Argosy, Volume XXIII — Index Page, 1897 — page 193: what you’re looking at

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

A MONTH IN THE MOON. 763 loss. He ran about the observatory, looking frantically for the chlorate everywhere ; and his very excitement increased the suspicions of the others. He divined their thoughts, and on a sudden he thus addressed Norbert : ‘The thief is either I or Wagner, the leader of the three scoundrels. If I cannot prove that it is Wagner I will blow my brains out ! ”’ ‘Why take things so violently, my dear Kaddour?’’ answered the young astronomer. ‘I shall only be too glad if you succeed in proving the guilt of Wagner.”’ ‘‘ Then let me question him before you.’’ ‘Be it so. Let us return to the prison.” As they went along Kaddour. explained how the ex commissioner might have got into the storeroom during the night through their air hole. Noone else would have stolen the chlorate ; they alone were capable of doing so. ‘“To what end?’’ asked Norbert. ‘“We shall soon find that out.”’ Kaddour was not mistaken—at all events on this point. Wagner did not deny his guilt. He even boasted of it. ‘I did not tell you just now,’’ he said with a jeer, ‘‘ because you did not ask me. If, instead of sounding the walls and looking under the flooring, you had deigned to question me I would have told you !”’ Such insolence of demeanor was insufferable. “And may I ask you,’’ cried Norbert, ‘‘how and why you have com- mitted this theft ?’’ ‘That is our secret. Why? I will tell you why. We are tired of being kept in a cage, working like niggers for no practical end. I looked about for some way of forcing you to set us at liberty, and I have found it. Hither admit us instantly to your society, or you will go without chlorate !”’ ‘““Hnough !”’ cried Norbert. ‘‘ Come, Kaddour, I shall consider what had better be done.”’ He went out, rather relieved to find that the chlorate of potassium was not irrevocably lost. If the worst came to the worst, they could but accept the conditions laid down by the scoundrels, If only himself were concerned, he would of a certainty have made short work of them and their threats. But the safety of Gertrude was at. stake |! ~ Well, Kaddour, what would you do in my place?” asked Norbert, on his return to the drawing room, where only the doctor, Sir Bucephalus, and Virgil awaited him. ‘‘I should accept their conditions, and when they had restored the stolen goods I would shoot the scoundrels!’’ said the dwarf, without a moment’s hesitation. ‘That may be the tactics of the Soudan, ont they are not mine,’’ replied Norbert. ‘‘ My poor Kaddour,’’ he continued, ie are you always so blinded by hatred as to lose all-sense of honor ?”’ Kaddour bent his head at the reproach, but after a minute he said, ‘‘In that case, we must find the chlorate without the assistance of the villains. Will you give me a pickaxe and an electric lamp?’ ¥ 1) (<(0) CORNICE DOOMKS