressed, rough
looking denizen of the low quarter into
which 1 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.
l looked around in bewilderment.
"Where am I?' 1 asked, still bound
by that first memory of New York.
I'm Sous-le-Cap, m'sieur," answered
the man.
felt in my pocket for my watch
and drew 1t out. 1t was strange that
the men had not robbed me, but 1 sup
pose they had become terrified at their
work and had run off. However l did
not think Of that at the time.
1t was a few minutes past eight.
And the boat sailed at nine. 1 must
have lain stunned in Sous-le-Cap
street for an hour and a half, at least
and only the supreme necessity of
awakening, realized through uncon-
| sciOusness, had saved me from dying
| under the SHOWS.
found that l could walk, and hav-
ing explained to the man that 1 wished
/ TO go to the Chateau, was taken by
him to the top of a winding road, near
at hand, from which 1 could see my
| destination at no great distance from
me.
Diminishing my friendly guide and
sending him back rejoicing with lib.
| eral largesse, 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 l 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?'' 1 gasped
Didn't you meet her? She left here
nearly an hour ago."
I cdught him by the arm, and
think he imagined that was going tt
seize him by the throat also, for he
backed away from me, and I saw 6
look of fear come into his eyes.
"Your friend came for her and sale
| that you had met with an accident,
the clerk continued. "She went witt
him at once. He took her away In 6
sleigh. I was sure that you ha(
missed her when you came in"
But already 1 was half way acros:
the hall and running for the door.
raced wildly across the court anC
toward the terrace.
The meaning of the scheme wa:
clear. Jacqueline was on Captain Du
hamers boat, which sailed at nine, anC
only twenty minutes remained to me-
I had underestimated Leroux':
shrewCness. HI must have tele
graphed Instructions from New Yorl
before my train was out Of the country
secured the boat. laid his plans during
his journey nOrthward, and had mt
struck down while Jacqueline wal
stolen from my care. l should hav,
read him better I had always daw
of acting. What chance had I agains
a mind like his?
I must have been running aimless1!
up and down the terrace. blindl!
searching for a road down to the lowe
town, for a man seized me by tn
sleeve and looked into the face o
the hotel clerk again.
"ThIs wayr' he said. and hurried m,
to a sort of subway entrance and dow
a flight of steps. Before me saw tn,
turnstile which led to cable railway
He paid my fare and thrust me int
a car. A boy came TO close the lat
ticed door.
The car glided down the cliff ant
| stoned a few seconds later.
emerged through another turnstile ant
found myself in the lower town again
at the foot of the precipice. allow
which rose tho Chateau with its i'm
posing facade. the ramparts and tn
towering citadel.
I reached the wharf and raced alon!
the blanks. / was in time, although
the engines were throbbing In tn
Sainte-Vierge. But 1t was not she, bu
the dark Claire I sought at that mo
ment, and I dashed toward her.