Charlevoix county herald., 1919-07-11
with g0ldY' he inquired, looking at

allure MS IMAGINATION as IerOuA nhu
done. "She has rich gold, red gold,
| such as you will love. You can take
up the coins I'm your fingers and let
the gold stream slip through them.
Come with. monsieur"
l grasped him by the arm and tried
to lead him with me. My argument
had moved him. l thought had won.
But just as started back into the
tunnel. holding the arm Of the old
man, who fingered reluctantly and yet
began to yield, a pebble leaped from
the rocky platform and rebOunded
from the cliff. cast backward
glance. and there upon the opposite
side saw Leroux standing.
"BOnjOur, nj. Hewlett I" he called
| across the chasm. Don't be afraid Of
me any more than / am afraid Of you.
Just wait moment. want to talk
| business"
II have no business to talk with
| you" / answered.
"But | did not say II was with you,
monsieur" he answered in sneering
tones. 1T is with our friend Duchaine.
HOla, Duchaine!"
At the sound Of LerOux's voice the
old man Strengthened himself and be-
| gan muttering and looking from the
one to the other Of us undecidedly.
Suddenly ! saw him turn his head
and fix his eyes upon Leroux. He
| craned his neck forward; and then,
very slowly, he began TO walk toward
his prosecutor. ! craned my neck.
Leroux was holding out-the rou-
| lette wheel!
"COme along, Charles, my friend"
he cried. Come, let us try our for
| tunes! Don't you want to stake some
money upon your system against me"
The old figure had leaped forward
roux had grasped him and pulled him
into the tunnel.
i FASTENED back to JacQueline and
encountered her In the passage just
where the light and darkness blended,
standing with arms stretched out
against the wall to steady herself; and
In her eyes was that look which tells
man more surely than anything,
think, can, that woman loves him.
"Oh, thought you were dead!" she
sobbed, and fell into my arms.
held her tightly TO support her,
and l led her back to the gold cave.
In few words l explained what had
occurred.
Now Jacqueline, you must let me
guide YOU" said. Don't you see that
there Is no chance for us unless we
leave your father for the present
where he Is and make our own escape?
We can reach Pere Antoine's cabin
soon after midday, and we can tell
him your father Is prisoner here. He
would not come with us. Jacqueline,
even If he were here"
She did not respond. 1t was the
safety of us two and her fathers life
assured, against miserable fate for
her, and ] knew not what for me,
though l thought Leroux would give
me little shrift once was in his power
again.
She was so silent that l thought
had convinced her. / urged her to her
feet. But suddenly heard stealthy
football close at hand. between the
cave and the cataract.
l thought 1t was Charles Duchaine.
I hoped 1t was Leroux. l placed my
finger on Jacquelines lips and crept
stealthily to the passage. revolver in
hand.
Then, In the gloom, ] saw the villain
Gus face Of Jean Petitjean looking into
mine, twelve PAGES away, and In his
hand was revolver too.
We fired together. But the surprise
spoiled his aim, for his bullet whis-
tied past me. think my shot struck
him somewhere, for he uttered yell
and began running back along the
tunnel as hard as he could.
followed him, firing as fast as ]
could reload. Fortune helped the ruff
fan, for when l reached the light he
was scrambling across the ledge, and
before could cover him he had sue
ceeded In disappearing behind the pro-
jecting rock on the other side.
So Leroux had already sealed one
exit-that by the Old Angel, where
the road led into the main passage.
God grant that he had not time to
reach the exit by the mine
II made hastel If l made haste
But would not argue the matter any
further. l ran back at full speed.
reached the cave.
"Jacqueline Come. Gomez I
called.
She did not answer.
! ran forward, peering round me In
the obscurity. I saw her near the
earth-sacks, lying upon her side. Her
eyes were closed, her face as white
a. q dead woman'a
The bullet from Jean Politicians re-
volver that missed me must have pen
etrated her body.
She lived, for her breast stirred.
though so family that II seemed as
though all that remained Of life were
concentrated In the faint-throbb;ng
heartbeats.