The Connecticut labor press., 1919-08-16
CHAPTER XIX.
The Bait That Lured.

=. Inc 6aiI nat GuTS0s
h Invent along the tunnel In the direc-
ton Of lie Well Ange, picking my way
very carefully, peering into the numer-
GUS small caves and assures in the
wall on either hand. And l was about
half way through when saw shadow
running in front of me and making no
sound. 80
1t was Duchafne. There could be no
mistaking that tall, gaunt figure, just
visible against the distant day.
Il raced along the tunnel after him.
But he seemed to be endowed with the
speed of a deer for he kept his DIS
lance easily. and ! would never have
caught him had he not stopped for an
Instant at the approach of the ledge
There, just as he was posing him
.iself to leap, I seized him by the arm.
( He did not attempt violence but
gRzed at me with, hesitation and pa
thetic doubt.
an. Duchaine," pleaded, won't
you come back with me and let us talk
It over? Jacqueline is with me-,
ssfGo, no. he cried, laughing. You
can't catch meewith such d trick as
that. My little daughter has gone to
New York to make our fortunes at NJ.
Days gaming house. She will be back
soon, loaded down with gold" n
sShe has come back" answered.
HShe Is not fifty yards away
@yVfth gold 2" he inquired: looking at
me doubtfulIy. &<<@-
+ ssstYfth gold. - I answered, trying to.
allure his imagination as Leroux had
done. "She has rich gold. red gold,
such as you viii love- You can take.
mp the coins in your fingers and Let
the gold stream slip through them
Come with. monsieur"
grasped him by the arm and tried
tOtlead him with me. My argument
had moved him. thought had won.
But just as / started back into the
tunnel, holding the arm of the old
man. who fingered reluctantly and yet
began to yield, a pebble leaped from
the rocky platform and rebounded
from the cliff. cast backward
glance, and there upon the opposite
side I saw Leroux standing.
"BonJour, M. Hewlettr' he called
across the cflasm ssDOn't be afraid of
me any more than am afraid of you
Just wait moment / want to talk
business. @
Il have no business to talk with
you.p I answered. ~ ~ rs IS. :.
But did not say IT was with you,
monsieur he answered In sneering
tones. ut is with our friend Duchaine.
HoIa. Duchafne r e e.:. 3
At the sound Of Leroux's voice the
old man Strengthened himself and be-
gan muttering and looking from the
one to the other of us undecidedly.
Suddenly I saw him turn his head
and 1x. bis eyes upon Leroux. He
craned his neck forward; and then,
very slowly, he began to walk toward
mis- prosecutor. / Grained my neck.
Leroux was holding out-the RON
Aette WhesII 9s
Come along, Charles, my friend, "
Ne cried Come LET us try our for
tUnesl Don't you want to stake some
money upon your system against meT'
The old figure had leaped forward
ever the ledge, and in moment Lee
roux had grasped him and pulled him
into the tunnel.
Mastered back to Jacqueline and
encountered her In the passage just
where the light and darkness blended,
standing with arms stretched out
against the wall to steady herself and
IN her eyes was that look which tells
. man more surely than anything. I
Khink, can, that q woman loves him.
"oh, I thought you were dead!' she
subbed, and fell !nto my arms. i
I held her tightly to support her,
and / led her back to the gold cave
I'm few w4Tds / explained what had
occurred. stE-:-
snow J4cqueline, you must let me
guide yoa," said. 'Don't you see that
there il no chance for MS unless we
leave your father fer the present
where he island make our own escape?
We can reach Pere Antofness cabin
soon after midday, and we can tell
him Your father is a prisoner here. He
wpuld not come with us, Jacqueline.
even If he were here" Il
She did not respond. 1t was the
Eafety of us two and her fathers life
assured; agaiHMf miserable Fate for
her, and I knew not what for me-
though I thHTght I4eroux would give
me little shr1ft once was in his power
again.
She was so silent that I thought I
had convinced her. i urged her to her
es9t. But suddenly I heard a stealthy
football close at hand, between the
cave and the1cataract. h \. E.~ +
L thought it was Charles Duchaff1e
hoped 1t was Leronx. I placed my
@n1or on JaaaIIeFfuesS Inns and t,renf