The evening world. Newspaper, August 26, 1915, Page 13

ee That Begins at | By Victor Rousseau | CSIR, Win hw Spel) ree oF PREOEINNG OMArTh Ne CHAPTER XII. (Ovmuiaud ) Won—and Loat. sé RE you saying this of your free will, Jac- queline?’ I amid She nodded, and I saw Bimon's evil face crease with sup- pressed mirth yl rome up. “Adteu, then, madame," J eaid, “Hut first permit me to ree store the money that I have been keeping for you.” And I took owt my pocketbook, Simon stare at me incredulously. “bk do not vaderstand you tn ¢ t, now, Mr, Hewlett,” he @ aimed, "You are to keep the money. I do not go back upon my bargains.” it is not, however, your money, L retorted, Kiough | knew that it soon would be. “I shall return it to Mme, d'kpernay, who entrusted me with it. VWeyond that | care nothing as to tts ultimate destination, though perbaps 1 can guess, Naturally I do not carry $4,000 about with me” —= , housand!"" shouted Simon, gave me eight . “I do not know anything about ten thousand. Prob- ably Mr, Daly has the rest, But, as saying, I shall give you @ a Leroux burst into loud laughter *°' and clapped moe heartily upon the * shoulder, “Paul Hewlett,” he said, with genuine admiration, “you are as good My friend, it would have paid you to have a ted my own offer. However, you declined it and { shall not renew it. W take your check, and it cepted in full settlement, a was too sick at heart to pay at- tention to his buffoonery. I sat down “* @t the table and, taking up @ pen + which lay there, wrote a check for $8,000, making {t out to Jacqueline d'Epernay, This I handed to her, “Adien, madame,” I said, “Adieu, monsieur,” she answered almost inaudibly, her head bent low, +I went out of the room, still grip- Ping my pistol, and I took care to let Simon see it as we descended the otairs side by side. As we reached the bottom of the stairs Philippe Lacroix came out of the ball m carrying @ candle, [ waw his ancholy, pale face twist with surprise us he perceived me. “Philippe, this is M. Paul Hewlett,” said Leroux. “To-morrow you will convey him to the cabin of Pere An- teine, where he will be able make his own plans. You will go by way of le Vieil Ange.” Lacro\x star’ violently, muttered something and passed up the stairs, often turning to stare, as I surmised from the brief occasions of his foot. eteps. Leroux led me to a cabin and bade its Indian occupant, Pierre Cari- dou, to give me shelter for the night. When Leroux had gone I fell into talk with the Indian, ‘ “Pierre Caribou,” T said, “wouldn't «0 you like to have the old days back when M. Duchuine was master and there wus no Simon Leroux? 4 He did not anawer me, but I saw | ‘his face-muscles twitch, q “Plerre, I came here to‘save Mile. gous I said. " he answered, Simon.” ‘3 name, is his Yo cun save him, yhat, In the dev power, then?" I cried, “Le'diable,” he replied. He may have misunderstood me, but the an- ewer Was apt. “No use fight him,” he said. “All Anish now, Old times, him finish, and my gal, too, Soon Pierre Caribou, him finish, Na can fight Simon. Perhaps old Plerre kill him, nobody el He looked steadily atime, “I poison him dogs," he added, “What? I exclaimed, “simon, him tell me long ago no- body come to chateau, Bo you finish, too, maybe. What he tell you, you gor" ‘Lacroix is going to take me to Antoine's cabin to-morrow I answered. The Indian grunt “simon no "mean to let you go," he said, “He mean kill you, You’ know too much. Hometime he kill me, too, or I Kill him, Once I live in old chateau at St. Boniface with old M’sieur Du- chaine. Good days then, not like now, i Hunt plenty game. Fine people come + from Quebec, not like Simon, M’sicur Charles small boy then, All finish now," re,” T sid, taking him by the arm, “what is the Old Angelle Vieil Ange?" He stared stolidly at me. “Why you ask that?" he sald. “Because Lacroix has been in- nd to take me by that route,” I uswered, : Pierre said not a word, but smoked fn silence. [ sat upon the couch wait- ing. His face was quite Impassive, but T knew that my question was of tremendous imypurl to me, ‘At last he shook the ashes out of his pipe and rose. “Como with me,” he sald, “I show you--because you frien of Marm'selle Jacqueline. Come,” I