Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1920-01-17

thetic doubt. ....o,,+
en- Duchaine," 1 pleaded, won
Won come back with me and let Us tain
# over? JacOueline is with me
mo, no." he cried, Laughing. ho
can't catch me with such TRICK "'
that. NV little daughter has gone !"
New York to make our fortunes 1T NJ
Days gaming house. She VIII DE o"oN
soon, loaded down with gold.
"She has come back" l answered.
"She is not fifty yards away.
with gold?" he inquired, looKlhs "'
me doubtfully.
"With gold" l answered, trying 10
allure his imagination as LerouA Ia"
done. "She has rich gold, req soiu'
such as YOU will love. You can take
ND the coins in your fingers ana let
the gold stream slip through 'he"
Come with. monsieur" /
grasped him by the arm and trleu
to lead him with me. My argument
had moved him. I thought l had won
But Just as 1 started back into the
| tunnel, holding the arm of the ola
man, who fingered reluctantly and YET
began to yield, a pebble leaped from
the rocky platform and rebounded
from the cliff. cast a backward
| glance, and there upon the opposite
side saw LerOuX standing.
"Bonjour, NJ. Hewlett" he called
across the chasm. Don't be afraid of
me any more than l am afraid of you.
Just wait a moment. l want to talk
business"
81 have no business to talk with
YOU" 1 answered.
''But I did not say it was with you,
monsieur" he answered in sneerHg
: tones. RI. r With our friend Duichafhe.
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.
SuddecJY l 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. 1 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
over the ledge, and in a moment Lee
roux had grasped him and pulled him
into the tunnel.
: l FASTENED back to Jacqueline and
, encountered her in the passage just
where the light and darkness blended
standing with arms stretched out
d. against the wall to steady herself; and
: in her eyes was that look which tells
man more surely than anything,
think, can, that a woman loves him
. ooh, thought you were dead!" she
# sobbed, and fell into my arms.
II l held her tightly to support her
II and | led her back to the gold cave
II In few words explained what hat
ii occurred.
III Nov Jacqueline, you must let m,
II guide you" I said. Don't you see tina
II there is no chance for us unless w,
II leave your father for the presen
II where he is and make our own escape
Ii We can reach Pere AntOines cabil
II soon after midday, and we can tel
II him your father is a prisoner here. H
II would not come with us, Jacqueline
II even if he were here"
II She did not respond. 1t was tn
H safety of us two and her fathers lif
II assured, against miserable fate 70
II her. and | knew not what for m,
II though | thought LerouX would Civ
II me little shrift once | was in his powe
II again.
II She was so silent that | thought
had convinced her. | urged her to he
II feet. But suddenly heard a stealth
II football close at hand. between tn
II cave and the cataract.
II | thought it was Charles Duchain
II | hoped it was LerOuX. l placed n
II finger on JacQueline's lips and crel
II stealthily to the passage, revolver
H hand.
II Then. in the gloom, | saw the villai
U GUS face of Jean Petitjean looking in
mine. twelve PAGES away, and in h
hand was a revolver too.
We fired together. But the surpri
'li- spoiled his aim. for his bullet VIII
IN tied past me. | think my shot stru,
Va him somewhere, for he uttered a V,
ns and began running back along L
tunnel as hard as he could
l followed him, firing as fast as
could reload. Fortune helped the RI
VI fan. for when l reached the light
ne was scrambling across the ledge, a
eh before / could cover him he had 81
'" ceeded in disappearing behind the p,
iecting rock on the other side.
eiu So Leroux had already sealed o
exit-that by the Old Angel, whe
the road led into the main passa,
'eN God grant that he had not time
e reach the exit by the minel
'eu II l made hastei If l made has,
gnu But would not argue the matter a
= further. 1 ran back at full speed.
1 ~o~chod fhn ravo