Year: 1874

such a man.


Despite himself, Vane Evelyn audibly
sneered Until after marriage" he said.


Miss Vernon arose


"You must not detain me any longer"
she said @ You have done very well 80
far i'll what have commissioned you to ex-
ecute. Can depend upon no unnecessary
calls for an interview from you I"


II willnot communicate with you unless
it is absolutely necessary, replied Evelyn.


''Then here is some money for you, and
Miss Vernon drew little package from
her pocket-book. Make it 20 as far as
is possible, as ! shall not have any more
until the wedding comes off with Colonel
Adams"


Nane Evelyn took the money rapaciously
from her hands, as she simply said


IF you do ascertain the meaning Of the
curious appearance of those two men, let
me know, if it is at all important Will
you do so r


'tYes, leave it to me to work up the whole
affair satisfactorily.


He left her as he spoke, she standing
gazing after him, and pondering upon his
words he walking away in mood com
placent and contented, for he love money,
and to him, money was almost everything
desirable in the world.


As he came from the woods and out
into the read he saw two men coming
towards him. At the first he did not
notice who they were, but as he recognized
them, he came to a halt, and an uncertain
shadow crossed his features


Good day" saldIone Of the men, Rob
eIt Garrison, the elder of the twain, as he
came up to them.


Nane Evely returned the words Of
salutation courteously, and was going On
when one of the men stopped him.


Hold on, he said in singular tone
of voice. I'VE want to have little talk
with you"


The disguised man looked around him,
as if medita, ing on escape from these men


well, what is it !" he asked sullenly


Are you the same man that was at
Marengo some few days ago r.


No"


Stranger, said Thomas Barton, placing
his hand upon the mans shoulder. ''You
/ lie"


II was not there.


Again you lie, stranger, you were there
at the hotel, and you led away man
whom you we're protesting to be 50 great
friend to. And, continued Thomas
Barton, I'VE are pretty sure that We have
seer ;1ou before


You are mistaken, gentlemen. 'faltered
the disguised Vane Evelyn


I'VE are not mistaken, you are the man
whom we saw in New York city, and your
whiskers and hair are false"


Robert Garrison tore from the unmasked
Nane Evelyn's face the beard as he spoke
tb.. ri = h. Ill
features of the man whom the had once
before so confronted.


In the very face Of his exposure, Nane
Evelyn was too enraged to speak single
word.


II do not know Of the whereabouts Of
the man whom you seek,


You led him away, said Robert CARR
son. 1--WE have traced him step by step,
and you also. we lost you. We lost you
in the southern part of Virginia, and We
just now met you by favorable and well
guess. Now we must know what you have
done to Eugene Allerton, for we are GER
tain that some plot has placed him out of
the way for some purpose we do not know
Where is he we demand to know"


Vane Evelyn was silent as he calculated
the chances Of an escape from his captors,
for captors they were as they were
evidently determined not to allow him to
depart without he gave them the informa-
tion which they were 50 fully resolved to
gain.


The man continued to watch him
narrowly, for they knew that he was
very wary enemy to contend with. AS he
raised his hand and flung it with ali of his
force into the face of Robert Garrison,
momentarily binding him and causing
Thomas Barton to stand for a moment in
smazement and confusion, he gave
spring and was up the mountain in a brief
period Of time. And as a shot from the
pistol of the man whom he had assaulted
went by him, he turned and the sound of
a revolver's shot rang out upon the still
air. Away like the wind he sped, his
captors in full pursuit of him. The shades
Of evening hid him from the two men, but
they kept on, and as he emerged from the
side of the mountain upon the level
plateau, they started in a now hot pursuit
of him.


On, on, like the wind, in a wild race
favoring Vane Evelyn, the men went,
until they lost him, as the mountain led
to the valley below them, where dozen
farm houses we're clustered together, and
few stacks Of provender proved very
fruitful valley.


Vane Evelyn crept under stack, saw
them go by in their hot pursuit of him
and then went on, until he came to a small
inn in the mountains kept by an old
Frenchman.


Here he secured shelter for the night
and good meal to rejuvenate his we'll
nigh spent frame.


"You are the first guest we have had
for many day, said the old Frenchman.
My daughter here is a good cook but we
do not have much custom here"
Vane Evelyn gave the girl a casual
glance. She was a beautiful girl, about
twenty-five years of age, true type of
good looking and well-built French girl


He failed to notice the girls startled
manner. She had evidently seen him
before. WA
| In the inn Vane Evelyn remained for
four days, in the meantime entertaining
himself with an attempt to make himself
agreeable to the old Frenchman's daugh-
| ter.


She was shy of him, however, and did
not even encourage him to flirt. Some
interest in him, however, prompted her to
watch him very closely.


The day after he had gone, she was
cleaning up his room when she saw pass
book lying behind the bureau where it had
apparently fallen. She knew that it
belonged to Vane Evelyn and sne opened
it eagerly.


She passed over, all the entries and lit
tie notes to one paper in the book, small,
folded document.


Ten her eyes became as thoughtful as
her own fair face ; she gave glad cry and
then perused the paper again and again.


Just then q shadow at the door caused
her to look up. There stood the owner,
Vane Evelyn, dark frown upon his face.