The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-25
THE LOST PROVINCES.
How Vansittart Came Back TO France.
BY LOUIS TRACY.
COPYRIGHT. 1898. Sv Lsut. Tracy.
CHAPTER XIX.

The house to Whioh Francoi1sNoiT led the
Project stood near the crest OF q hill crowned
By q thick clump Of trees
They followed the bride path from Grave
lotte to Arsur-Moselie for a'short distance.
and then turned OF through some ploughed
land. Bates kept them we'll IN sight.
How long IL Il: since you saw Schwartz.
Francois?"
.oh. IL MAJ have been last evening. IN the
village. drinking with the eetaminat Of the
Black Dog"
"Alone2"
"oh, dear. no. He was talking quite q long
while with two mon. one IN oficersand the
other an older chap in plain clothes"
What was he like. the man In plain
olothes2"
well. now. I don't know. Just a sharp
looking fellow. like Yourself. II you will pardon
me-
Francois. you must leave the Post Once"
Now l have offended you. Believe me.
NO offence. But any one who can CONF to
the point as you do deserves o higher position
than that OF q village Postmaster"
Folliet naturally puzzled the straightfor-
ward letter carrier. They approached the dis
mautled farmhouse in silence. Eoir ~covertly
~Glancing at the other and wondering what was
the hidden meaning OF. his words and actions.
uo PlaOO Veo NtS@Ay OAON@Ah 49, NAAsA
times and now looked positively woebegone.
French shells had torn gaps in the roof and
walls. The place looked deserted and forbid
ding while several dark objects huddled up
near the verge OF the wood gave CHASTITY evil
dence OF the loss sustained by the Saxon bat
terry which had temp orarily held the position.
Foliet was about to enter the main room
when the soft cooling Of pigeons fell upon his
ear. Following the sound he reached q shell
tered loft In the rear OF the premises. climbed
TO q small window by means OF q ladder and
found three birds peckinR at the remains Of
the last supply OF grain given by their attend
ant.
He quickly examined them. Ono bore q
small quill securely fastened. With this
treasure trove he descended the ladder and
opened the rolled up scroll. 1t read:
p. Is. 9. 2 p. Soon. perhaps tonight. No
fear Of failure. R."
II. as he believed. the opening letter and fG-
ures meant Paris. June 16. . NJ" the feet
messenger had but recently arrived. Further.
1t had not come from II Rue PiRalle. as this
was impossible. the house being in possession
OF PiGot and the other police agents.
Here was proof positive that there were 9TH
0rs In Paris who communicated with Schwartz
Who were they? Who was r.? What would
happen sooner to-niGht-which could not
Hail?"
Folliet was v~iciously vituperative for q mo-
ment. SWhy.could he not drive from Gravelotte
20 the prefecture Of the Seine? II only some
inventor could equal the pigeon rs a flying
machine.
: Francois Noir watched him. This rascal
Schwartz gives information to the PrusBians
them" he said.
Yes. and to me also"
But. monsieur
. Folliet cut him short by darling toward the
house. The interior was dark. and the Pre-
feet stumbled over a corpse at the threshold.
Producing q small electric lantern, he
switched on the battery and examined the
PROSTATE body. thinking that Il might be the
proprietor of the farm. But 1t was a German
infantry officer. who had been shot through
the forehead with a shrapnel bullet. and now
lay on his back in the smiling unconscious
ness Of one who dreams pleasantly.
The hambe was long and low. It had a
fireplace in the further wall opposite the door.
two windows. the panes shattered to atoms.
on the left. and an open door communicating
with another room on the right. A lonR:table
ran down the centre OF the apartment.
Folliet made the tour OF the house. but the
dead soldier was its only occupant.
The place was SO bare that a rapid scrutiny
revealed the poor chance there was OF finding
Rught likely to prove valuable. Returning to
the large room. the Project examined the ia
bic. In the table drawer near the fireplace
were a bulky volume and some loose sheets Of
thin paper. Folliet could not resist a CRY Of
Ourprise when he discovered that the book
was q telegraph code In German.
TIL user was a careful man. To make
sure OF the code words exactly conveying his
meaning he had licked OF each one. and tho
detective promised himself an interesting
hunt through the maze Of phrases. On the
title page was the significant legend. Strictly
confidential. For State purposes only"
Francois Eoir broke in upon Folliet's tu-
multuous thoughts.
''That little machine Of yours only lights up
one spot. and this room Is getting confound-
eddy dim. Shall I put Q match to my post
mans lamp. which / always carry?'
by all means. The more light the better"
Eoir ignited the wick OF q small Globular
lantern he brought from his coat pocket. and
when the oil burned up IL cast a dull CLEAN upon
the bare walls and blRckened raftors over
head.
Folliet examined the grate-the substitute
tor q waste paper basket in many households.
BONE oharred bits OF paper were rescued. but
they bore no writing. A larger piece Of who'll
N consumed paper lay near the lowest bar
and Folllet stopped low with his electric ray
70 look ut it infinitely.
II he touched It the black tissue would sure
" crumble to atoms. Nevertheless .:he could
SOC quite plainly. showing in the scratches OF Q
pen. tho single letter r."
Now. who the deuce IL ri" cried Folliet
aloud. and Francois Noir. bent down. 30 that
he might also see.
You had better ask those who know" came
In n deep voice from behind them.
Both men sprang up and turned. A tall,
rough-looking man. carrying, a double-bar-
Gstrtde Of the German Officers body. His
eyes blazed at them with malignant pleasure.
and he lovingly clutched his weapon, as he
poised 1t in the manner OF ono on the alert for
Hans schwartEl' cried tho postman. Good
evening. Hans. This gentleman wished to
Are. Won Folliet the Project of POLICE at
Parisl" asked the newcomer. paying no heed
u. Nolr's. suffered explanation.
THAT is my name"
Il Thought so. was told you had left Paris
and ! partly expected you"
game, is up. 80 you had better save your W