Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-10-22

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might be good reasons why Prince
Stanislas should pass under smaller
and an assumed name. had his photo
graph, reputed good likeness, and
always carried it about with me,
hoping that I might run up against the
original in some odd corner; but not
only did never meet him, but could
hear of no one answering to his descrip-
tion at any of the hotels.
My first substantial move was made
when was admitted as member Of
the Ell Salahin club. I at once examined
the list, but looked in vain for the
names "De Fivas" and "MirabeL I"
They were not members of the club,
that was clear.
This to my mind knocked the bottom
out of the whole story. If gambling
scandal had occurred in the club, it
would surely have been dealt with by
members, not outsiders. Certainly not
by such outsiders, shadowy, obscure
personages, of whom, after five days
inquiry, I could hear nothing in Biskra !;
but there was still stronger reason to
doubt the story. Now that / was q
member I was in a position to ask eau
tiously about the case.
No one had heard of it at all. 1t was
pure invention. There had been no
cheating, no Prince Stanislas in the
club.
This conclusion relieved me Of all
anxiety with respect to the negotia-
tions. The blackmailers were not to be
greatly dreaded; their plot was thin
and commonplace; their threats might
be disregarded, and the money must as
suredly not be paid.
But found myself in the presence Of
a much more serious question. 1t was
perfectly clear to me that something
had happened to the young prince. No
plot of this kind could have been set on
foot without his being actively or pas
sively concerned in it. He was party
to it, whether. as victim or tool or
prime mover. For moment I wonder
ed whether it was the last. Had this
young scapegrace sought thus to mulct
q father not too liberal with his sup
plies?
No, l could not bring myself to be-
lieve this quite. 1t was so much more
likely that he had fallen prey to some
artful villains who by some means or
other had recognized him in Biskra,
penetrated his incognito and turned
their knowledge to serve their own ne
farious ends.
This implied foul play Of the worst
kind. They might even have made
away with him in this farof semi
barbarous land. At least they could
hold him sequestrated somewhere, a
close prisoner. until they had achieved
their purpose-the extortion Of hush
money for social of'ense that only ex-
listed in their own evil minds.
saw now that it was my bounden
duty to apply to the authorities. The
police at Biskra were semimilitary in
character, and under the orders Of the
commandant, colonel of Spahis, Baron
d'Hautrine by name, whose acquaint-
ance l had already made.
He was striking parsonage in his
way. tall, of commanding presence, a
soldier before everything, u military
dandy in the best sense, always splck
and span, in the whitest Of shirt cuffs,
the smartest and most perfectly fitting
uniform. He was also man Of the
world. Consigned now by the chances
of military service to this remote but
important post, he kept himself abreast
of all that went on in Paris, indeed in
Europe For the English he expressed a
warm and genuine liking based Oh
pleasant days spent and pleasant friend
ships made when military attache to
the French embassy in London.
Now he received me with great cor
diality, but when he had heard my
whole story be shook his head with
grave disapproval and said: "You
should have taken me into your conf
dence sooner, my dear comrade. We
| are late. We have lost valuable time
If this young prince has-whose father
l knew in Vienna, and his mother, she
was a Princess de Gauffremont-if
Prince StanisIas has really been here and
if he has fallen among thieves in the
way you suggest, fear the thing has
gone too far. He is probably beyond
our help"
"killed? Murdered?" asked bluntly.
He shrugged his shoulders.