The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-07-31

up. LEW
Pardon, madame. but I 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 its hands
upon your enemies. believe, at this
very moment
She gave little cry of delight.
"Of course, The went on, 1.-The safest
course to adopt would be to stop the
play at once. Will you do that?"
No; 1 will not do that she replied
slowly. TT is too great success"
Gould you then, identify the man
who gave you the letter."
'sYes-oh, yes; can see his face, his
horrible face. noW!'
We'll, 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 you to one Of our secret houses
in the Due de- Sainte-Croix. There we
have several men under arrest, and
you must see them. Had the man a
scar under the left eye?'
Yes yes-a deep scar. I remember
that distinctly"
Many men have such scars but still
this may be the right one. You will
come, then?"
Il will. snail see you there, mon
sieur?'
Yes. And, by, the way, has any
other agent of the Chambre called?
You see we work so secretly, and hard
ly know each others plans and move
ments.''
No; no one else has been"
All! then au revoir. madame. To-
night, after the play, in the Rue de
Sainte-Croix
And he made Obeisance and went out.
Mile. MOliere was depressed and ner-
vous that evening, despite her inherent
inability to take most things seriously.
She thought of the words of M. Dupin,
and feared to eat feared to go out,
feared to stay at home. feared almost
to look around, and yet kept continu-
ally glancing rapidly and timidly over
her shoulder. The customary hour,
however, found her, as usual, on her
way to the theater. thickly yelled and
cloaked. She took quite circuitous
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 ran into a drunken
man, who would have turned upon her
and struck her but for the gallant in
PREVENTION of 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, reptile face
of the deliverer of the threatening let
ter. She would have swooned but for
the excitement buoying her up.
So the Chambre Ardente could not
have the right man under arrest, after
all. That was her first thought. Was
he not uncaptured and walking abroad?
What should she do? Perhaps, though,
she argued as she sped along, she was
mistaken in the face. There We're plen-
ty of Scared visages in Paris, as NJ.
Dupin had said. She determined in the
end, as women will Recommendations
a vast amount of conSideration-to keep
her appointment in the Place de Greve,
but meanwhile, arrived at the theater,
she hastily scrubbed a note and dis
patched it to the Chambre. 1t ran
thus:
Have just seen in the Rue Mazarine
the man who gave me the threatening
letter-at least, I believe it was the
man. I will, however, come tonight to
the house in the Rue de Sainte-Croix
as I promised your agent, NJ. Dupin,
this afternoon
".
The play was over and the audience
diSnarCdd "a Ctr
lumined by newly risen moon, were
still and deserted. Mile Moliere, yelled
and hooded again, walked swiftly in
the direction of the Place de Greve. AS
she entered the square recently so wild
and lurid with tongues of hungry flame
hungry for human fesh-but now 50
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 a labyrinth Of streets
and no further word was spoken until
a quarter of an hour afterward, the
man raped gently at a house door
in queer little side street.
This is the Rue de Sainte-Croi he
murmured
The door was instantly opened. EN-
ter" he said. and madame went in,
with her attendant at her heels.
The passage was pitch dark. She
stood still affrighted.
Where am II" she cried.
This way-this way. IT'S all right"
said a voice.
''Oh, is that you, NJ Dupin?"
Yes. it's 1, madame"
Thank heaven, 1 began to fear I
had been entrapped.'
A hand took hers in the darkness,
and conducted her several yards Then
a door was opened, and they entered
a dimly lighted room, half laboratory,
half library.
Pray be seated, madame" said Du-
pin genially. 81 think I've settled this
affair. The Chambre Ardente knows
what it is about. Ha. ha, ha, 1 should
think So Have some wine, first, ma
dame, before you look on the SCARED,
ugly faces of the rogues l have man.
acled here. Besides you must be ex-
hausted after your walk, and possibly
frightened, eh?"
He laughed pleasantly as he poured
her out some wine. 1t struck her what
courtly, affable man he was.
Drink" he said.
She emptied the goblet at a draught,
for, in truth, her nerves were all in
culver, and replacing it on the table
looked at her host and laughed back
at him with well assured confidence
and gayety. But as her glance fell
upon him her laughter ceased. She