The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1919-09-11
CHAPTER XVI.
Louis dEpernaY.

he uttered an oath and took two
steps backward, but I saw that he was
unarmed and that he realized his help
lesSness. He flung his hands above his
head and stood facing me, surprise
and terror twisting his features Into
a grimacing grin.
II have something of Importance to
say to you, monsieur" he began.
81 can believe that" answered. SIT
is about lie Well Ange, is it not?"
''By God, I did not meant swear
to you, monsieur-listen, monsieur,
one moment only" he stammered.
Lower your pistol. You see that 1
am unarmed!'
I lowered it. We'll, say what you
have to say" l said to him.
'FLeroux is q devil!'' he burst out,
with no pretended passion. 81 want
vou to help me, M. Hewlett, and I
can help you in a way you do not
dream of. NJ. Hewlett, how much do
you think this seigniory is worth?"
"SOme half a million dollars, per-
haps.n ---s=---- -r--- ---~rr~r------ --- --
He came close to me and Kissed into
my ear: Monsieur, there is more gold
in these rocks han anywhere in the
world! Look here! Here!'
He stopped down and began tossing
pebbles at my feet. But they were
pebbles of pure gold and each one Of
them was as large as the first joint of
my thumb. And I had misjudged his
courage, 1 think, for it was avarice
and not fear that made him tremble.
"It is everywhere, monsieur" cried
Lacroix. SIN this stream, in these
hills, too. You can gather a mortar
full of earth anywhere and it will show
color when it is washed. We found
this place together"
"You and Lerou1?
"NoI I and"
He broke off suddenly and eyed me
with furtive cunning.
eyes, yes, monsieur, Leroux and l.
And we two worked here together,
with nothing more than picks and
shovels and mOrtars and pest1es, Lee
roux and I. There was nobody else.
It is the richest gold deposit in the
world, M. Hewlett, and neither Raoul
nor Jean Petitjean knows the secret -
only Leroux and I. One cannot light
upon this place save by a miracle Of
chance, such as brought you here. God
out this treasure in these hills, and he
did not mean it to be found"
/ grasped him by the shoulder. do
Won see what this means?" 1 shouted.
'1s means a glorious life" he cried.
"All the wealth in the world"
en-, it means death!" I ansr cred.
att means that If LerOux succf eds in
killing me he will kill you too! Do
YOU suppose that he will Share his
hoard with your"
'No NE. Hewlett" answered Lacroix
quietly "And that is precisely what
I wanted to say to you. You are not
a hog like Leroux; / can trust you.
Corae with me, monsieur. / don't know
how Won got into thu wrong passage.
but it is simple-stra' ght ahead. Come
with me! I will pre-. :ede you" ~
I followed him IL to the darkness
and very soon heard the sound Of the
cataract again. An then once more
was standing at the tunnel entrance
under a brilliant moon and the chateau
was before me.
strobe steadily across the snow
and opened the door in the dark wing
entered the hall and assembled the
stairway, took the turn to the right
and passed through the little hall. l
heard Leroux's harsh voice Within
and if / stopped outside it was not
IN indecision but because meant to
make sure of my man this TIME.
ssT want you, Jacqueline," l heard
him say in a voice which betrayed no
tbrob of passion. And am going to
have Won. I always have my way. L
ON not like that weak fool Hewlett
ssTt was I sent him away, not you'
,1,a cried. seDo you think he was
afraid Of your"
Lsroux looked at hsr IN auinlfa'4'A''