Mountain advocate. (Barbourville, Ky.) 1904-1935, 1920-03-05
CHAPTER XIX.
The Bait That Lured.
*


ton Of lie Well Ange, picking my way
very carefully, peering into the numer-
Gus small caves and assures in the
wall on either hand. And / was about
half way through when saw q shadow
running In front Of me and making no
sound
II was Duchaine. There could be no
mistaking that tall, gaunt figure, Just
visible against the distant day.
raced along the tunnel after him.
But he seemed to be endowed with the
speed of a deer, for he kept his dis
lance easily, and l would never have
caught him had he not stopped for an
Instant at the approach Of the ledge.
There, just as he was polishing him
self TO leap, seized him by the arm.
He did not attempt violence but
gaZed ct me with hesitation and pa
,hetic doubt.
IN. Duchaine." / pleaded, "won't
you come back with me and let us talk
It over? Jacquellne is with me-"
"No, no." he cried, laughing. "You
can't catch me with such trick as
that. My little daughter has gone TO
New York to make our fortunes at NJ.
Days gaming house. She will be back
soon, loaded down with gold"
"She has come back" l answered.
"She Is not fifty yards away"
with gold?" he inquired, looking at
me doubtfully.
with gold" answered. trying to
allure his imagination as LerOux had
done. "She has rich gold, red gold,
such as you will love. You ca1 tdkc
up the coins In your fingers and let
the gold stream slip through them.
Come with, monsieur"
I Grasped him by the arm and tried
to lead him with me. My argument
had moved him. thought had won.
But Just as started back into the
tunnel, holding the arm OF the old
man, who ling Red reluctantly and yet
began to yield, 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~ he called
ncrOss the chasm. "DOn't be afraid of
me any more than / am afraid of you.
Just wait moment, I want TO talk
business"
II have TO business to talk with
you" l answered.
But did not say II was with you,
, monsieur" he answered in sneering
tones. at is with our friend Duchalne.
Hola, Duchaine!
At the sound Of Leroux's voice the
old mGn Strengthened himself and be-
gan muttering ard looking from the
one to the Other OF us undecidedly.
Suddenly 1 saw him turn his head
and fix his eyes upon Leroux. He
craned his neck forward; and then,
very slowly, he began 10 walk toward
his prosecutor. l Craned my neck.
Leroux was holding Out-tho rou-
lette wheel,
Come along, ChaSles, my friend"
| he cried. "Cume, let US try our for
! tuncsl Don't you want to stake some
| >
The old figure had lcaped forward
over the ledge, and in Il moment Lee
roux had grasped hin and pulled him
into the tunnel.
FASTENED back 10 JaCQuellne 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 a woman loves him
"Oh, l thought you were dead! she
sobbed, and fell into my arms.
held her tightly TO support her
and I led her back to the gold cave
In few words I explained what had
occurred.
"Now JacQucline, you must let m'
guide YOU" said. Don't you see tina
there Is no chunce for us unless W.
leave your father for the presen
where he is and make our own escape
We can reach Pere AntOine's caOiI
soon after midday, and we can tel
! MIN your luNiiSA 10 u ~ A'OhNA hNAN' -
would not come with US, Jacqueline
even If he were here
She did not respond. 1t was In
safety of us two and her fathers If
assured, against Il miserable fate TO
her, and l knew not what for me
though 1 thought LerOux would Civ
me little shrift once was In his powe
again.
She vas 80 silent that l thought
had convinced her. l urged her to he
Feet. But suddenly l heard stealth
football close ut hand, between tn
! cave and the cataract.
/ thought 1t was Charles Duchain'
I hoped il was Leroux. l placed m
finger on Jacqueline's lips and creT
. stealthily to the passage, revolver
y hand.
Then, in the gloom. saw the vilIaii
GUS face of Jean Petitjean looking int