Evening star., 1898-09-17

as he poised it in the manner of one on the
alert for a covey.
,, Hans schwartzr' cried the postman
Good evening, Hans; this gentleman
wished to see you. so l.
! Are you Follet, the prefect of police at
f&rls said the newcomer, paying no heed
TO Moirs suffered explanation.
That is my name"
Il thought so. I was told you fad left
Paris and l partly expected you"
We'll, l am here, Hans Schwartz. Your
game Is up, so you had better save your
own skin by making clean breast of the
shady business you are engaged H."
Foll1et spoks coolly enough, but he knew
that he was in a desperate position He
felt certain that Schwartz would murder
him and the unfortunate Francois in cold
blood For this man, with his excel, Mt
French and his calm, self-cout,tined man
ner. was no bungling clodhopper, but an
experienced and able member of the Ger
man secret police.
The game is up, is it?" Schwartz showed
his teeth in a ghastly smile.
We'll, Folliet, you are right. 1t Is end
ed, and the loser pays. No. Keep your
hands quite still. Otherwise 1 must shoot
you at once. Perhaps-I say perhaps-if
you answer my questions I may spare your
life and conduct you to Metz as a prisoner
After all, you are professional, like my
self-a devilish clever one, too, and 1 should
be sorry to be compelled TO injure you
Francois. Noir. after the first shock of sur
prise. reganed his nerve; the eX-soldier was
no coward.
Look here, Schwartz" he began.
Peace, fool. Another word from you
and you die"
The German spoke to Noir, but his eyes
never quilted Folliet.
Don't interfere my poor friend,' said
Folliet sadly. This quarrel does not eff
feet you, and. however it ends 1 hope Mon
sieur Schwartz will let you go unharmed -
Schwartz scowled in another smile I'VE
shall see. Now, Folliet, tell me what was
= 80 @@Jr
Please don't move. You can remember
quite we'll"
Soon. perhaps tonight, eh?" repeated the
German. Good. If our arms cannot pre-
vail against your mighty Vansittart we
will see what our wits can accomplish dur
ing his absence. Indeed, / may say during
your absence, colleague. 1t would be most
awkward for certain people were you in
Paris just now"
Something is going to happen there
then?"
"Oh. yes. Something far better for US
than mere battle even If We had been
victorious today
Really. you interest me-
Il am sure of it. 1 have Interested you
for weeks, confound you
1T is true. You are clever man. And
l hope you are a wise one. NJ Vansittart
is rich. He will reward yo, beyond your
dreams If you help US inste I'd Of plotting
against u.s.
''Ah, you would bribe me- I have taken
will pay me more in a week to tell him
something he wants to know than he would
now give me to rescue France"
1t was new role for Follitt to be played
with in this fashion. His pr de was wrest-
ling with his reason. Soon ne would rush
at this taunting spy and spend his life in
the effort to reach him, for he was un-
armed, though Schwartz thought otherwise
In the madness of the battle he had wildly
and uselessly emptied his revolver.
But he bottled up his wrath for a mo-
ment.
You take every trick, monsieur. But
tell me. as a mere matter Of curiosity, Who
Is 'R'?'
The other hesitated a moment. Then he
laughed scornfully.
=, There is no reason why you should not
arother old friend,l Lacontel, is leading
the new commune. Paris is about denuded
of troops. Tonight or within twenty-four
1,,n h@urs the reyoluti9n Ion, breaks out and your
are unable to fly. 1t is going on now
Folliet Whilst Paris rejoices at the down,
fall of the kaisers troops, her own down.
fall is being arranged. You yourself have
arc here, in my power, wholly at nv mercy
Strange, isn't it?"f!g
Folliet was a small man physically, but
he could have swollen with rage to eigan-
tic proportions. His burning thoughts mnst
have leaped from his eyes, for Schwartz
half raised his gun.
Steady, Folliet steady. You must keep
still, else"
A tongue of flame hissed through the
window. accompanied by sharp report
Schwartz dropped his gun and faced round
with a roar of pain. for a bullet had
smashed the thumb joint of his right hand
just where it closed round the stock. In
turning he stumbled and fell over the
corpse.
Arizona Jim, bringing revolver and head
INTO sight between the shattered frame
work Of the first window, said:
THE confab was gittin' warm, Folliet.
so just thought I'd chip in
Even as he spoke. Folliet darted forward
to seize the gun, which had fallen on the
table, shouting the while:
Quick, Francois, a ropew
Schwartz rose to his knees and sazed at
Bates with the glare of wounded tiger.
Herr liebe Gott!'' he cried "Whots thisfn
Though the words were German, Jim
grasped their meaning.
You talk too much, mister. You'll soon