The Elbert County tribune., 1919-07-25


IN. Leroux. why Will you not be-
lieve that l remember nothingY an
swered Jacqueline. AFTER my father
bad turned NJ. Louis d'Epernay out of
his home, whittier he had come to beg
| money to pay his gambling debts, you
brought him back. You made my ia
ther take him back in. He wanted to
marry me. But 1 refused, because /
had no love for him. But you insisted
should marry him. because he had
gained you the entrance to the seign-
iory and helped you to acquire your
power over my father"
"Go on" growled Leroux, biting his
lips. perhaps / shall learn some
| thing"
Nothing that you do not already
know, monsieur" she flashed out with
spirit. my father came here, long
ago. political fugitive. in danger of
death. You knew this, and you played
upon his fears. You drained him OF
his last penny, and then offered him
ten thousand dollars to gamble with
in Quebec. telling him of the delights
of the city and promising him immu-
1 n.
sand for this he was to assign his
property to Louis, thinking. of course,
that he could soon make his fortune
at the tables. And Louis was to marry
me, and in turn sell the seigniory to
you. And so l married Louis under
threat of death to my father.
| "Oh. yes, monsieur, the plan was
simple and well devised. And l knew
nothing of 1t. But Louis d'Epernay
blurted 1t all out to me upon our
wedding night. 1 think the shame of
unhinged my mind, for l ran out into
| the SHOWS.
| Now you know all, monsieur, for
| remember nothing more until found
myself travelling back with M. Hew-
lett in the sleigh. You say 1 was in
/ New York. Well, 1 do not remem-
| Der 1t.
"And as for Louis d'Epernay, know
nothing of him-but 1 will die before
he claims me as his wife ~
And then l had the measure of Le-
| roux. He laughed and he beat down
her scorn with scorn
"You have underestimated your
price. madame" he sneered. "Slnce
you have learned so much / will tell
you more. You have cost me twenty
| thousand dollars, and not ten; for be-
sides the ten thousand paid to your
| father Louis got ten thousand also,
upon the signing of the marriage con-
tract. SO swallow that. and be proud
of being priced so hight And the
seigniory is already his. and 1 am
waiting for him to return and sell me
the ground rights for twenty-five thou
sand more, and If 1 know Louis
d'Epernay he will not wait very long
to get his fingers round it."
Listen to me. Simon Leroux," said
Jacqueline, standing up before him, as
indomitable in spirit as he. "All your
plots and schemes mean nothing to
me. My only aim is to take my father
away from here, from you and NJ.
dEpernay. and let you wrangle over
your spoil. There are more than four
legged wolves, NJ. Leroux; there are
human ones. and. like the others,
when food is scarce they prey upon
each other"
| "Pardieu. I like your spiritr' ex.
claimed Simon, staring at her with
frank admiration.
And Jacqueline's head dropped then.
Unwittingly Simon had pierced her
defenses.
But he never knew, for before he
had time to know the graybeard rose
upon his feet and rubbed his thin
hands together, chuckling.
| Never mind your money, Simon"
he said. "Pm going to be richer than
any of you. Do you know what 1 did
with that ten thousand? 1 gave 1t to
my little daughter, and she has gone
| to New York to make our fortunes at
Mr.. Days gaming house. No, there
she Isl" he suddenly exclaimed. "She
has come backl"
Leroux wheeled round and looked
from one to the other.
"Diablel So that was the purpose
of your visit to New York;" he asked
the girl. "So-you have not quite for
gotten that, madamel Where is the
money!"
Jacqueline's lips quivered. I saw
her glance involuntariIy toward the
door behind which / was standing.
And suddenly the last phase of the
problem became clear to me. Jacque-
line thought 1 had robbed her.
stepped from behind the door and
faced Leroux. 81 have that money"
l said curtly.
saw his face turn white. He stag
gered back, and then. with bulls bel
low, rushed at me. his heavy fists
aloft.
But he stopped short when he saw
my automatic pistol pointing at his
chest. And he saw In my face that