Argosy All-Story Weekly, August 9, 1924 — page 51: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

WITHOUT FEAR. Menendez is not of such importance that—” “Tf for no other reason than that you were the cause of the deaths of both Don Enrique and the heartbroken Inez,” con- tinued D’Albret relentlessly, “‘ I would fol- low you to the ends of the earth. But among the effects you left behind you in your hasty departure was a letter, my trai- torous friend, written by you to one close to the person of His Majesty the King of France, in which you offered this particular person a fabulous sum for certain informa- tion that your master in Spain was desirous of obtaining. No other eye but mine has seen this letter of whose whereabouts only I have knowledge—safe hidden so that no prying eye may find it.” Bourdelais paced the floor, his bearded face contorted with emotion. D’Albret, seated below the open square of the port, contemptuously regarded his crestfallen enemy. “You were in the service of a Spanish noble!” cried Bourdelais, suddenly stop- ping and facing the Gascon. ‘‘ Why, then, should you concern yourself with a matter that can only benefit another royal Spanish house?”’ D’Albret’s lips curled in a sneer. ‘“T am a Frenchman, Bourdelais,” he proudly returned. ‘“ Against anv other country or faction I am willing to fight to the death for the gold that holds me to the service of Aragon—but for my native land—for France—I would renounce my allegiance to Philip of Spain himself!” Bourdelais shrugged his shoulders help- lessly—and then, as a shadow, unseen to the Gascon, slowly darkened the open port, a crafty gleam lit his eyes and he folded his " arms. “‘ Granted that I am the villain you make me out to be, monsieur,” he said in a quieter voice, ‘‘ what is it you intend doing with me?” D’Albret’s tone was more conciliatory as he answered the question. “Tt is my intention to take you to the captain’s cabin, and there in the presence of witnesses, whom I shall have no difficulty in summoning, you will regretfully hand your warrant to Paradis, stating that for 201 reasons best known to yourself you cannot undertake to exercise the authority which his majesty has been so graciously pleased to bestow upon you.” ‘‘ And if I refuse?” “Tf you refuse, monsieur,’ declared D’Albret with vehemence, “ it will be my duty to—”’ He never finished the sentence. A heavy object descended upon his head with crushing force, and he sank limply to the floor. Picard’s evil face appeared in the embrasure and he quietly crawled into the cabin. ‘““Is he dead?” he whispered as the two bent over the senseless body. Bourdelais hastily searched every pocket in the Gas- con’s clothing, but without finding what he sought, before replying. | “He still breathes,” he said, “ but we will soon remedy that!” He drew aside a small rug which lay in front of his bed, and, opening a square trap which gave access to the deep pit in which the ship’s bilge water collected, he pulled the unconscious Gascon to the edge of the black hole and shoved him over. He heard the sound of a heavy splash, and, grinning evilly, he replaced the trapdoor and drew the rug into its accustomed place. CHAPTER VII. UNMASKED! HORTLY before sundown that day the S Soliel entered the bay where, upon a low peninsula on its eastern shore, the stockaded walls of Fort Maurepas lay, sur- rounded by the clustered huts of Biloxi. The governor of the colony, De Sauvole, and Bienville, his second in command, had welcomed with appropriate ceremony the arrival of the ship from France, and as the sun slowly sank over the sandy wastes to the west of Biloxi Bay, but few persons were left aboard the vessel, anchored well off the sandy shore. André Rossignol sat upon the shoreward rail of the ship, watching the gradually ap- pearing lights in the settlement with indif- ferent gaze as he speculated anxiously on the mysterious disappearance of his master. MICLOO O CO S (C@) nn