The Dermott news., 1919-09-11
CHAPTER XVI.
InIIis. .d'EpernaX

lie uttered hh o1ll ana tHth 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 faciuE me. surprise and terror twisting his features into griaaeing grin
 q have something of importance to say to you. monsieur" he began.
 "I can believe that" I answered 1t Is about le We'll Ange. is it not?n
 By God I did not mean-I swear to you. monsieur-listen, monsieur one moment only" he stammered Lower your pistol. You see that l am unarmed -
 I lowered l. Well, say what you have to say" said to him
 "Leroux Is devil :" he burst our. with m pretenaed passion. T want you to help me NJ. Hewlett. and l can help you Tn way you do not dream ef. NJ. Hewlett. how much do you thlnk this seieniory k worthi
 "Some half a million dollars, per haps"
 He came e,asa ,a me and hissel into my ear "3Ien>iear. there k more gold in these rocks fn anywhere in the world Look here, Here -
 He stopped down and began tossing pebbles at my feet But they were pebbles es pure gold md each one q them MS as largo a~ the first Joint of my thumb And l had miSjuIged his
 gt .t.s.t and not fear tha' made him tremble.
 "lt Is everywhere monsieur - erietl ] Iacroix. 'in this stream, in these hills, too. You can gather mortar ful of earth anywhere and it will show color when t k washed. We found this place togethcr-"
 You and Eerouxf"
 No l and"
 He broke off suddenly and eyed me with furtive cunning.
 "Yes, yeS. monsieur Leroux and l. And we two worked here together. with nothing more than picks and shovcls and morfars and peSfles. Le- roux and L There was nobody else. IL is the richest gold deposit ia the world, NJ. Hewlett. and neither Raoul nor Jean Petitiean knows the secret only LerouN and | One cannot light upon this place save ty a miracle of chance. such us brought you here. God put this treasure in these hills, and he did not mean il to be found '
 I grasped him by the shoulder Do you see what thls meansT I shouted.
 It means glorious life" he cried, "A1l the wealth In the world"
 No. it means death :" l answered. "It means that if Leroux succeeds in killing me he will kill you too Do you suppose that he will share his hoard with you1'
 No. NJ Hewlett answered Lacroix quietly. And that is precisely what wanted to say to you. You are not a hog like Leroux; can trust you Come with me. monsieur. I don't know how you got Into the wrong passage | but II is simple-straight ahead. Come with me! will precede you" followed him into the darkness nGd very soon heard the sound of the uE6tH. Anu tHtl ohtt iftl' ' I was standing at the tunnel entrance under brilliant moon and the chateau was before me
 I strode steadily across the snow l and opened the door in the dark wing entered the hall and ascended the stairway. took the turn to the right and passed through the little hall. heard Lerouxs harsh voice within ! and If ! stopped outside It was not in indecision but because l meant tc make sure of my man this tmie.
 "I want you, Jacquellne,' l heard him say in voice which betrayed nI throb of passion. And I am going tC have you. I always have my way. | nm rot like that wcak fool Hewlett. "It was l sent him away, not you, 1 ,he cred. "Do you think he wa; l 's...la ef -s-iY'
 | ..,I, z. her ia admiration