The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-11-06
CHAPTER XIX.
The Bait That Lured.


very carefully. peerlng into the numer-
Gus small caves and fssures In the
wall ON either hand. And was about
half way through when saw shadow
running In front OF me and making no
sound
II was Duchaine. There could be no
mistaking that tall, gnunt figure, just
visible against the distant day.
! raced along the tunnel after him.
But he seemed to be endowed with the
speed of deer. for he kept his dis
tance easily, and l would never have
caught him had he not stopped for mn
instant at the approach of the ledge.
There, Just as he was polsing him
self to leap. l seized him by the arm.
He did not attempt violence but
gazed at me with hesitation and pa
thetlc doubt.
IN. DuchaIne," I pleaded, "won't
you come back with me and let us talk
II over? Jncquellne Is with me-"
"No, no." he cried. laughing. "You
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"
f"She has come back" | answered
"She Is not fifty yards away"
"With gold?" he inquired, looking Mt
me doubtfully.
"With gold" | answered, trying to
allure his imagination as Lcroux had
done. "She has rich gold, red gold,
such ns you VIII love. You can take
up the coins In your fingers and let
the gold srream slip through them.
Come with. monsieur"
! grasped him by the arm and tried
to lead him with me. My argument
had moved him. thought I had won.
But Just ms l started back into the
tunnel. holding the arm of the old
man, who fingered reluctantly and yet
began TO yield. pebble leaped from
the rocky platform and rebounded
from the cliff. ! cast backward
glance. and there upon the opposite
side ! saw LerouN standing,
'Bonjour, M. Hewlettr he called
across the chnsm. "Don't be afraid Of
me any more than l am afraid of you.
Just wait moment. l want TO talk
business"
81 have no business TO talk with
you" ! answered.
But did not say II was with you.
monsieur" he answered In sneering
tones. ut is with our friend Duchaine
Hola, Duchaine
At the sound of Leroux's voice the
old man Strengthened himself and be-
gan mutterlng and looking from the
one to the other of us undecdedly.
Suddenly i saw him turn his head
and fix his eyes upon Leroux. He
craned his neck forward; and then.
very slowly. he began TO walk toward
his prosecutor. ! craned my neck.
Leroux was holding out--the rou-
lette Wheel
"Come along, Charles. my friend"
he cried. "Come, let us try our for
tunesl Don't you want TO stake some
money upon your system against mei"
The old figure had leaped forward
ever the ledge. and In n moment Le-
roux had grasped him and pulled him
into the tunnel.
FASTENED back TO Jacgueline and
encountered her in the passage Just
where the light and darkness blended.
standing with arms stretched out
against the wall 10 steady herself; and
IN her eyes was that look which tells
n man more surely than anything. I
think. can, that woman loves him.
"0h, ! thought you We're dead !" she
sobbed, and fell into my arms.
held her tightly TO support her,
and j led her back TO the gold cave.
In few words l explained what had
occurred
''Now Jacquellne, you must let me
guide you" ] said. "Don't you see that
there Is no chance for us unless we
leave your father for the present
where he is and make our own escapei
We can reach Pere Antoine's cabin
soon after midday. and we can tel
him your father is a prisoner here. HC
would not come with us, Jacqueline
even II he were here"
She did not respond. 1t was the
safety OF us tive and her fathers life
assured, against a miserable fate fol
her, and knew not what for me
though l thought Leroux would giv'
me little shrift once was In his power
again.
She was so silent that thought
had convinced her. | urged her to hei
feet. But suddenly heard stealthy
football close at hand. between tbs
cave and the cataract.
thought 1t was Charles Duchaine
I hoped II was Leroux. placed my
finger on Jacqueline's lips and crept
stealthily to the passage, revolver II
hand.
Then, In the gloom. saw the villain
Gus face OF Jean Petitjean looking int
mine, twelve PAGES away. and in his
hand was revolver too.