St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-05-10
am sorry I did not bring in it the head of

its owner"
''Whatp' cried Nine. Durand, almost
speechless with emotion, Ibid you kill
him?n
''Ay, to get this bonbon box. madame
a performance which, make bold to say.
would not have been attempted by many
men,"
l will pass over the recital of this advent
ure, of which you may be sure our Bonn
bastes did not spare us the smallest detail.
CrOuched down behind cask he had
watched for, surprised and knocked down
the wearer OF the cap, a solitary sentinel,
and had sUrangled him, in order not to
arouse the attention of the enemy by using
his revolver! What poor showing the
hare, strangled, too, made beside this glori-
Gus triumph!
"Well," said (, ST would not think of
rivaling such hero as the captain; but l
also have my little surprise. But it has not
yet arrived, and hone you will dine with
out waiting for it,"
We sat down to table, and very pleas
ant dinner it was. We had just reached
the coffee, when a servant informed us
that an artilleryman had just deposited my
present in the drawing room. Repairing
thther we found the object OH the table.
wrapped in bright-colored paper and tied
up with gay ribbons.
'tWhat in the world can it be?" asked
Nine. Durand. a
Don't try to guess, my dear madame; it
is bombshell."
"A bOmbshell?'
''Durand has often expressed to me de-
sire to possess a bombshell, 'one that has
seen service, and at my request my friend
Roland, commandment of a battery, has sent
me this. 1t is from the Avron plateau,
where it fell, but failed to explode"
As L spoke, / united the blue ribbon. took
off the paper, and the bombshell appeared,
black, sinister and menacing. ,
MY dear fellow" said Durand, Il am
delighted. L shall hang it up in my
study ,,
But" objected Nine. Durand. -. IF it
has not gone off"
''Oh, have no fear. 1t was understood
that Roland would only send it to me empty
and harmless. However, there is a letter
accompanying it." 3,zts..
1 opened the letter and was about to read
it aloud, but at the first line my face began
to express surprise, then anxiety, when
everyone cried:
What's the matter?"
''Great heavens!-I have-listen,n and l
read:
Dear Friend-Here is the bombshell you
desired. But have been unable TO find an
artilleryman who knows how to unload it.
Send it to the ar1norer in the Passage de
POpera, who will fix it for you perfectly. But
warn you to take great precautions; not
the least shock, not the faintest friction, for
if you strike it with even sheet of paper it
will explode. Yours as ever, ROLAND.
l was interrupted by cries of fright.
ssOh taEa IL ayya y, nriad Nina Durand
''Oh, this is terrible! A bOmbShell in my
houSe!"
''For heavens sake" said I, raising my
hand warningly, "be calm! Don't be
frightened; the artilleryman who brought
it shall take it away"
But, SIR" said the servant, who stood
trembling in the door, 1.-THE artifleryman
has gone"
''Then." said l, sit is I who must-7--''
II forbid you!' cried Durand, s'Y on
are not strong enough to carry it. You
would let it fall on the way-perhaps on
the stairs or even in this roOm."
Nine. Durand threw herself on me. cry
ing: mo, no. not you. 1t is too danger
Gus. Not you.'
This, said Durand, ''is work for a
strong soldier. Happily the captain is
here
Up" said the captain. uneasily.
Yes; you are as strong as a bull, and,
besides, you are used to these dreadful inn
plements of war. You play with cannon
balls and bomb-shells as a schoolboy does
with his tops and marbles"
"But-but, pardon me-" said the cap
tain, who grew slightly pale, "a bomb-shell,
you SORGHUM. Can we not wait until
tomorrow and have it taken away?"
Tomorrow" cried Nine. Durand.
"Why, l couldn't close my eyes the whole
night. l would rather go to hotel"
Here Victor stepped forward: -
''Do not put yourself to SO much trouble,
[ beg" said he. Il will take the bomb
shell away"
You are mad, my boy" cried Durand,
stopping him. Just off sick bed, and
with your wounded arm Do you want to
bring the house down about your ears?"
''Let it be, Victor, said l, ''this is nc
work for a sick man."
But it is just the task for the captain, -
continued Durand. Il will confide it to
no one but him. Come, captain, be quick.
Pick up the monster and deliver US from
this nightmare" .....-
The captain did not like the situation,
that was evident. But he was not man
''You are right" said he, smiling nm
easily; this sort of thing is in my line, /
was about to say, however, when you inter
rupted me just now, that it would be dan
gerous for man on foot to carry it. The
sidewalks are slippery. and single false
step in the street would be enough to blow
to pieces ten men. To take it away in a
carriage is the only reasonable way. Gen.
Lefevre, who brought me to your door in
his carriage, is dining at Brehant's, and his
carriage is in front of the restaurant. ]
will ask him to lend it me. He is all old
friend of mine; so the matter is settled
Just let me buckle Oh my belt and l shall
be back here in ten minutes, or quarter of
an hour at the outside"
Fly. then," said Nine. Durand. 81
shall scarcely dare to breathe while you are
gone"
II shall run, my dear madame" So
saying, the captain took his plulhed shake,
his cloak, and FASTENED from the room.
And from the way he bounded down the
steps it was evident that he was in a hurry.
l returned to the drawing-rooln, which
was still all CONSERVATION. Nine. Durand
vacllated between desire to fly and curl
osity to examine the bombShell. AS if I'M
Intentionally looked out into the street.
which was brightly lighted up by the. full
moon.
1T was very simple matter TO let me
take it away" murmured Victor.
''Tut. tut" cried Durand, surprised at
the young mans quiet courage. 1T is bet
ter that the captain should do it"
Let us hope" said Nine. Durand, ssthat
he will not keep US waiting long"
''Not keep us waiting long, dear mad
ame!" said l, gayly. You may rest as
sured he will. For he will not come back. :"
He will not come back?"
Most assuredly not. TO go to Brebants
restaurant he should take the road to the
right, while he went the other way, and
fast enough he was going, too
Good gracious! What does that mean?''
''That means, friend Durand, that your
captain is a Dragging cur, and that am
delighted to have unmasked the batteries of
such scoundrel in favor of such an esti-
mable young man."
And, taking photograph album, / struck
it violently on the cap of the bOmhshelI