followed him out of the hut. A large moon was rising, but it waa not ‘yet high enough to cast much light. Then we emerged upon a tiny shelf sof rock some forty feet up the face of the wall, and quite invisible from below. It was « little above the level of the chateau roof, about 100 yards away, Below me I could see the main entrance to the tunnel. It was a terrific scene. Above ns that stream of white water, resem- y bung hing #0 much as a high ou Pressure jet from a fireman's hose yo Magnified 1,000 times, curved like a fia crystal arch, and so compact by rea- fon of its force that not a drop i hed us. It was as stropg as a fork wider and t thok would here cut teal Pierre cough, my erm an 1 reeled, wick with the shook of the diseov- ory ond be polled inte my car above ” push you-wo.” reed away im wick horror and J the tumne » you do? be asked “You Antome to-night? What the pistol from my ovat 1 anewered, “IT have tw bullets bere, and both of them ere for Bimon. To-night | bad him in my power and spared him. Now | am golng back, and I shall shoot him down like a dog, whether he is armed or defenselens “You no shoot Simon,” the Indian frunted. “Le diable bim frien’, You hed him to-might, why you po shoot im the “Lam going back to kill him now,” 1 repeated. Afterward I do not know What will happen. But you can go on to the but of Pere Antoine and, if luck is with me, I shall meet you fare perhaps ine,” But 1 had little hope of meeting him with Jacqueline, Only 1 could hot forbear ¢ k her name again Pierre's face was twitehi You no go back!" he cried, “Simon he kill you, No une to fight Simon TH a time not com come, he die. 1 left him and strode on through the tunnel, Presently, aa L moved along, | saw @ flicker of candle Nght coming from a cave to one side of the passageway, 1 grasped my plato! tightly a crept nolselessiy forward, If this should be Leroux, as | was convinced it was, | would not parley with him. I would shoot him down in his tracks, My moccasined feet pressed the soft ground withoyt the slightest sound. 1 gained ance to th cave. Within it, his back toward me, & man was stooping down, As I stepped n dislodged a pebble, @ splash into the bed of the stream, The man started and spun around, and | saw before me the pale, melan- choly features of Philinpe Lacroix. CHAPTER XIill, Louis d’Epernay. E uttered an oath and took H steps backward, but I saw that he was unarmed and that he realized his help- lessness. Ho flung his hands above his head and stood facing me, surprise and terror twisting his fea- tures into a grimacing grin, There was no man, next to Leroux, whom I would rather have seen. “I wanted to see you, M. Hewlett,” he babbled. “I can quite believe that, M. La- croix,” I answered, “You have looked for me before, But this time you have found me.” "I have something of importance to say to you, monsieur,” he began again. “I can believe that, too,” I an- swered. “It is about le Viell Ange, is it not? “By God, I did not mean—I swear to you, monsieur—listen, monsieur, one moment only,” he stammered, “Lower your pistol. You see that I am unarmed!” I lowered it. “Well, say what you have to say,” I satd him. “Leroux is a dev! he burst out, with no pretended jon, “I want you to help me, M. Hewlett, and I can help you in ™ way yet do pot drew of, Iam not one of his kind, to take his orders. Why, in Quebec he would be like the dirt beneath my feet. He has a hold over me; he tempted me to xamble in one of his houses, and I-— well, he has a hole over me. But he shall not drive me into murder. M. Hewlett, how much do you think thiv seigniory is worth?” I am not a financier,” T answered. half @ million dollars, perhaps He came close to me and hissed into my ear: ‘Monsieur, there is more wold in these rocks than anywhere in the world! Look here! Here!" He stooped down and began tossing pebbles at my feet. But they were pebbles of pure gold, and each one of them was as large as the first joint of my thumb. And I had misjudged his courage, I think, for tt was avarice and not fear that made him tremble. So that w Lacro|x's master pas- sion! I had always associated it with decrepit old age, as in the case of Charles Duchaine, L looked