Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-07

ably seated in good compartment, the
locomotive sounded its whistle and the
train moved off Now for Parisl
The steel rails chatter beneath the car
wheels The Havre train has just entered
the depot. It is exactly half past eleven.
All goes well Louis Vernet leaves the
car, halls hackman and finds that he
still has ample time to get his trunk.
Why, what luck! there il is now in the
hands o. two baggage masters who carry
it with the greatest care. Graciousl how
gently they handle it. What miscreant
has so illuminated railroad companies
and their employees, as to say that they
were reckless with baggage?
Louis Vernet draws near, puts his hand
on the trunk and addressing the porters:
''Take it right away, said he. Here
is my check"
He had hardly pronounced the words
when he felt a heavy hand grasp his
shoulder
He turned and saw that it was police
officer that was taking great deal Of lib
erty.
Eth? What's the matters" calculated
the astonished traveller.
Behind the officer were two employees of
the company, standing up straight as two
pickets under their gold laced caps.
''What's the matter:'' replied the gen
darme in a bantering tone, without NOV
ing finger; that you will soon find
out"
The two railroad employees drew near
the trunk, craned their necks, listened
moment, raised their heads and gazed at
each other with look that seemed to say:
There is no doubling it!''
Louis Vcrnet thought to himself: at is
plain these persons are craZy!" Then
horrible thought surged through his
brain. Crazy or not, the one sure thing
was that it was 11:40, and that he had
bat twenty minutes in which to reach the
Semaphore Office He must escape by all
means. He roughly shook off the detain-
ing hand, upset three or four persons and
rushed TO the gate. Vain hopes! Two
custom officers standing there seized him
by the collar. and, notwithstanding his
protests and gestioulations, he was taken
back TO his trunk.
''This is Madness cried he. ''Let me
20, ! swear that I viii return in ali hour
You are making me lose one hundred
thousand francs"
bitter smile fitted across the gen
darme's lips, beneath his heavy mustache
He retook possession of his prisoner, with
both hands this time-one on each Shout
der
"Come, now" said one of the railroad
employees, playing off is useless. Ac-
knowledge all. You arrive from New
York, with a mysterious, hurried air
That is not natural. And this suspicious
trunk! Who are you? What are your
political Opinions?"
Louis Vernet was inspired
''At the last election" replied he, 81
voted for the candidate of the Left Cen
ter, and ] am 4 subscriber 10 The Debatsr'
This declaration made in a tone of sin
certify produced a slight reVulsion Of senti-
ment in the travellers favor.
''Wcll, what does your trunk c0ntain?"
asked the gold laced employee.
Clothing, nothing else, | assure you"
'Are there no explosive materials in
it?''
explosive materials! What for, i am
neither a chemist nor pyrotechnist"
''What is that singular noise, ten: All!
You are silent Well, since you Will not
speak, | shall answer for you. There is
in your trunk q machine, regulated by
clOckwork, which, at a fixed hour, is to
cause an explosion. In London, the day
before yesterday, the police arrested four
Anarchists with similar machines. You
are one of the same gangi'
Louis Nernet's eyes grew round with
stupidity. he stopped over his trunk, and
his eyes grew rOunder still Tic-tac, tic
tao, An! but he must surely be dream
ing now!
All 1T once a noisy jangle resoUndea,
The signal for the explosion to take place,
il was plain. Look out for tie bomb!
Porters and employees scattered in every
direction. The police officer himself was
not left behind in the panic.
VeInet. alone. heroically stood at his
post. With feverish hand he opened his
trunk. His fingers rummaged about under
the clothing, probing, feeling and upset
ting everything Suddenly he touched
hard substance wrapped up in his night
shirt What is this? Louis Nernet raises
his arm, brandishing-the alarm clock
of the Crowned Dog fiotel, which, in his
hurry, he had thrown into the trunk and
which had sprung its alarm six hours be-
hind time
COMPOUNDED trumperyn' exclaimed he,
furiOuslv. as he dashed it 10 the floor
4 peal of Homeric laughter burst on his
ear. But the unfortunate traveller glanced
at the depot clock. Eight minutes to -!
With lowered head. like a wild boar
that had scented the dogs, he dashed for
ward. rushed through the gate, leaped
into cab and yelled to the driver:
place de Ia BourSe! I'll give you a
louis If we arrive before 70 =
Seven and one-half minutes later Gao
rolling at lightning speed issued from
Notre Dame street. A man got down,
rushed through a doorway, flew up a
staircase and burst like storm into the
French Semaphore Office, crying out in a
StentoriGn voice:
Here am!'
Just at that moment the Exchange
clock sounded the first stroke Of 70
Il have lost sir coolly answered a
voice with broad English accent.
THIS is why, since Nov. Il last, Phileas
Togg has taken a back Seat.-Translated
from the French of Joseph Montet for The
Times-Democrat.