Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-09-13
sxroPsrs,

Vivian Renton and Eddie. Haverton
modern soldiers of fortune. have beer
gambling with Hubert Baxenter, q pros.
ments. After their departure late al
night Renton returns to the house
murders Baxenter and hides the body
on the roof. While waiting for night to
he hnds in a desk a curious old yellow
ed document telling of a mysterious
chest left in the care Of one Of Baxen-
ter's ancestors by a French nobleman,
the Marquis de Dartigny, of the Cha.
teau chaIville.
The explanation Of the leaving Of the
chest with the Baxenters is given,
showing. that a girl is still alive to
Renton makes his escape from The
house. :
On explanation is started Of Marqui.
de Arttgny's attempted escape from
Era F5.ne sui At the hss time me 81 { the 5syo taa.
before, while the marquis and a friend,
Remy, arc j%ourneying together.
The marquis and his granddaughter
nnaket good their escape from France.
} The body Of Hubert Baxenter is
found. After w weeks nc clue to the
has been found and interest
wanes. Renton masqueradest under the
In looking up records Of the marauis,
Dartin finds that a nephew Of the
wealthy old Landowner had gone to Can:
ada in the early years after the revoluS
the Baxenters a letter laying claim to
the treasure, and appears to discuss the
matter with Baxenter.
The chest is turned over ~ .oartit,
alias Renton. The love Of Rosert5 Bax-
enIes for Stella Bentam, who has Il Xix;
inis for the stage, Is introduced. Robert
disapproves of the stage and ens.einge-
r1ent comes for a while. Renton finds
directions in the chest whereby to get
the key to the DartiSny treasure In
Chateau Chauville.
Renton goes to the chauteau as 9
painter, gets into the treasure vault
and has the door fall shut, tmprisonine
him.
CHAPTER XI.-Continned.
It was not loDg before the reac.
ton came. There was time before
him and the grating promised NOR,
than a ray Of hope. Fortunately, thu
sketch in the dining room was un'
finished, and old Henri would sc,
nothing suspicious in the paint-bo,
and book left open awaiting It's com
pletion taking it for granted that th'
painter would return the next day.
The prisoner did not wait to asl
himself what he would find at tn
foot of. the dark stairs behind tn
> ~ . ". ~ AON OSoIk IA An
to that troubles anticipated wer
made to be crossed as one came t.
them not before He found his worl
easier now that he had the leverag,
of the loose bar to assist him. In hal
an hour Vivian was ready to descend
It was part of the mans characte
that he should take the pick Of tn
stones before he left the chamber. II,
handled them c~arelessly. thrustinl
them into the big pockets OF his paint
ing-coat. Then he stood on the to]
step.
Then, and not till then, did h,
pause, his face showing drawn an.
anxious in the thin blue light. VIVA
was he fated to find below7 His in
decision was but momentary, ant
shrugeing his shoulders with an &C
ton that spoke OF the fatalist con
iitinued his way.
There were eighteen steps in all
but they were high and narrow ant
the descent was sharp. At the foo
AN opening led apparently beneath
the body OF the chateau. With itorcl
extended before him Vivian proceed
ed. After few moments the al
grew colder and the walls where h
touched them were clammy an.
homegrown. The man told htmsel
that he was not beneath the old moat
At intervals he passed other dark en-
tries which ran In all, directionS-nar
row little tortuous alleys, many o
which he explored for q few feet, onl,
to return Il the main way. More tina,
once. too pit yawned suddenly a
his feet. and had II not been for hi
Unborn caution the Chateau Chau
Vile would have added yet Anothe
secret TO its dark history. It was evi
dent to Vivian that the builders .
the hidinG-place, deeming II neces
sary thataan emergency exit Shout
be at hand, had made Il 10 that Will
egress was difficult fngress was wen
nigh impossible to those not KNOWN
the pttfallsV and the way OF II.
II must have been after an hour,
walking that the walls on either han,
seemed to reccde from vivian unit
1t last they were lost In the gloor
beyond the reach Of the rays 81 III
little torch. Apparently the tunne
had widencd out into n chamber,
The man hesitated. somewhat my
titled by the loss Of the friendly Wai.I
anA at the IN moment his re
cAme SHARPLY Into contact With rom
4 obstruction, He stumbled. the tore,
foil from his hands, ! thousand ssar
danced before him.