into the cave, Lacroix was bending over a great heap of sacks, piled almost to the roof, They were sacks of earth, but the earth was flaked with gold, and I saw nuggets glittering in it, 1 “It is everywhere, monsieur!" ried roix. ‘In this ‘stream, in these too. You can gather a mortarful of earth anywhere, and tt will show r when it is washed, We found place together" —— You and Leroux? “No! I and’-—~ He broke off suddenly and eyed me with furtive cunning. “Yes, yes, monsieur, Leroux and [ And we two worked here together, with nothing more than picks and shovels and mortara and pesties, La- roux and I. ‘There was nobody else, We slept here when Duchaine thought we were in Quebec, For days and days we washed and dug, and we have hardly scratched the surface, Monsieur, tt is the Mother Lode, it ts the world's treasure house! Ah, mon dieu, there are millions upon millions here!" I understood now why the provi- sions had been stored there. And I had passed by and never known that there was an ounce of gold! But “There are three blankets here,” I sald. “Yes, yes, monsteur cried La-~ croix eagerly. “l suffer much from cold, Two of them are mine, and Le- roux has only one, It is the richest gold deposit In the world, M. Hewlett, and neither Raoul nor Jean Petiijean knows the seoret—only Leroux and I. One cannot light upon this place save by a miracle of chance, such av ‘brought you here, God put this treas- The Evening World Daily ee Me aun MES JOHN WHEN THEY WERE MARRIED me te the mouth of | ped me by both | | 1 lot my thumb and finger tr WIFEY WE Look TWENTY FIVE YEARS “YOUNGER AN WHEN WE WERE MARRIED ho Mile, Jacque: | yet. When him time | | than cuttin by er? to pieces, strand by strand, sently Leroux was standing over me, perfectly calm. He had taken the plstol fro: coat pocket and table, and now he took it In his hand and held jt under magasine was empty. “Ah, Paul Hewleti, you are a very poor conspirator, indecd,” he sald, “to Wy to shoot & man without anything Do you remember how my arm round Ure in these hills, mean it to be found.” 1 grasped him by the sh. nd He did not I am not like that weak fool Hew- . lett.” "It was I sent him away, not you,” oulder. “Do _ think he wi . afraid of you?” Leroux looked at her in admiration. “You are a splendid woman, J: “I like the way you But you are rey, And you are go- u will yleld your will a glorious life 1 the wealth in the world’——~ No, it means d ath!" I answered. t means that if Leroux succeeds in killing me, he will kill you too! you see that we must stand together? Jo you suppose that be will share his hoard with you?” queline,” he ss cursing Jacq quite at my m ing to yield! Y affectionately 1 put when you were sitting In tha. chair writing your ridiculous che It was then that I took extracting the two cartridges, But i did think you would have had sense pistol and reload ! ‘1 will fling myself into the lake before that shail And at the door was the pale face of Philippe Lacroix, on me and kicked and dragged the table to the far end of the room and struck while I struggled like he oaths and execra. streamed from my lip: by another man, for I heard them indifferently, or rather something that was [, deep in the maze of my personality them—not that pitiful, puny, goaded thing that fought in its bonds until anting and exhausted. ‘There followed a long silence, while Leroux strode furiously about room, At last he stopped; he seemed to have made up his mind "he sald, nod- . “So you are the man who took this woman to the Merri- And then to your home, and Louls @'Epernay followed you there, and, naturally, you killed him it ta intelligible, ing for Carson after all, but wer this woman, He wheeled and turned to “T will marry you still!” did not deign to answer him the blood that trick, angwered La- ‘And that Is precisely croix, quietly, what I wanted to say to you. not # hog like Leroux; And then you are a gentleman, and we gentlemen trust each other, will give you a share in the gold, and you will get mademoiselie, no love for Louis. an hour after the marriage had been took on a pleading tone—why will you not take ail we have and let us Ye are two helpless people; we shall never betray you must you have