The Elbert County tribune., 1919-08-08
CHAPTER XVII.
The Little Dagger.


devil. 1t was evident that my answer
had been totally unexpected.
did you know this, madame7" cried
Leroux f1ercely to JacQueline.
YES" she replied.
you lied to shield yourself"
mo. to shield him." she cried. 'Be-
cause he was my only friend when I
was helpless In strange city. You
did not steal my money, did you,
PAUL." she added, turning swiftly upon
me. mo. you have paid me. You
were keeping 1t for me-"
You lie, d-n you'll" yelled Le-
roux. and he struck her across the
mouth as he had struck me.
writhed in my bonds. pulled the
heavy table after me as I tried impo-
tently to crawl toward him, sending
the wheel flying and all the papers
whirling through the air. cursed Le-
roux as blasphemously as he was ours
ing Jacqueline.
And at the door was the pale face
of Philippe Lacroix.
Leroux turned on me and kicked me
savagely and dragged the table to the
peatedIy. while struggled like mad
man. The oaths and execrations that
streamed from my lips seemed to be
uttered by another man, for I heard
them indifferently. or rather some
thing that was I, deep in the maze of
my personality. heard them-not that
pitlful, puny, goaded thing that fought
In its bonds until 1t ceased. pantipg
and exhausted.
There followed long silence, while
Leroux strobe furiously about the
room. At last he stopped; he seemed
to have made up his mind.
saw Jacqueline looking at me. 1
would not meet her gaze. but at last
her persistence compelled me. Then /
saw her glance toward the wall.
The two broadswords hung there
within arms reach. above the broken
mirror. My heart leaped up at the
thought of her valor. She had no
mind to yield. l
But 1 shook my head imperceptibly
In answer and looked down at my
bonds.
I had been trying hard to devise
some method of freeing myself. My
struggles had relaxed the ropes
around my wrists sufficiently to allow
my hands two or three inches of move
ment, and / hoped, by hard work. to
loosen them sufficiently to enable me
to get at least one hand free.
Then felt that something hard was
pressing into my back, just within
reach Of my right thumb and fore
finger. I let my thumb and finger
travel up and down It. 1t had the
form of a tiny knife with a heavy,
rounded handle.
And suddenly I knew what 1t was.
1t was the knife with which Louis
d'Epernay had been killed.
could just get my finger and
thumb round the point of the blade.
The ropes scored deeply into my
wrists as 1 worked at it, but / felt
the lining give, and presently had
worked the blade through and had the
knife out by the handle.
But 1t was made for thrusting more
than cutting, and I had to pick the
ropes to pieces strand by strand.
Jacqueline had been imperceptibly
edging away from her father and Le-
roux; she was now standing immedi-
ately beneath the rusty swords. And
outside the door I still perceived La
croix, motionless.
1t flashed across my mind that he
understood the girls desperate ruse,
and that he was waiting for the Issue.
picked furiously at the ropes which
bound my hands, and long strand un-
coiled and whipped back on my wrist.
Leroux seized Jacqueline by the
wrists and dragged her across the floor
to me.
Look at nimw he yelled. Look
into his faco. VIII you marry me If
I let him go freeT'
Nor answered Jacqueline.
Il swear to you that he shall be
thrown from the top of the cataract
unless you give your consent within
five minutes"
Never" she answered firmly.
II will denounce your fatherl" '-
"You can't frighten me with such
stuff. I am not weak old man l"- =.
you Will think differently after.
Charles Duchaine has been hanged In
Quebec JAIL" he sneered. e,
His words received a wholly unex-
pected answer. The dotard leaped
forward. stopped down and picked up
the heavy roulette wheel.
He raised 1t aloft and staggered
wildly toward Leroux.