Catoctin clarion., 1897-04-29

"You perceive, therefore" the emperor
continued, "that, as said, it is no light
errand that you are to undertake. 1t is
not too much to say that you will have
not only my fortune, but the future of
the empire in your hands"
"Five-hundred-mill gasped So
lange at last. "Great God! 1t is q night
mare! Five-hundred-mil
Come, come; we are wasting time"
said the emperor briefly. "You must
fix your mind, not upon the millions, but
upon the disposition you are to make of
them. You will carry the gems packed
in this box rs part of your baggage, but
to protect you against custom house in
vestigations they will be prepared in a
manner that will be afterward explained
to you. You will proceed from here to
New York, whittier letter has already
been sent, informing the consignee there
of the probable date of your arrival and
of other necessary particulars. The
name of this consiynee is Harry Trent;
he is diamond merchant in New York,
and man personally known to me. He
Is instructed to retain them in his keep
ing until further notice-until the issue
of the coming war is decided. If we are
victorious the gems will be returned here,
if otherwise shall follow them there.
Do you understand me!"
II do, sire" replied the soldier, who
had by this time recovered his self pos
session, and there was new air of pride
in his demeanor, showing that he had
begun to appreciate the distinction that
had been conferred upon him.
The route you will take," continued
the other, "will not be the usual one
across the Atlantic. War might break
ont before you arrive and your vessel
might be captured by the enemys cruis-
ers. You will therefore cross France to
the Mediterranean and proceed thence
by way of Egypt to the Red sea, and so
by way of Australia to the Isthmus Of
Panama. At Aspinwall, on the northern
side Of the isthmus, you will take
steamer to New Orleans, whence you
will travel by railway to New York.
You will, Of course receive a memo
randum of this itinerary and of all the
other details of your journey. Do you
wish to say anything?"
"Only one thing, sire. 1t is possible
that death may overtake me on the
route. In that case"-
"In that case you will have done your
best, and shall regret the loss of
faithful servant even more than of the
millions. No scheme that mortal man
can devise is free from the liability to
error or miscarriage. Disaster may over
take this, as well as others; but / shall
have the satisfaction of knowing that l
adopted the surest means of success with
in my reach. However, we will antici-
pate your safe arrival. Meanwhile, go
and prepare yourself for the journey,
and come to me tomorrow morning. l
shall probably order You to set out by
the noon train to Marseiles.'
"Sire, you shall be satisfied with me-"
said Solange, retiring.
II fully believe it, returned the en-
peror graciously. "Raoul," he said to
the secretary, who entered us Solange
disappeared, "let two of our best de-
tectives follow that man, and never lose
sight of him. If he is seen to speak more
than minute to any one, let him and
the one to whom he spoke be instantly
arrested and brought hither. Go! Be
quick"
AS Raol vanished Napoleon replaced
the box in its corner, and then, reseat-
ing himself in his chair, Lit another Gig
Aretta