me too you, Jacqueline,’ ard an under- I can trust examine your e you returned,” me repeatedly, she panted, She left him haif ou will unfi on" ite? he cried, and now Thi spare bin. ite tone of passion which I had not sus- pected in the man. scoundrel, Jacqueline. warne, and I have played it hard, And 1 have loved you for a long time, but I would not tell you until [ had the right as well as the power—but is my law, and I will ut_he keeps coming nd he hurried away with wringing his ha Pere Antoine, Gnd then she ran away, And Loul# will not “Faugh!" [ muttered, Life is a hard She loves you! ‘Spare him, monsieur, and God will You cannot kill “I don't want views on--on Mile, “We will talk about that presently, But tt seems my dear,” he answered, down like a good child. thing more to ask this gentleman be- fore I make my decision.” He picked up a scrap of newspaper from the table and held it before my eyes, deliberately turning up the oil- lamp wick that I might read it. recognized it at once, ping from the newspaper, descriptive of the murdered man, which [ had cut and placed in my Jacqueline, my friend, to me that our interests are mutual, und, as it happens, | was on my way back to have it out with Leroux when 1 stumbled upon this place,” “But 1 can show you the way," he “Come with me, monsieur. 1 don’t know how you got into the Wrong passage, straight ahead will precede yo 1 followed him now my lov conquer you “Go and sit I have some- her {n his arms. She ut- ery, and strug- tered a little, gaspin; wled wildly and ineffectui I was quite cold, for 1 knew that was to be the last of his villainies, the room and walked up to a It was the clip- the table, my pistol raised, alming is simple— You were not act- Come with me! into the darknecs out in the train and very soon heard the sound of the And then once moro heart beat steadily, and the will to dominant above every hesl- “You dropped this, my friend, when you pulled out your check book,” sald “You are a very poor con- spirator, Paul Hewlett would not have you on my side at any cataract again. 1 was standing at nder @ brilliant moon, and o uu was before me. It was all dark now glimmer of light that came from two windows on the far side, visible in- ux spun around, He saw me, smiled his sour smile. finch, although seen that my hand was as steady ag J could not withhold @ cet tain admiration for the man, but this did not weaken ine si “What, you again, monsteur? c 4 nor to wipe awa led down her chin “Do you know why?" he bawled, She raised her eyes indifferen I saw that, though her spirit was 1, She Was Weary to deata, Ause you become part! “assuredly T Well?” I repeated mechanically, Who killed him?" He shook tho pap and then struck “Who killed Louls d'Epernay?” he Jacqueline screamed r before my eyes Tv hat must ve me across the face snowy steeps beyond. Duchaine's room. Leroux's I did not know, of cours, but 1 surmised that it was one of those on the same story, which I had ny previous But this ignoranos "he shouted; and then he took Charles Duchaine by the arm and be- gan shaking him violently x You are always coming back, The truth of the diagnosis struck ros, T was alway: But this time T had come back to stay “Can [do anything further for you, passed whi tour of discovery. did not cause ine much concern, knew that, once we were face to face T should gain tho “I did,” T answered after a moment dead—Louls CHAPTER XIV, The Little Dagger. a’pernay!" Charles Duchaine looked at Leroux He had put one arm and he seemed to mon Was maltreat- ing her, and to wish to defend her; but his wits were still wandering, and 1 aaw that he understood only @ little tn his mild way 1 his daught understand that your bed comfortable? something, or is it only habit that has brought you back here where nobody And | would be meretle: against the wall and stood there, scowling like a devil. evident Chat my an- r had been totally un I had never seen him under overwhelming If I won, should 1 She was mine, ry rule of war, “T have come back to kill you, against her will, by And this was a world of war, where beauty went to trigger six times. And each time ick of the hammer Then, with his bull's bellow, Simon was upon me, dashing