The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-03-30

We went 10 our work the next
morning with a new zeal. All the
time that wo were al work In the
forest We we're thinking OF what
fortune might have In store for us on
our homoward crawl. We crawled
round each corner. lettering az the
psychological spot always with the
Same eyu hope In our hcarta
The affair. however. Was not 40
easy. Sometimes We were seen from
above or below. sometimes drivers
were too careful. on the fourth day,
however. success rewarded our per-
severance, A small automobile which
had spotted from distance came
round the corner whore We were, 20
10 sneak. anchored. driven With that
full measure az recklessness which
only a Frenehman. anxious 10 prove
his engine can obtain. There was a
Wild cry from the driver. crash into
our wagon. and over went the auto
mobile and man down the slde OF the
procipice
IL was I who ciambered down 20
Ehere our victim was lying. and
drew pleasing looking black pocket
book from the inside OF his coat
Afterwnrd felt his heart. and dis
covered that he was alive. ! ordered
Pierre 90 move tho wagons over 60
our own side Of the road. and We 49,
GREETED tho pockctbook among the ioEs
we were carrying. Presently pub
Tic touring car from Cannes, on It's
way 10 Hycrcs. arrived. Tho accident
was explained: room was made for
tho Injured man. and liberal pour
boiro was given us. collected among
the passengers. We then made our
way home. and later on. when We
had lighted our evening firc. Ns
opened the pocisctbook. divided the
money into three portions, but
spoke 10 them as master
Listen. Jacques. and you. Pierre,
said Il am man OF Justice. but
altho I avn ono % you. have tray
eled beyond those forestH and I know
the world IL you take this money
with you to tho village tonight, you
viii b. drunk. the truth win be known
and wo shall all go to prison. ] wil
swear 10 you tho woodcuuers' oath
tho cath across the flames. that yeui
share shall be saved But go 20 tbs
village tonight with 20 francs each
tho pourbolrr Eiven US by tho Eng
lishmen. and let mo keep the rest foi
you. or hide u for yourselves"
They had iust sufficient vi, 20 re-
aliEn that was their superior Ia IN.
;slligence and that my advice wal
good so We growied an oath In th'
strange dialoc, OF those parts. and
gripped their Knarisd and knottet
hands. which reminded me always o.
tho roots OF tho trees We fslled.
Our next adventure engineered r.
similar fashion 10 the last. brought
Us matter Of couple OF thousand
francs This time. however. there
was trouble. for tho drivers mech
was broken as he pitched head fore
mast from tho seat OF the car: and
bis wife. who was only slightly In.
lurcd. gave vigorous evidence as e
tho position OF our wagon and th'
disappearance OF her hushand'i
( pocketbook after We had dragged his
body up from. ledge Of the preci.
( pice. grndarmn from the neigh.
boring village visited US that sans
l Night and made a careful search
I thru our belongings There wal
nothing 20 be found. however. and b.
preserving stolid silence and lrav.
Ing all speech to me. my companions
escaped suspicion jus, as did. After,
/ ward. however. spoke TO them ssri.
ouAly.
Comrades" pointed out. 'thii
game II too good 70 last. For n tim'
SIC must so wariiy. Afisrward vi
win seek ono more adventure, whicl
va must select with great care. 10
70 win bs my last II IL Is successful
shall leave you. Afterward yoi
two had better bury your EavinEs Il
tho ground and abandon the game
for II needs brains to be made sue
? esssfui. and you two have not IN
brains OF a rabbit between you"
They knew that was right. an
they held their peace. II was
month later. indeed, before VIC mad
our last coup. and II ended In a yer.
different fashion from what ! ha
anticipated. From my lookout plac
on n stretch Of the road above III
. wagons. saw n gray touring chi
piled with luggage and golt-cluhs. az
. preaching from the direction Of Can
neA There was Girl In front, ssate
. by the driver. and an elderly gentle
man behind. ] called down 70 IN
I others:
Comrades. this IN our chance
. announced. Move the wagons o
around the corner. and be prepare
for what may happen"
What did happen was not in IN
: least what had expected. Fror
where ! lay. crouching amonga. N
!. scrub. could SEQ that somethin
was wrong with the car. Til
chauffeur was rocking In his sea
and the car was swaying from sid
, to side.
But II was tho girls face fror
which could not remove my eye
She must have fully realized n
danger she was In, but she shove
not tho slightest signs OF fear. 81
leaned over ana tried 10 put on N
foot-brake, succeeding - far. In fac
as momcntarlly 10 check the pror
res- OF the car. Tho chauffeur, SUD
denly SELLING his opportunit,
| Jumped from his seat and rolled oy,
In the dust. The girls foot appai
entity slipped from the brake. and Il
car once more gathered speed.
III I saw her eyes. an the car can
humping down the hill. heard u
wild shouting and ordinations
l the old gentleman behind, and thel
came to me one OF those extraord
nary moments which I make no a
I tempt to explain.
III half slid. half scrambled. dow
the slope into the road, drew in m
| breath. poised myself for n great n