Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-08-01
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Hidden Chamber.


Simon turned just in time. The
wheel went crashing to the floor and
bounded and rebounded out of the
room and along the little hall. Phil
ippe jumped in terror from the place
where he crouched--
And then the last strand broke and
I was free to slip the cords from my
limbs.
'You old foolr' screamed Leroux.
catching Duchaine by the wrists. But
Charles Duchaine possessed the
strength Of a mailman. He grasped
Leroux round the waist and clung 10
him and would not be shaken Off.
skill himw he screamed. HE is a
spy He has come to betray me to the
governmentw
What followed was the work of
moment. l saw Jacquellne pull down
both broadswords from the wall. She
flung one down beside me just as /
was staggering to my feet.
Leroux shook Off the old man at
last. He turned on me. l swung the
sword aloft and brought It down upon
his skull.
Heaven knows I struck to kill; but
my wrist wes feeble from the ropes,
and the blade fell fiat. II drew no
blood. but Leroux dropped like
stricken OK upon the floor.
This wayr' gasped the old man.
He pulled at Jacquelines arm, and
half led and half dragged her through
the open door behind his chair, fol-
lowing. Lacrolx sprang into the room,
calling, but whether to us or to the
other rufians,I did not know. Leroux
sat up and looked about him, dazed
and bewlldered.
Then was In the little room with
Jacqueline and Duchalne, and he
turned and bolted the door behind us.
He seemed possessed OF all the
strength and decision of youth again.
When stood there before the room
had been as dark as pitch, but now a
flicker Of light was at the far end.
A voice cried:
"Msieurl M'sieurl 1 have not for
gotten thsel"
Il was Pierre Caribou. l saw his
figure silhouetted against the light of
the flaring candle which he held in
his hand.
Duchaine had placed one arm about
HIS daughters waist and was urging
her along. But she stopped and
looked back to me. / saw she held
one broadsword In her hand, as 1 held
the other.
Come, monsieur" she gasped.
Il am going back" / answered,
fumbllng for the bolt Duchaine had
drawn.
mol We are safe inside. 1t is a
secret room. My father made It in
the first days of his sojourn here in
case he were pursued, and none but
Pierre and he knew the secret. All,
come, monsieur-come I"
But l meant to kill Leroux and still
felt for the bolt.
As I fumbled there the door splin-
tered suddenly and Jacqueline cried
out.
Then yielded reluctantly to Jacuue-
lines soft violence. / followed her
through the dark chamber, under an
archway Of stone. and through wind
Ing passage In the rock. Pierre's
candle hickered before us. and In an
other moment we had squeezed
through a narrow opening into cham
Der In the cliff.
On the ground were Eve or six
large stones and Pierre Begin to fit
them into the aperture through which
we had passed. In a minute the place
was completely sealed. and we four
stood and looked breathlessly at one
another within what might have been
n cenotaph.
The chamber seemed at one time to
have been prepared for such a con-
tlngency as had occurred, for there
were wool rugs on the stone floor.
though they had rottedvand partly dis
integrated from the dampness.
M. Duchaine, he make this place In
case gov'ment come take him." ex-
planned Pierre as he placed the rugs.