The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-09-25
CHAPTER XIII.
Some Plain Speaking.

tOOk tnree steps toward nef anu
stood still. For this was Jacqueline,
but 1t was not my Jacquellne. 1t
might have been Jacquellne's grand
mother when she was a girl-this
naughty belle with her high waist and
side curls and her flounced skirt and
aspect Of cold recognition.
She did not stir as I approached her
but stood still, framed in the doorway,
looking at me as though / were an
unwelcome stranger. My outstretched
arms fell to my sides.
"Jacquellne /" l cried. "It is I, Paul !
You know me, JacquelineF'
Jacqueline inclined her head. "Oh,
yes; l know you, monsieur" she an
swered. "Why have you come here?'
ITO save you, JacquelineI"
She made me mocking courtesy.
81 am infinitely obliged to you, mon
sieur, for your good will," she said I;
'but I do not need your aid. 1 am
with friends now, Mn. PAUL."
ado you want to see me, Jacque-
line?" I asked, watching her through
whirling fog.
mo, monsieur" she answered chill
lingly. "No, monsieur!'
''Do you wish me to got"
She said nothing, and I walked un-
steadily toward the door. She fol-
lowed me slowly. l went out of the
room and pulled the door to behind
me. I knew that after 1t had closed
I should never see Jacqueline again.
She opened 1t and stood confronting
me, and then burst into flood of i'm
passloned speech.
"Why have you followed me here
TO persecute mef' she cried. "Are
you under the illusion that / am help
less? Do you think the friends who
rescued me from you have forgotten
that you exist? You took advantage
of my helplessness. / do not want to
see you. hate youl"
"You told me that you loved me,
and l believed you, Jacqueline," / an
'swered miserably, watching the color
flame into her lovely face. And
could see she remembered that.
when / was III you used me for
your base schemes" she went on with
cutting emphasis. "And you-you fol-
lowed me here. Have you not had
money enoughf Do you want more"
/ seized her by the wrists. Thus
held her at arms length, and my fin
gers tightened until l saw the flesh
grow white beneath them. The inten-
sity Of my rage beat hers down and
made II a puny thing.
"Jacqueline Only few nights ago
you said you loved me that you would
never send me away until I wished to
go. What is II that has happened to
change you so, Jacquelinef"
! had her in my arms. She strug-
gled fiercely and let her go.
How dare you, monsieurl" she
painted. go at once, or shall call
for aid |"
So went into the passage. But be-
for reached the end of the little hall
Jacqueline came running back to me.
Monsieur" she gasped. an. Paul
For the sake of-of what l once
thought you, do not want you to be
seen. You are In dreadful danger.
Come backw
mo, Nine. d'E>ernay." I answered.
and she WINGED again. as though had
struck her across the face.
'For my sake" she pleaded, catch
Ing at my arm, and at that moment !
beard door slam underneath and
heavy footsteps begin slowly to ascend
the stairs.
"No, madame" answered. trying
to release my arm from her clasp.
"Then for the sake of-our love,
PAUL." she gasped.
l suffered her to lead me back into
the room. AS she drew me back and
closed the door behind us heard the
footsteps pause and turn along the
corridor.
l knew that heavy gait as well as
though / already saw Leroux's hard
face before my eyes.
The room was completely dark. !
heard Leroux tramp In and his voice
mingling with the click-ciick Of the
ball In the rouette wheel.
"Who is here?" he demanded.
~ am" answered Jacqueline.
"Maudltl" he burst out explosively
"Where is d'Epernayf ] am tired of
waiting for himw
II have told you many times that
l do not know" answered Jacqueline.
How long will you keep up this
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