his fists into my it I heard nothing but 1 shaking the old man again. answered Ducha is long beard with his free » Loule is dead! weratched from the book of life. I would not even tread nor slink within influence of any emotion, and 1 did not at the time understand the cause of hia conster- the shadows, Lecroix, although he had fallen out of sigiit behind me, 1 gtrode stepdtly aeroas the snow and opened the door in the dark wing, hall und ascended stairway, took the turn to the right d passed through the little hall, I had guessed, the light came from struggles were 1 had been fig the floor and was kneeling on “Wake up a little more, Du- know what happens ne dashing alon| father, and the old man looked from one to the other of us in bewilder- ment, and shook his white head and wet some more monny, answered the old 40 ingenucusness that made t Jacqueline Was beating with her lit- tle fists upon Leroux's broad back, but he did not even feel the blows. I heard old Charlies Duchaine'’s piping cries of fear, and then somebody me by the throat, and ming in black water, “Did you—know this, madame Terous burat into « mirthiess lau room, I heard Leroux's harsh voice with- quite right, i in; and if I stopped outside it was not in indectsion, but because J] meant to make sure of my man this time, Through the crack of the door | saw old Charles Duchaine nodding over Leroux was atanding near him, and in @ oorner, beside the win- dow, was Jacqueline, our common enemy as Vallantly aa whe had done before. still tormenting her, “T want you, Jacqueline,” { heard him say in @ voice which betrayed no “And I gm going to have you. | always have my way. aad I was swim- roux flercely to Jacqueline, —-he answered why you pretended to remembered my bidding. You will assign your share to me a4 your son-tn-law." T saw Jacqueling looking at me, 1 would not meet her gage, but at last her persistence compelled me, I saw her glance toward the wall, The two broadswords hung there, fvithin arm's reach, above the broken. My heart leaped up ‘at tha of. her valor. mind to yield! But I shook my bead imperceptibly Charles Duchaine has been hanged in Half conscious, I knew that I was everything?” 1 led to shield yourself?" to shield him,” cause he was my only friend when I was helpless tn a atrenge city upon my wrists 1 opened my achin, welf trussed like a ch of the table, She was facing yes to find my- Ki as Jean Petit~ Jean who said something about shoot~ ing me, and was knocked down for it. Leroux was yelling like a demoniac, I »aw Jaoqueline'’s terrified face the Wembling old man; and turning swiftly “No, you have paid You were keeping it for mi le, damn you!’ yelled Le- throb of passion, Magazine, Thursday. August 26. 1915 ee, ce “I @ou't went you te marry my dourhior, Himon,” seid of4 luchaine ct 4 1 hoped, by bard work, ™ sufficiently to enable me to @et Ot least one band free. Then | felt that something bard was [Pressing inte my back, just wit reach of my right ihumb and fore Hager, My fur cvat, whicl round me, was twisted, so (hat mide breast pock behind me, the hard object w: ething that I had placed io this rect ptacie ae atid ihe ii te knife with whie) Louis rnay had been killed! must bave put tt in my breast- time, intending to and it had slipped a the Jining and gone wet my finger and 1 {ace round the polat of the blade, |The ropes scored deeply into my wrists as I worked at it, but I feit the lining give, and presently I had | worked the blade through and bad | the knife out by the handle. Hut it was made for thruat Jacqueline bad been imperceptibly edging away from her father and La ‘yOUXx; she was now standing lmmedi- ately beneath the rusty swords. And outside the door I still perceived La- croix, motionlous, It flashed across my mind that he understood the girl's desperate ruse, and that he was waiting for the issue, I picked furiously at the ropes | whieh bound my hands, and @ long strand uncoiled and whipped back on | my wriat, | Buddenly I heard old Charlies Du- ‘ehaine bring down his fist with a vig /orous thud upon the end of the tal ; “I'L see you ——~ first, Simom!” ‘wan his unexpected remark. Pee 4 ?T cried Simon, taken com- letely aback, |PANo, Simon,” continued