Charlevoix county herald., 1919-06-06

the men had not robbed me. but sup
pose they had become terrified at their
work and had run Off. However l did
not think of that at the time.
1t was a few minutes past eight.
And the boat sailed at nine. l must
have lain stunned In Sous-le-Cap
street for an hour and half, at least,
and only the supreme necessity OF
awakening. realized through uncon-
seriousness, had saved me from dying
under the SHOWS.
found that / could walk, and hav-
ing explained to the man that ! wished
to go TO the Chateau, was taken by
him to the top of winding road, near
at hand, from which / could see my
destination at no great distance from
me.
Dismissing my friendly guide and
sending him back rejoicing with lib
eral largesse, l hurried as quickly as
could make my way until burst into
the Chateau at half past the hour.
must have presented a dreadful
spectacle, for my hair and collar were
matted with blood. and saw the
guests stare and shrink from me. The
clerk came toward Inc and stopped
me at the entrance to the elevator.
"Where Is Miss Hewlett?" l gasped.
Didn't you meet her? She left here
nearly an hour ago."
/ caught him by the arm, and !
think he imagined that was going to
seize him by the throat also, for he
backed away from me, and | saw a
look of fear come into his eyes.
"Your friend came for her and said
that you had met with an accident"
the clerk continued. "She went with
him at once. He took her away in
sleigh. l was sure that you had
missed her when YOU came In"
But already I was half way across
the hall and running for the door. l
raced wildly across the court and
toward the terrace.
The meaning of the scheme was
clear JacQueline was on Captain Du-
hamel's boat which sailed at nine, and
only twenty minutes remained to me.
had underestimate LerOux's
shrewdness. He must have tele-
graphed instructions from New York
before my train was out of the country,
secured the boat, laid his plans during
his journey nOrthward, and had me
struck down while Jacqueline was
stolen from my care. I should have
read him better. had always daw-
II tn flf In
Of acting. What chance had I against
mind like his?
I must have been running aimlessly
up and down the terrace, blindly
searching for road down to the lower
town. for man seized me by the
sleeve and looked into the face of
the hotel clerk again.
"This way !" he said, and hurried me
to sort Of subway entrance and down
a flight Of steps. Before me saw the
turnstile which led to a cable railway.
He paid my fare and thrust me into
car. A boy came to close the lat
ticed door.
The car glided down the cliff and
stopped few seconds later.
emerged through another turnstile and
found myself In the lower town again
at the foot OF the precipice. above
which rose the Chateau with its i'm
posing facade, the ramparts and the
towering citadel.
reached the wharf and raced along
the planks. was in time, although
the engines were throbbing In the
Sainte-Vierge. But 1t was not she, but
the dark Claire I sought at that mo-
ment, and dashed toward her.
A man barred my approach. He
caught me In his strong arms and held
me fast.
"Diablel Are you mad, monsieur?"
he burst out as continued to struggle.
And then recognized my captor as
| Captain Dubois.
"Jacqueline is on the Clairew I
cried, trying to make him understand
"They took her there. They
ut is all right" answered Dubois.
holding me with one hand, while with
the other he wiped q blood drop from
his lip where had struck him. 1T is
oil right. I have her."
I stared wildly at him. "She is on
the Claire!" cried again.
mo, mon ami. She is aboard the
Sainte-Vierge." replied Dubois. chuck
ling, land IL you wish to accompany
mademoiselle you must come with me
at once, for we are getting Sup stenm."
could not believe him. I thought
that Leroux had tempered with the
honest man. II was not until he had
taken. me, half forcibly. aboard aud
opened the door that I saw her.
"Jacqueline | cried. and clasped
her In my arms for JOY. and quite for
got.
A dancing shadow fell upon the
wall behind the oil lamp. The honest