Evening journal., 1922-09-13
CHAPTER III
Bafflinc BY Moonlight

or France. Inens tOos MoHsleui
rMchemin knew that the uniform
OF the Americans had more than
fpeouently been used by those an
Gent acouaintances of his, the
Aeaches Of Paris. as a cloak for
their own doings. So it didn't need
tae air of stealth that marked this
business to persuade him there was
mischief in the brew.
sIfe got IN motion 70 investigate
Without stopping to debate an excuse
for so doing, and several seconds be-
fore he heard a woman's cries.
sDuchemin broke into a run that
carried him round still a corner
and pumped him headlong into the
tfieater of villainy.
This was open ground-a rudely
oval pit little less than seven hum
dred feet in its narrowest diameter
and something like four hundred in
depth. a vast back well against
whose darkness the blue-white
ntoon-glare etched a strange group
ing of figures. seven In all.
on his one hand Duchemin saw
woman in mourning clasping to
her bosom a terrified young girl. the
author Of the screams; on the other,
three men close-locked in grimmest
combat, one defending himself
against two with Indifferent success;
While in between stood a third
woman with her back TO and per-
;lonsly near the chasm. shrinking
from the threat OF a pistol in the
hands of the fourth man.
Duchemin. who was upon him so
suddenly that 1t would be difficult TO
say which was the more surprised
when DuchemiD's stick struck down
tfe pistol hand Of the other with
such force as must have broken his
wrist The weapon fell, he uttered
an, oath as he swung round. clutch
ing the MANNED member; and then.
seeing his assailant for the first
time, he swooped down TO recover
the weapon so swiftly that II was in
his left hand and splitting vicious
tongues OF orange flame before Du-
cnemin was able to get in a second
blow
But there was the abrupt end of
that passage, Smitten cruelty be-
~f'cNh t-A0 tgtcF TIC l1AAOM
thtckly and went over backwards
like a bundle Of rags. head and
shoulders jutting out over the brink
ofthe precipice so far that. though
his body checked perceptibly as II
struck the ground, his own weight
carried him on. he shot out into |
space and vanished as though some |
unseen hand had lifted up from
these dark depths and plucked him
doYn to annihilation.
The young girl shrieked again.
the woman gave a gasp of horror.
Duchemin himself knew slckish
quaim. But he had no time to spare
for that; It was going III with the
man contendlng against two
The adventurer's stick might have
been bewitched that night, so magi-
ca1 was its work; a single blow on
nv nearest head (but believe II was
sesected with care.) and instantane-
oeSiy that knot OF contention was
resolved into its three several parts.
The smitten clapped hands to his
hlsFt moaning. His brother scoun-
drti started back with staring eyes
inswhich rage gave place to dismay
as he grasped the change in the sltu-
alton and saw the stick swinging for
his head in turn. He ducked neatly;
the stick whistied through thin air.
and before Duchemin could recover
the other had turned and was run
ming for dear life.
Duchemin delayed a bare instant:
htrs rnanifestly his assistance was no /
n ore needed here. In a breath he /
who had been so recently out /
ma5ched recoiiected his wits and /
tosk the Initiative with admirable /
2 address. Duchemin saw him hy
fursousiy al his late opponent. trip
and lay him on his back; then Du-
chenin turned and gave chase 20
the. fugitive
This was the masquerader IN the
American uniform; and an amazing
y fleet pair OF heels he showed,
iaidng into account his heaviness Of
BODY. Duchemin saw him swerve
from his first course and steer for
rercle standing AZ some distance
evidently the conveyance which had .
6rorght the sightseers 10 view the
422cfacle OF MontpeHier-le-vie by ,
mosSlig
waiting in the middle OF broad 9
avenue OF misshapen obelisks. :
figEpidated barouche on either side.
tsspoie dropped two sorry specimens
Of .crowba't. Andtheir pained amaze I
ment was so unfeigned that Duche- t
min laughed aloud when the fat 4
~oS3e bounded 10 the box. snatched 6
1pere'ne and whip and curled lash
roqnd their hony hanks.
Since It took them some moments !
% come TO their senses and annraoi-
Ategthat all this was not an evil I
1ream. Duchemin's hands were
,lutching the back Of the carriage 1
when the horses broke suddeniv J
mtg an awkward. numbering gallon
The moment Duchemin found his
OWN feet in the swaylng vehicle he
eaoed on the shoulders Of the other
,nf dragged him backwards from
he box.
What followed was not very clear
o dim. a melange OF impressions.
rhd mock-American fought like
ieu1 unclaimed. The animals at the
,o3 ran away in good earnest. that
vretched barouche rolled and pitch
d 1lke a rudderless shell In crazy
ca2 the two men fioundered in its
se1 like fish in a pail.
Tey fought by no rules. with no
but bit and kicked and !
,ouged and wrenched and struck as ]