The Dermott news., 1919-08-28

q cealing the knowledge of your husband from me?'
 M. Leroux, why will you not he lieve that l remember nothingY' an- swered Jacqueline After my father had turned NJ. Louis dEpernay out of his home. Whither he had come to beg money to pay his gambling debts, you brought him back. You made my fla ther take him back in. He wanted to marry me. But l refused. because I had no love for him. But you insisted l 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 l 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 1 ten thousand dallnrs to gamble with in Quebec, telling him of De delights of the city and promising him iriSp- nity." the girl went on rcmorseeSSly. l And for this he was to assign his | property to Louis. thinking. of course | that he could soon make hs fortune at the tables. And Louis was to marry me and In turn sell the selgniory to | you. And so l married Louis under threat of death to my father.
 "Oh. yes, monsieur. the plan was l simple and well devised. And I knew nothing of It. But Louis d'Epernay | blurted It all out to me upon our wedding night. I think the shame of | knowing that 1 had been sold to him 1 the snows.
 "Now you know all, monsieur, for l remember nothing more until I found myself travelling back with NJ Hew- 1 lett in the sleigh. You say l was in New York Well, I do not remem- Der it.
 And as for Louis d'Epernay. know nothing of him-hut l will die before he claims me IS his wife,"
 And then had the measure of Le- roux. He laughed and he beat down her seorn with Scorn.
 You have undereStimated your price. madame" he Sneered Since 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 ef the marriage con tract So swallow that and be proud of being priced so high And the | selgnlory Is already his. and 1 am waiting for him to return and sell me tho ground rights for twenty-five thou sand more. and If l know Louis l dFpernay he will not walt very long to get his fingers round it."
 Listen to me Simon Leroux." said | JacQueline. standing up before him. ns | 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 M. d'Epernay. 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 spirit" ex- claimed simon. staring at her with frank admiration.
 And Jacqueline's head dropped then. | Unwttingly 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, chucklng
 Never mind your money. Simon" he sald I'm going to be richer than any of you, Do you know what did With that ten thousand? l gave It to my little daughter and she has gone to New York to make our fortunes at Mir. Daly's gaming house. No, there she is :" he suddenly exclaimed. "She has come back -
 l As'A'uA NHtFitd i'Hiiu aIll lUphtb from one tu the other
 "piahle, So that was the purpose of your visit to New York ?" he asked the girl "So-you have not quite for gotten that, madame Where Is the money?"
 Jaequeline's lips quivered. I saw her glance involuntarily toward the door behind which was standing.
 And suddenly the last phase of the problem became clear to me. Jacque- line thought l had robbed her.
 l stepped from behind the door and | faced Leroux "I 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 was ready to shoot to kill