The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-02-14
Capture at the B0ule N0ire.

The 10Th of March, 1882 at nine
o'clock in tho evening, cab stopped in
front OF the entrance of the ball OF the
Boule Noire. A man stepped out of tho
vehicle; he was about thirty-fve years
old. tall, thin, with an intelligent and
bold face, slightly blonde nustache curl
ed up and carefully tended, ajacket of
black velvet, soft felt hat little on
one side Of his head, and Swedish
gloves. Another man had been walking
up and down ON the footpath for the
last quarter Of an hour. He had on
frcck'coat, buttoned up to the chin, a
dirty dollar, ragged black neckte, large
hat, heavy mustache, and whiskers cut
s0uarely on his cheeks. He carried q
heavy cane. The two men accosted
each other, and in rapid tone ex-
changed these words:
"Ths way, Dubrisart, this way"
"Marcou! Is ityou who sent for me?"
"Yes; but there is too much light and
too many people on the footpath. Let
us cross the boulevard"
They crossed the street, and when
they were on the other side. leaning
against the wall OF whitesmit}'s shop
that turns the corner of the Rue des
Martyrs, Marcou, the man with tho
'rock'coat, took Dubrisart's two hands
III his and pressed them with ehusion.
"Dubrisart, am glad to see YOU again.
You never come into our quarters now:
you work in high politics; you 90 on for
e'gn missions. I have been told of that.
And when think you began as a little
auxiliary of TO account in my brigade!
was your superior"
And you are still my friend, my dear
Marcou. lave had luck and protec-
tion."
And then you have education and
distinguished manners. There is not a
man 1T the prefecture who knows no y
TO drp IS as you do. not even the prelect
himself. You belong to All honorable
family. You speak English, SO Won
were sent o England under the empire
70 zee what was going on at Il-Toni-
Tlken:: where the Orleans princes
were.'
'Twickenham."
Yes, that's it. I, nv dear fellow,
have gone on vegetating in paltry SER
vice. But Tonight | have rather inn
portant affair on hand. In the course of
the DAY certain Agle Ripon came TO
the prefecture. All! You don't know
her? She's celebrity ut the balls and
tsyerns about here. We were theu-
four or five Of fascinating around the
stove. The woman came into the Office
furious, saying that che knew one of the
cnlels OF the cOmmune-a man who had
Plllaged. shot, committed arson and
done the whole thing in fact. Naturally.
we asked Mademoisel!e R,pon to take a
chair. She came to offer to give up to
US, this evening, at the Boule Noire,
htainer. who had been an officer under
the commune"
"Stafner? The man who stabbed me
IN little cafe at Belicville in 1862"
1es; and 1t is because | know the
story OF that stabbing that asked Won
TO come. l don't know Stafner, and
thought that you would not mind help
ing"
GLADLY; and l shall recognize him, do
not fear. lie Is to be at the ball to-
night?"
AT ten O'clock"
And Aglae Rirono"
Three of my mercer voisier, Polat,
and Chaulet-ale going to bring her.
They ought to be here already. When
she had made her declaration she want
ed to 60 away, but l did not lose the
young lady. l know what woman's an
ger ls-lt goes up and down in five min
utes, She had only to find her lover to
zee! moments remorsc, to warn him,
ana our little plan would have been
spoiled She had a rendezvous with
Stafner at ten O'Clock this evening, and
that was all l wanted. l told her that
the government would pay for her din
ner and a Gao to go to the ball; lut that
she would not be allowed to 20 home
until she had served us up Stafner. al!
probably there they are. The cab is
stopping OH this side of the boulevard. !"
The door OF a cab opened few 8 cps
from Dubrisart and Marcou. Out
of it came, accompanied by three po-
llcemen in plain clothes, tall girl in a
wooden dress, cape of gray cloth, and q
black hat with big bunch of red roses
hanging FROM the left side. One of tie
men came up to Marcou, while the two
others kept a watch on the woman, who
looked around her with an air Of alarm,
MONSIEUR" said the man, ''you ought
to speak to the girl. She alarms me.
She would not eat any dinner. She has
been crying in the cab. For certain,
she regrets what she has done, and Is
AFRAID OF what remains for her to do"
went up to the woman.
"Listen," he said to her. ono nom
sense, you know. You have your rec
ord at the Prefecture. l have been
glancing over it to-day. There are
some bad things in it, and if we wanted
to send you to Saint Lazlre for five or
SIX months, We should not want pre-
texts. You know the house."
"You are wrong" sad Dubrisart to
Marcou; You must never be brusaaue
with woman. Let me talk to her"
Ard approaching AgIae Ripon, he said:
Listen to me, my pretty maid. II you
are reasonable, we will take care OF your
reputation, and no one shall know that
you gave up tafner. We shall take YOU
into the ball and you shall sit at table
6y the side Of the orchestra, near the
little door that leads into the garden.
You Will remain there with these three
gentlemen, and drink as much smu. glell
wine and smoke as many cirarettes as
you like. The government will paw.
This gentleman and myself wilt be in
The garden. When Stafner arrives you
Will so up to him; If you try to lead MIN
toward the street door our mon will
seize him, but they will noc touch YOU;
they will tell every. body that you be-
tIaycd our man for fifty francs. But
ifyou bring him quietly into the garden,
We will pack off the pair of you, There
will be no disgrace for you; you vii! be
taken to the Prefecture; you will pc
set at liberty, quarter Of an hour
aiterward, and you can finish your eve
mig at Vauxball or at the Elysee
Montmarire. Do you understand?
Yes? Aud you will be reasonable?
That is right. Now go with these gentle
men,, We will wait tor you in the gar
den."
AGlae and the three policemen
crossed the boulevard and entered the
ball. Maroon and Dibrisart followed
them. passed through the room, and
went and sat on bench at one end OF
the garden. The EVEN ,g was cool, and
the garden was deserted.
u g
II can offer you a fine cigar" said
Dubrisart to Marcou; II bonght three