Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-09-18

On this night, when the chateau
was asleep, the wounded Duchemin
left his bedroom and went seeking
cigarettes in the drawing room. His
candle, which he placed on the table.
was suddenly blown out and then
removed by unseen hands.
Go On With the Story
Duchemin Strengthened UP sharply,
and stood quite still, listening. No
sound.
His vision spent itself fruitlessly
against the blackness, which the
closed window ~draperies rendered
absolute but for those dull. sardonic
eyes of dying embers.
In spite of himself he knew a mo-
ment when flesh crawled and the
hair seemed to stir upon the scalp;
for Duchemin knew he was not
alone; there was something else in
the room with him, something lame
less. stealthy, silent, sinister.
A hand extended about a foot en-
countered the back of an upholster-
ed chair, which he identified by
touch. Assuming the chair to be
occupying it's usual position, he need
only continue in a line parallel with
the line of it's back to find the n
trance hall in about six PAGES.
Within three he stopped dead, as
il paralyzed by sudden instructive
perception of that other presence
close by.
Whether he had drawn near to It,
inch by inch, OF whether it, seeing
him about to make good his escape,
had crept up on him, he could not
say. He only knew that it was
there, within arms length, waiting
tense, prepared, and somehow dead
ly in it's animosity.
Digging the nails deep into the
palms of his hands, until the pain
relieved his tension, he
waited once more, n minute, two,
three.
But nothing.
Then very slowly he lifted an arm,
and swept 1t before him right and
left. At one point of the arc, a
trifle to the left, his finger tips
brushed something. He thought he
detected a stir in the darkness, a
stifled sound. stepped forward quick
ly, clawing the air, and caught be-
tween his fingers a whisp of some
material, like silk, sheer and glace,
a portion of some garment.
simultaneously he heard a smoth-
cred cry, of anger or alarm, and
the night seemed to split and be
rent into fragments by a thousand
shooting needles of colored flame.
Smitten brutally on the point of
the jaw, his head jerked back, he
reeled and fell against a chair,
which went to the floor with a muf-
fled crash.
CHAPTER X
A Woman's Faith
Duchemin woke up in his bed,
glare of sunlight in his eyes.
He groaned aloud and with both
hands clutched temples that prom
Used to split with pain that crash
ed between them, stroke upon stroke
like blows of a mighty hammer.
Also, his jaw was stiff, and devel-
oped a protesting ache, whenever
he opened his mouth.
Then Duchemin remembered.
He got up hastily and spent sew
eral thrilling minutes under an icy
shower and emerged feeling more on
terms with himself and the world.
The valet de chamber brought with
his tray the announcement that
Madame de Montalais presents her
compliments and would be glad to
see monsieur at his convenience in
the grand salon. So Duchemin made
short work of his dressing, his cof-
fee and roll, and hurried down to
the drawing room.
Her forfound reverie disturbed by
his approach, she rose quickly, adj
vancing to meet Duchemin with both
hands offered in sympathy.
MY dear friend! You are suffer-
ing-?"
He met this with a smiling denial.
Not now; at first, yes; but since
my bath and coffee, I'm as right as
a trivet. But madame is not
dressed for her journey"
NO. monsieur. l have postponed
TIA slight pause prefaced n
more word-"indefinitely."
At this confirmation of the fears
which had been haunting him,
Duchemin nodded slightly.
Yes" she said thoughtfully, when
Duchemin had explained his pres
ence in the drawing ROOM: Il, too.
found it not easy to sleep. But I
heard nothing till that chair
crashed"
You came down here-alone?"
But naturally, monsieur"
L QOH l DeilcNe, sdAu DuSilclhAh
sincerely, the world holds a woman
your peer for courage"
"Or curiosity" she laughed. AT
all events, 1 found you, but could
do nothing to rouse you. So / called
Jean, and he helped me get you up
stairs again.
We'll you see =. . 1t was broad
daylight before l noticed that the
screen which stands in front of my
safe was out of place. The safe is
built into the solid wall, you know.
1 got up then. and found the safe
door an inch or so ajar. Whoever
opened it last night, closed it hasti-
Iy and neglected to shoot the bolts"
And your jewels, of course"
She pronounced with unbroken
composure: "They have left me moth
ing. monsieur"
Duchemin groaned and hung his
head.
81 wanted to consult you first.
and :" She broke off sharply to
ask: Yes, Jean; what is it?"
The footman had entered to bring
her cards, over which Eve de Mon
talais arched her brows.
Show the gentlemen in, please"