Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-06-06


himself, and was cool and inscrutable
and smiling again.
You terrify me-oh you terrify me.''
the actress exclaimed, putting her hands
to her eyes as if to shut out the frightful
vision his words had conjured up.
Pardon, madame, but [ only wish to
show you your danger, and to impress
upon you the necessity to be watchful.
However, | think you need have little or
no fear. The chambre has it's hands
upon your enemies, | believe, at this
very moment.
She gave little cry of delight
"Of course he went on, the safest
course to adopt would be to stop the
play at once. Will you do that!'
No, | will not do that" she replied
slowly. 1T is too great a success.
Gould you, then. identify the man who
gave you the letter."
"Yes-oh. yes; l can see his face, his
horrible face, now!"
well, then, you must help us in this
way After the play tonight go to the
Place de Greve. You will be met there
by one of our agents, who will conduct
Rue de Sainte-CrOiX. There we have sew
eral men under arrest, and you must see
them. Had the man a scar under the
left eye?'
Yes, yes--a deep scar. 1 remember
that distinctly"
MANY men have such scars, but still
this may be the right one. You will
come, them
II will. 1 shall see you there, mon
sieur?"
Yes. And, by the way, has any other
agent of the chambre called? You see
we work quite secretly and hardly know
each others plans and movements
No; no one else has been"
''Ah! then au reyoir, madame Tonight
after the play in the Rue de Sainte-
CroiX'
And he made obeisance and went out.
III
Mile. Molere was depressed and nerv-
Gus that evening, despite her inherent in
ability to take most things seriously She
thought Of the words of NJ. Dupin, and
feared to eat, feared to go out, feared to
stay at home, feared almost to look
around, and yet kept continually glancing
rapidly and timidly over her shoulder
The customary hour, however, found her,
as usual on her way to the theater, thick
~ yelled and cloaked. She took quite a
clrcultous route, avoiding all the quiet
streets, and mixing as much as she could
among the crowd.
At the corner of the Rue Mazarine. in
her haste, she RAM into drunken man. who
would have turned upon her and struck
her but for the gallant intervention of a
passing gentleman. A crowd collected all
IN a moment, as crowds will collect. and
for one brief instant she caught sight,
amid the throng, of a face that chilled
her with fear. 1t was the Scared rep
tile face Of the deliverer of the threaten
ing letter. She would have swooned but
for the excitement buoying her up.
SO the Cambre Ardente could not have
the right man under arrest. after all.
mat was her first thought. Was he not
uncaptured and walking abroad? What
should she do? Perhaps, though, she ar
gued as she sped along she was mistak-
en- in the face. There were plenty of
scarred-yisages in Paris, as NJ Dupin
had said. She determined in the end, as
women will Recommendations a vast
amount of consideration-to keep her APP
polntment in the Place de Greve, but
meanwhile, arrived at the theater, she
hastily scrubbed note and dispatched
it to the chambre. 1t ran thus:
Have just seen in the Rue Mazarine
the man who gave me the threatening
letter-at least, believe it was the man.
Will, however. come tonight to the
house in the Rue de Sainte- Croix as |
promised, your agent, NJ. Dupin, this af-
ternOOn."
The play was over and the audience
had dispersed. The streets. softly iIlu-
mined by newly-risen moon, were still
and deserted. Mile. Moliere, yelled and
hooded again, walked swiftly in the di-
rection of the Place de Greye. AS she
entered the square, recently so wild and
lurid with tongues of hungry t1ame-hun-
CRY for human flesh-but now so peaceful
and beautiful in the delicate light, she
espied a figure approaching her.
Mile. Moliere?'' he queried in a deep
low voice when he came near.
She nodded her head.
Follow me-" he added.
They traversed q labyrinth of streets,
fI1rt hnr nd crln lion 11rti
quarter of an hour afterwards the man
raped gently at house door in Il queer
little side street.
This is the Rue de Sainte-Croix," he
murmured.
The door was instantly opened EN-
ter?' be said, and madame went in, with
her attendant at her heels.
The passage was pitch dark. She
stood still, affrighted.
Where am ~ she cried.
This way-this way. IT'S all right"
said voice.
"Oh, is that you, NJ. Dupin?''
Yes, It's i. madame
"Thank heaven! [ began to fear l had
been entrapped."
A hand took hers ii the darkness, and
conducted her several yards. Then a
door was opened, and they entered a
library.
Pray be seated, madame" said Du-
pin genially Il think I've settled this
affair. The Chambre Ardente knows
what it is about. Ha, ha, ha. [ should
think so! Have some wine first. mad
anne, before you look on the SCARED
ugly faces of the rogues l have manacled
here. Besides, you must be exhausted
after your walk, and possibly frightened,
eh?'
He laughed pleasantly as he poured her
out some wine. 1t struck her what a
courtly, affable man he was.
Drink" he said.
She emptied the goblet at a draught,
for in truth, her nerves were all in q
culver, and, replacing it on the table,
looked round at her host and laughed
back at him with a well-assured conf
dence and gayety. But as her glance
fell upon him her laughter ceased. She
gazed at him, first in wonderment, then
aghast. NJ. Dupin was glaring at her
fiercely.
What is it? What is it?'' she cried.
shaking like leaf? what mean YOU"
1t seemed another being, this vindictive
figure scowling down at her. Hate and
glee played hide-and-seek in his eyes.
He was transformed into q yeritable