The diamond drill., 1919-06-21
nth me! / will precede you"

l Win me! 4 Will pfeceue you.
followed him into the darkness.
and very soon heard the sound OF the
cataract again. And then once moro
! was standing at the tunnel entrance
and the chateau was before me.
strode steadily across the snow
and opened the deer in the dark wing.
entered the hall and ascended the
stairway. took the turn to the right
and passed through the little hall
heard Leroux's harsh voice within.
and II l stopped outside it was not
in indicslon but because / meant 20
make sure OF many this time.
Il want you. Jacqueline." heard
him say in voice which betrayed no
throb Of passion. And | am going Ia
have you. I always have my way
am not like that weak fool Hewlett"
"It was I sent him away. not YOU"
she cried. Do you think he was afraid
OF your"
"You are a splendid woman Jacques
line" he said II like the way you
defy me-by heaven. DO! But you
are quite at my mercy And you are
going 10 yield You will yield your
will to mine"
"Neverp she cried
myself into the lake before IT,
happen. All. monsieur"-her voice
took on a pleading tone-"why viii
you not take all we have and let us
goi We are two helpless people; we
shall never betray your secrets. Why
must you have me tooi"
because love you. Jacquellne,"
he cried. and now heard an under
tone OF passion which i had not sus-
pected In the man.
He caught her In his arms. She ut
tered little gasplng cry and struggled
wildly and Intellectually in his grasp.
was quite cold. for ! knew that
was to be the last o. his yillalnies. l
entered the room and walked up 10 the
table, my pistol raised. aiming az his
heart, and l felt my own heart beat
steadily and the Will to XIII rise doml-
nant above every hesitation.
Leroux spun round. He saw me,
and he smiled his sour smile He did
not finch. although he must have seen
that my hand was as steady as a rock.
"What, you again, monsleur7" he
asked mocklngly. you have come
back? You are always coming back.
aren't your"
II have come back 20 kin you, Le-
roux," answered, and pulled the trlg-
ger six times.
And each time l heard nothing but
the click Of the hammer.
Then. with his bulls below, Simon
was upon me, dashlng his fists into my
face and bearing me down. Ny puny
struggles were as Ineffective as though
/ had been fighting ten men. He had
me on the floor and was kneellng on
my chest, and IN a trice the other ruff
fans had come dashlng along the hall,
Jacquellne was beating with her
little fists upon Leroux's broad back.
but he did not even feel the blows.
j heard old Charles Duchaine's piping
cries Of fear, and then somebody held
me by the throat and ! was swimming
I'm black water.
Bring a rope, Raoulr' ! heard ST.
mon call.
Half conscious. knew that I was
being tied. I felt the rope tighten
upon my wrists and limbs; presently
! opened my aching eyes to find my
self trussed like chicken 20 two legs
OF the table and Leroux was standing
over me, perfectly calm.
"Ah, Paul Hewlett, you arc a very
poor cousplrator indeed" he said "to
try 10 shoot n man without anything
In your pistol. DO you remember how
affectionately put my arm round you
when you were sitting I'm that chair
writing your ridiculous check7 IL was
then that took the liberty OF extract
Ing the two cartridges. But / did
think you would have sense enough 10
examine your pistol and reload before
you returned"
He picked up n scrap OF newspaper
from the table and held It before my
eyes, deliberately turning up the oil.
lamp wick that might read Il. / rec
osnized Il at once. II was the clipping
from the newspaper. descriptive Of the
murdered man, which had cut out IN
the train and placed fin my poeketbook.
you dropped this, my friend. when
you pulled out your pocketbook," said
Simon. "You are very poor con-
spirator, Paul Hewlett Wel?"
"Wellf" I repeated mechanically.
'Who killed hlm7" he shouted.
lie shook the paper before my eyes
and then he struck me across the face
with H.
who killed Louis d'Epernayfo he
yelled, and Jacqueline screamed In
fear
81 did" answered after d moment.
CHAPTER XVII.