Omaha daily bee., 1898-05-29

talon to have a major unless it's a company
of fantochesi"
"Fantoche yourself!' shouted the guards
man. stung to fury by the taunt; "let me tell
you that Major Flourens is major because
he's accepted the omman of three Belle
Vile battalions. If you don't like it go up
to the undertaker's tonight and say so to
Buckhurst-and see what happens"
who is .Buckhurst?" inquired the scout
sarcastically.
The guardsInan swallowed a mouthful of
bread, emptied his goblet, smacked his lips
and said: None of your business"
Bourke looked at Hardwood.
"Buckhurst!" he repeated under his
breath.
1T wouldn't surprise me-" muttered Hare
wood, "if that rufian is in Paris; the
'Undertaker's' is just the place for him"
They ate in silence for awhile, preoccu-
pied with this bit of news, news which
they knew was well worth cabling to
America. Forger, murderer and incendiary,
Jack Buckhurst had at last been caught
during the draft riots in New York, and,
after being dubbed into insensibility, had
been locked in the Tombs prison to be
dealt with later. The next day the warden
reported him dying; the next day after he
was gone, but not to hell. Where he had
gone the authorities tried for awhile to
find out, until at last the anne of his ex-
ploits faded into Legendary and nothing was
left of his memory except an occasional line
In a newspaper and a faded photograph in
the Rogues' gallery.
The scout began again to tease the Ma
tional Guardsman, asking sneering ques-
tlons about Belleville and the battalions
| MI rfar thara until tho GUARD smap iunpad
up in a rage, cursing impartially the whole
Latin quarter.
"If you think Belleville Is so funny come
up and see; come up and tell us how funny
we are!" he shouted. Henri Rochefort will
answer you-Major Flourens will reply to
you--M. Buckhurst may have a word to say!
What is the Latin quarter, anyway, but a
gutter full of ~cocottes and students and
imbecile professors! Don't tell me! And
Just wait a bit. The dance is beginning, my
friend, and the red flag is a better flag than
Badinguet's tricolored horse blanket"
The cafe was in an uproar by this time.
The scout dashed a glass of red wine into
the guardsman's face, somebody in the room
threw a chair at somebody else, howls and
curses mingled with the crash of crockery
until somebody shrieked, I'm stabbed"
and there was a rush for the door.
Bourke found himself out on the Sidewalk,
warding off the cuffs and kicks Of several en-
thusiastic citizens, who kept shouting: Hes
q Prussian spy! XIII himl" until the hazard
of battle brought Hardwood to his aid. To-
gether they managed to back out Of the
crush in good order until darkness enabled
them to prudently efface themselves in the
Rue de Medicine. And it was well they did,
for the cry of Spy" in Paris at that period
meant rough usage first and inquiry later
sometimes too late.
"Damnation!" said Hardwood, furiously,
holding up a tattered sleeve, 1--WE a mind to
use my revolver next time, and III do it,
too! Idiots! I'll show them who's a spy
yes, / will, Cecil"
You'd better not" said Bourke, grlmly,
regarding his own disheveled attire. There's
no telling what your Parisians may do in
this crisis. Jim, you heard what that rat
faced soldier said about Buckhurst? OF
course, Well cable it-but-what would you
think of arresting the fellow and getting
the government to hold him for extradi-
ton ?"
Government? What government? Not
this crazy aggregation in Parish What's the
use? They won't do it; they won't dare
touch him II he's hand in glove with the
Belleville gang. Didn't you hear the soldier
couple his name with Rochefort's and
Flourens'? Probably he's one of the shining
lights of their cut-throat club, the Under
takers!"
Bourke looked up suddenly.
Jim, that's what Well do; we'll go to
Belleville tonight and attend a seance OF the
Undertakers!"
HARDWOOD nodded uncertainty.
"You remember i have a friend at court
there, the Mouse he said. 'and, as you
suggested, it's possible that he may attempt
TO cut our Threats as an expression OF good
will"
Bourke hesitated. He looked sharply at
Hardwood, undecided. a little curious to
know how his comrade would act.
d YOU care to go?" he asked after a