The diamond drill., 1919-06-07

L
under the mowA
found tina. could ,walk. and hsv-
ing explained to the man that ] wiEhed
TO 60 70 the Chateau. was taken By
him to the top Of winding road. near
ut hand, from which could see my
destination at no great distance from
| me.
Dismissing my friendly guide and
sending him back rejoicing with lib
erai largesse, hurried as quickly as i
could make my way until burst into
the Chateau at half past the hour.
! must have presented dreadful
spectacle. for my hair and collar were
matted with blood. and I saw the
guests stare and shrink from me. The
clerk came toward me and stopped
me at the entrance TO the elevator.
'where is Miss Hewlettf" / gasped.
Didn't you meet herr 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 haS met with an accident"
the clerk continued. "She went with
him at once. He took her away In
sleigh. I was sure that you had
missed her when you came IN"
But already 1 was half way across
the hall and running for the door. !
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 underestimated 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. ! should have
died. I trusted 10 the future instead
OF acting. What chance had l against
a mind like his1
! must have been running aimlessly
| up and down the terrace, blindly
searching for road down TO the lower
town. for man seized noe by the
sleeve and ! looked into the face Of
the hotel clerk again.
This wayl !" he said, and hurried me
/ to sort OF subway entrance an down
flight OF steps. Before me saw the
turnstile which led 10 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 elf and
stopped a 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 Inn
posing facade, the ramparts and the
towering citadel.
reached the wharf and raced along
the planks. was In time. although
the engines were throbbEng In the
Sainte-yierge. But II was not she. but
the dark Claire sought at that mo-
ment, and l dashed toward her.
A man barred my approach. He
caught me In his strong arms and held
me fast.
'Dlablel Are you mad. monsieuri"
he burst out as continued to struggle.
And then l recognized my captor as
Captain Dubois.
"Jacqueline is on the Clairer l
cried, trying 10 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 n blood drop from
his lip where had struck him. 1T is
all right. | have her"
stared wildly AZ him. "She Is on
the Claire !" ] cried again.
! mo, mon ami. She Is aboard the
Sainte-vierge." replied Dubois, chuck
ling, "nnd II you wish to accompany
| mademoiselle you must come with ne
at once for we are getting up steHrn :
could not believe him. thought
| that Leroux had tampered with the
honest man. II was not until he had
taken me, half forcibly. aboard and
opened the door that / saw her.
"Jacquelinel" ] 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
captain was rubbing his hands in the
doorway and chuckling with delight.
1T is all right II Is all right: ex-
cuse me, monsieur" he said. .But
what has happened TO you, monsienri
You have met with an 'accidentT'
Jacqucline cried out and ran for
water, and made me sit down, and
began bathing my head. l contr1yed
to whisper something OF what had oc-
Aas