Mountain advocate., 1920-01-02
CHAPTER XIII.
Some Plain SPEAKING.

took three steps toward her and
stood still. For this was Jacquellne,
but It was not my Jacqueline. 1t
mother when she was girl-this
naughty belle with her high waist and
side curls and her flounced skirt and
aspect of cold recognition.
She did not stir as I approached her
! but stood still, framed in the doorway,
looking at me as though ] were an
unwelcOme stranger My outstretched
arms fell to my sides.
"Jacquellne cried. at is /, Paul !
You know me, JacqueineY'
Jacqueline inclined her head. "Oh,
| yes; l know you, monsieur" she an
swcred. "why have you come hereT'
"TO save you, Jacquellnew
She made me Il mOcklng courtesy.
81 am infinitely obliged to you. mon
sipur, for your good WILL" she said /;
but l do not need your aid. i am
with friends now, Mn. Paulr
"DO you want to see me, Jacquc-
llne?" I asked. watching her through
whirlng fog.
mo, monsieur" she answered chill
lingly. mo, mOnsieurw
do you wish me to gO?"
She said nothing, and | walked I'M
steadily toward the door. She fol-
lowed me slowly. l went out Of the
room and pulled the door TO behind
me. / knew that after II had closed
1 should never see Jacqueline again.
She opened it and stood confronting
me, and then hurst into flood of i'm
FASHIONED speech.
"Why have you followed me here
TO prosecute me?" she cried. "Arc
you under the illusion that am help
less? Do you think the friends who
rescued me from you have forgotten
that you exist? You took advantage
of my helplessness. do not want to
see You. 1 hate your
"YOu told me that you loved me-
and believed yOu, Jacqueline," M
swered mlserably, watching the color
flame into her lovely face. And
could see she remembered that.
"When was Ill you used me for
your base schemes" she went on with
cutting emphasis. "And yOu-yOu fol-
lowed me here. Have you not had
money enough? DO you want mOre?"
l seized her by the wrists. Thus I
held her at arms length, and my fin
gers frightened until l saw the flesh
grow white beneath them. The inten-
sity Of my rage beat hers down and
made It "A puny thing.
''Jacqueline! Only few nights ago
you said You loved me; that You would
never send me away until l wished to
go. What is il that has happened TO
change you so, JacquelineT
/ had her In my arms. She strug-
gled fierecly and let her go.
How dare you, monsieur" she
painted. go at once. or / shall call
for aidw
So l went into the passage. But be-
for 1 reached the end of the little hall
Jacqueline came running back TO me.
Monsieur" she gasped. M. Paul
For the sake of-of what once
thought you, do not want you to be
seen, You are In dreadful danger
Come backw
mo, Nine. d'Epernay," answered,
and she WINGED again, as though had
struck her across the face.
For my sake" she pleaded, catch
ing at my arm, and at that moment !
heard door slam underneath and
heavy footsteps begin slowly to ascend
the stairs.
'No, madame" / answered, trying
70 release my arm from her clasp.
"Then for the sake Of-0ur love,
Paul !" she gasped.
I suffered her 10 lead me hack into
the room. AS she drew me back and
closed the door behind us ] heard the
footsteps pause and turn along the
corridor.
/ knew that heavy gait as well as
though / already saw LerOux's hard
face before my eyes.
The room was completely dark.
heard Leroux tramp in and his voice
with the click-click of the |
ball in the TOuette wheel.
"WhO Is here?" he demanded.
~ am" answered JacQueline.
"Maudit |" he burst out explOsiyely. |
"Whehe is .d'Epemay? ! am tired Of
waiting for himp
II have told you many times that
l do ndt know" answered Jacquellne.
''How long viii you keep up this
pretense. madaneY' cried Ler0ux an I