the old man ry his mild voice once more. “You ‘are not @ gentleman you know, you are not fit to marry Jacqueline. |” Leroux thrust his hard face into the old man's. “Duchaine, your wits are wander- Ing,” he anawered, “Listen now! Have you forgotten that the Govern- ment is searching for you night and day? It was a long time ago that you roux, and he struck her across the killed of the Canadian mouth as he had struck me. f I writhed in my bonds. I pulled the ¢ heavy table after me as I tried impo- tently to crawl toward him, sending at 4 word from me’ the wheel flying and all the papers whirling throtgh Leroux as blasphemously as he was 5 1 saw a trickle of blood on her cut Ip, and the prout her face as she defied long memory and a long arm, too, and It was pitiful to # came over Duchaine's face, H with fear and streicned out his with- eréd bands ap ngly. “Simon, you woul n't betray me after all these years of friendship?” he cried. “Mon Dieu, I do not wish ep calm, Charles, my friend," ded Biron aiibly, "tam ready hip for friendship. cknowledge me as your their?” stammered the old man, rytuinig, Simon; only leave respon to return friends Will you me free. “Woll, that is more reasonabl sald Leroux, evidently mollified, am not the nan to go back on iny friends, I shall give you @ cash re- turn of $10,000, You have not forgot~ ten the old times in Quebec?” “No, Simon," muttered Duchaine, ing up hopefully at him. £ you had $10,000, Charles, you could make your fortune in a week. ‘They play high nowadays, and your system would sweep all before It." bet | yes!” cried the dotard eager ly. “If only [ had $10,000 I could make my fortune, But I am old now, My little daughter has gone to New York to Pay, for me. You did not know that, Simon, did you?" he ada- ed, looking at him with a cunning lee! he cannot play as well as you, Charles,” said Leroux “You ha played so tong, you know; you have the system at your fingers’ ends. There ia nobody who could stand up against you. Do you remember Loula Hireet and the fine people who were your friends? How they will wel- come you! You could become a man of fashion again, in spite of your long exile in these solitudes. Do you recollect the races, where thousands can be won in a few minutes, when your horse romps home by a neck? And the gaming tables, where a thousand dollurs ie but @ pinch of dust, and the bright lights and the chink of money--and you winning it all away? You can hive horses and carriages again, and all houses will be open to you, for your little error has long ago been forgotten, And you are not an old man, Charles,” “Yes, yes, Simon!” cried the old man, fascinated by the picture, “It is worth it—-pardieu, it is Jacqueline swung around on Le- roux, 1 saw her few clench and her bruised Up quiver. “Never, Simon Leroux!” she said, “And, what ta more, my father {s not competent to transfer his property, and I will fight you through every court in the land,” ‘I was coming to you, madam,” sneered Simon, “I don’t know much about the courts in this part of the country, but you will marry me to 6 life of your love: “No! she answered, setting her teeth. He seized her by the wrists and dragged ber across the floor to me, “Look at him!" he yelled, “Louk into his face, Will you marry me itl let him go free?” ‘" answered Jacqueline. swear to you that he shall be n from the top of the cataract unless you give your consent within five minutes.” “Never! she answered firmly, “T will denounce your father!” “You can't frighten me with such no etuff, Tam not a weak old mani” "You will think differently after \ 1 tered suddenly, and Jacqueline eri “You old fool!” sereaged Larous, catching Duchaine by the wrine. Charlee Duchaine pomensed the arengih of 4 madman. Me grasped Lerous round the wait and ues w him, and would not be shaken VAI bim!"” he soreamed, “He is & oy! He bas come to betray me we government!” tae What followed was the work of @ moment. | saw Jacqueline down both broadawords from (ue ‘Bhe Hung one down besiae me just ast wae slageering to my feet, Leroux shook off the old man at last. J40 turned on me, I eruag the sword aloft and brought it upon bis skull, Heaven knows | struck to kill; bus