The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-13
Copyright, 1896. by the Bachellec syndicats.

- 4scu oIl returning ~ MS IOuSiHS "
ind a pretty scented note on his table,
in Nine. lie Fevre's hand, by all the
gods of love and war. He puffed up in
deed after all the chagrin OF defeat.
You never can tell about woman"
he muttered. ''When her manner is
distant she sometimes likes you most"
And with this trite reflection, which
shows how silly really brave man
may be when out of his element, the
doughty captain opened the note, which
read:
MY Dear Captain:-If you will be at .
o'clock tomorrow evening entirely alone
at the house With the carved gritiins on
the Rue Richelieu you will learn that the
admirati of a brave ana famous sailor
Is appreciated. Raise the knocker three
times in quick succession.
"Hortense lie F.'
For a moment, despite all his vanity
about his achievements with the sex.
Captain Jones wondered. Could it be
true? But there was the note and her
name.
If Captain Jones had been himself he
never would have run into the snare.
Yet possibly he was, after all. his sim
pie, natural self. the gardeners son, not
quite to the manner born-a bit too
vain-too credulous of his possible
achievement with great ladies.
The long. next day Jagged. He pow
dered his hair. and put on his gayest
costume, and the fine sword Louis XVI.
had given him in compliment of the vic
tory of lie Bon Homme Richard: then
when near the hour he sailed forth to
keep the appointment, for he never
doubted but that his charmer awaited
him.
The house, building of the Fourth
Henry's time, he often had noticed.
For with the curiously carved griffins
at each side of the door, bearing the
arms of former prince of Conde, it
was unmistakable.
Now. as he took his eager way
through the darkening streets. he had
no difficulty in finding it. The streets
of Paris We're not then as Cleanly as
they were to become in the great EN-
peror's time: and the captain, who
walked, as a matter of caution, was
grieved to think that his shoes and
stockings were mud spattered. He
stood there for moment, among the
few passers, thinking ruefully that this
was the case, and observing closely the
shuttered front of the house. And,
then, although that silent, impaSsive
front had made him a bit suspicious,
he lifted the knocker once. twice, thrice,
just at 8 o'clock. A lover. like war;
rior. should be exact in his appoint
ments.
ant l,., t,.nS tn nt of t1,a
time? Was it only a trick? He start
ed to lift the knocker again, when the
heavy door swung open crack and a
| wrinkled face peared over the chain.
Capt. Paul Jones?" Queried an un-
| certain voice.
Yes. l." assented Capt. Jones. when
the chain ratified, was loosed. the door
| swung open on a hall all dark, and the
concierge. or whatever she was, mo-
toned him in. The woman closed the
door. leaving him in the blackness of
the Interior now for the first time with
tht thought of the need of caution.
And as he thought of possibilities Of
danger after all the ardor Of his hope,
he was caught from behind by strong
invisible arms, a gag was passed over
his face; and though he tried to strug-
gle, and he was one of those little
| wiry men, it was all in vain. He was
borne to the floor. bound. and his eyes
bandaged, his assailants the meantime
saying not a word.
The whole occurrence was uncanny
| this sudden attack in the obscurity
of the house where he had expected light
and laughter-the strong men who
| mutely held him, and against whom any
struggle was vain-these circumstances
left the Chevalier Paul Jones shivering,
bound and gagged and blindfolded as
he was, and thrust aside in a corner,
| like a dead thing. And then, as he
| strained his ears, his hearing indeed
being the only faculty of which these
bravoes had left him the use-he heard
| doors shutting and the sound of heavy