Glacier County chief., 1939-01-27
i from now, at about 4 o'clock in the

from now. at about o'clock in the
afternoon"
II can never thank you" she said.
You have no need to-" he answered
roughly. You are going to bring me
how much did we agree-3O0 900
francs, and Monsieur remains as INV
regret that have to be so commercial,
but one must live, and If your lover
is rich he will not mind"
She held out her hand to the Saint
Il shall be there to meet him in
three days" she said. And then I
shall be able to thank you again"
This was nothing" he answered
with his lazy smile. "But if you ever
meet any dragons wish you'd send
for me-
He kissed her fingers and watched
her ride away until the curve of the
hill hid her from sight. 1t was true
that he had done very little, but he
had seen the light in her eyes before
she went, and to him that was reward
enough for any adventure.
He was thoughtful as he walked
back along the cliff edge track towards
the bandits cave with MaSquerouge
just behind his elbow, and when they
we're halfway along it he said casually:
BY the way I ought to warn you
that the parole renewed last night
is Just running out"
The muzzle of the bandits rifle
pressed into his chest as he turned.
In that case, m'sieu you will please
put up your hands Unless. of course.
| you prefer to renew your parole again"
Simon raised his hands to the level
of his shoulders
My friend" he said. have you for
! gotten the Pont Genois?"
| COMMENT"
! The Pont Genois." said the Saint
steadily. AT the bottom Of the ravine
between Otto and EviSa. Where there
/ was man with a sprained ankle who
had been there for three days without
food, and who might have stayed there
until he starved if brigand with a
price on his head had not stayed to
help him"
'1 have not the least idea what you
are talking about"
Il thought not" said the Saint
softly. Because you weren't there"
He saw the bandits hand go rigid
around the gun. and the blue steel was
as sharp as knife points in his eyes.
Il didn't think this brigand would
have forgotten me so completely that
we could spend an evening together
without him recognizing me. You see.
/ we got quite friendly down in that
forsaken canyon, and when my ankle
was better I paid him visit here
That's why I was able to find my way
so easily yesterday came to Corte
because meant TO look him up again.
And yet this brieand's name was Mas
querouge. too. How do you explain
that-Monsieur Baudier?"
For moment the bandit was silent,
standing tense and still, and Simon
could feel the shattering chaos whirl-
ing through the mans mind. the wild
spin of instructive stratagems and lies
sinking down to the grim realization of
their ultimate futility.
And suppose I am Baudier?" said
the man at last. and his natural voice
was quite different from the way he
had been speaking before
Then you should tell me more about
what you said last highland about
Masquerouge. Where is hep"
Il found him here by accident, but
he thought I was looking for him. We
fought. and he fell over the precipice
He lives in the grave which said was
mine"
And because you wanted to disap-
pear, and because you loved the noun
tainS, you thought that the best way
for you to hide would be to take his
place. No one had ever seen the face
of Masquerouge, no one ever knew
who he was. You took his mask and
became Masquerouge"
"Cest ca"
Baudier had not moved Simon could
sense the taut nerves of a man who
held death in his hands and was only
waiting for one word to turn the scale
of his decision.
Simon Templar was also waiting for
the answer to one question. He said:
And last night?'
Ca peut vous faire?"
ic in n RE n
the Saint.
His eyes were as clear and unclouded
as the sky over their heads. and there
was something as ageless and IN
changeable as justice in the even tones
of his voice.
might have changed" he said. Per
never go back to the old life. And
perhaps you told that lie to cut the
last link with it. and you were glad
to set your wife free for the happiness
which you never gave her If that was
so, your secret will always be safe
with me-
But I've never seen man like
you change very much. and won-
dered why all you asked about your
wife'S lover was whether he was rich.
l wondered if it had occurred to YOU
that if you let her believe you were
dead, so that she would marry this
man. you could go back to France and
charge a price for your silence. And
if that was So"
You will never tell her" said
Baudier viciouSly, and the rifle jerked
in his hand.
The crack of the shot ratified back
and forth. growing fainter and fainter,
between the hills, and something like
fire struck the Saints chest He smiled,
as if something amused him.
You're wasting you time" he said.
L took all the bullets out of your
gun while you were asleep last night.