my wrist was feeble fr and the blade jolt biood, but Leroux dropped like « ken ox upon the fluor, iw way!” pas the old man, He pulled at Jacqueline's arm, and half led and half dragged her through the open dvor behind his chair, I fol- lowing. Lacroix sprang into the room, called, but whether to us or to the other ruff 1 did not know, Leroux sat up and jooked about him, dazed and bewlldered, Then I was ia the little room with Jacqueline and Duchaine, and be turned and bolted the door behind us, Ho seomed possesséd of all the strength and decision of youth again. When I stood there before the room had been dark as piteb, but now flicker of light was at the far end. A voice cried: “M'sleur! ur! I have not for- wotten thee!” it was Pierre Caribou. I saw his figure silhouetted at the light of fe Saricg candle which he held in his Duchaine had placed one arm about his daughter's waist, and was u: her along. But she stopped and look back to me, 1 saw she held \l_ sword in her hand, as I held the other. “Come, monsiour!” she But I was too mad with the desire pany her. I wanted to go back. I tried to find the bolt of the door in the loom, but while my fingers were ‘tumbling for it Jacqueline came run- ning back to me. ote at we are font she by “Tam going ," T answere. Guoning for the bolt Duchaire had rawn, “No! We aro safe inside. It iso secret room, My father made It in the first days of his sojourn here in case he were peee’. and none but Pierre and he know the secret. Ah, come, monsleur—come| Sho clung to me desperately, and there was an Intensity of entreaty in her voice, T hesitated. There waa no had not dared to return after being orpat fmeant to. kill Leroux, ju nm! still felt for the bolt. on As I fumbled there the door spit: out. Through the hole I saw the oll- lamp shining in the outer room. The door spl'ntered again, All at once I realized that Leroux was fring his revolver at the els. It was fortunate that we both stood at one wide, where the latch was. Then I yielded reluctantly to Jac- queline’s soft violence. I followed her through the dark chamber, under an archway of stone, and through ». winding passage in the rock. Pierre's candle fickered before us, and-in an- other moment we had squcgeee through @ narrow opening into a chamber in the cliff. On the ground were five or six large stones, and Pierre began to fit them into the aperture through which we had passed, In a minute the place was completely sealed, and we f stood and looked breathlessly at another within what might have been @ cenotaph. Not the slightest sound came from without, We were standing In a stone cham- ber, apparently of natural formation, but finished with rovgh masonry work, It was about vhe size of & large room, and I could see that tt was only a widening of the tunnel ttuelf, which continued through a nar. row exit at the further end, runnin out into the unknown depths of the cliff, From the freshness of the air I in ferred that {t connected with the sur- face at no distant place. The entrance through which we had come had been made by blasting at some period, or widened tn thie wa; and then cemented, for the which Plerre had fitted into it exactly filled tt, so that {t was barely distin- g@uishable from where I stood, and ( am certain that tt would have re- quired a prolonged scrutiny on the part of searchers on the outside to enable them to detect it. And even then only dynamite or blasting powder could have forced a path, and tt would have been exceed- ingly aimcutt to nandie such mate- rials within the tunnel without block- ing the approach completely, while leaving open the further exit, The chamber seemed at one time to have been prepared for auch a con- tingency a# had occurred, for there were wool rugs on the stone floor, though they had rotted and partly disintegrated from the dampness, There were a table and wooden chairs, also partially decayed. ‘The mouldering fringes of some rugs pro- traded from a bundle wra; in ob paper, Pierre Caribou opened thie and shook them out on the ground, Ex- cept where their edges had been ex~- posed, they were in good condition, and were thick enough to lie upon without much discomfort, (To Be Continued.) Tt Sebi eee fe