Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-11-18

These cards won't wln," said de |
Belin; 1--WE must have more witnesses
than ourselves, who are known to be
enemies of the marshal. The king plays |
at More's this evening. lie is like to be
there now, or else very soon, for he is
bound on frolic tonight. We will go
straight there. Villeroi and Sully are
both to be in attendance, and also the
marshal"
1.-THE marshal will not be there"
interrupted.
IF SO I wager the king asks for him,
and will take it on my head to explain.
In half an hour we could be back with
Sully and Villeroi, and then the game is
ours. DO you not agree, monsieur ?"-
and he turned to the stranger. All the
answer was another grave inclination
Of the head.
"Come," went on de Belin, slipping
his arm into mine, "put yourself in my
hands, d'Auriac, and l pledge you sue.
cess. My God!" he broke off suddenly
ito think we should win so COM
pletely."
| There was so much in what he said
that agreed without demur, and Belin
hurried me EDWARDS, the stranger and
Pantin following few steps behind.
AS we went on Belin whispered: ASK
no questions, d'Auriac-say nothing I'M
til you see Sully, and ten minutes after
promise you 20 swords"
"If do not get them in an hour"
said grimly, 81 will 60 back myself and
see what my own sword can do"
| 4 Hoo
there, is not that enough? Come, man."
and we hurried along through the mist
as fast as we could walk, keeping on the
left side of the road. AS we came up to
St. Merri de Belin stopped and blew
sharply on whistle. There was an an
swering call, and from under the fam
boyant portico of the church the figure
of man with a led horse slipped out
into the fog, now yellow with the light
of the street lamps. Without word
the stranger mounted, and the two
passed us at trot.
what the devil does that mean?"
exclaimed-"you monseigneur has left
u.s."
ITO return again." answered the
compile dryly, and then added: twill
be gay party at More's tonight, and it
is time we were there"
At last we reached More's and as we
entered the hall could not help Won
dering if the good Parisians knew that
their king was playing at primero in an
ordinary of the city, and would be later
on, perhaps, pursued by the watch.
More, whom I had not seen since my
affair with d'Ayen, was in the hall, and
at word from de Belin, conducted us
himself up the stairway, though look
ing askance at me. We at length gained
q long corridor at the beginning of
which Pantin was left. Through the
closed doors of a private dining-room
at the end of this we could hear shouts
of laughter. "His majesty and NJ. de
Vitry arrived scarce n half hour ago."
whispered More as we approached the
door.
1--WE will not trouble you further" re-
piled the compile; "it is the rule at
these little parties to enter unan-
, nounced." With these words he put
his hand to the door, and went in, fol-
lowing at his heels. There were at
standing round n table, at which sat
the king engaged at play with NJ. de
/ Bassompierre. Neither the king nor
, Bassompierre, who seemed absorbed
, in the game, took the least notice of our
, entrance, nor did they seem in the
least disturbed by the constant laugh
, ter and converse that went on. The
others, however, stopped, and then
burst out in joyous greetings of de
Belin, and very naughty glances at me.
) In the meantime the king played OIL
taking no notice of anyone, his beaked
. nose dropping lower toward his chin as
he lost one rouleau after another tc
: Bassompierre.
"Ventre ST. Gris!" he exclaimed al
} last, was ever such luck? at this rate
7, I shall not have shirt on my back ir
half an hour"
IF the marshal were only here" sale
Sully, 1--WE could start off at once, sire
instead of risking any more. I see dc
Belin has brought our guide"
. "Yes; where is Biron? I am sick Of
. this" And the king, who was bad
' loser, rose from his seat impatiently, al
the same time forgetting to hand over
the last rouleau of pistoles he had lost
> to Bassompierre, and thrusting then
back into his pocket with an absent
: gesture.
: AS if in answer to his question, The
door opened, admitting the slight fig
ure and handsome face of de Gle.
"Where is the marshal? Where is Bi
ron?" asked ten voices in breath.
= Eyes, NJ. de Gle" put in the king
"where is Biron?''
!. "Sire, the marshal is indisposed. He
has begged me TO present his excuse:
and to say he is too i'll to come tonight,
and as he spoke l saw de Gie's jewelet
> fingers trembling, and his cheek hat
lost all color.
- This is sorry news to spoil gay
evening"" said the king; and the maste
i, general, pulling comfit box from hi
vest pocket, toyed with it in his hand a
he followed. "Riron must be i'll indeed
to stay away, sire. What does your ma
y esty think? Shall we begin our ram
! bles by calling on monseigneur?"
q "The very thing. grand master; W
! will start at once"