Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-11

is really deaf?"
The general was white with anger,
his beard fairly bristled. his heart
was bursting with rage and one could
almost hear it's beats intermingled with
the ticking of the clock. Silence again
All" said the king, tired Of all these
futile experiments, ''he is nothing but
tramp. Who captured him?"
''KOhn Of the Yellow Hussars, your
majesty, a shrewd officer
80 much the worse. Look at that
head. 1t reveals nothing. 1t is dead
soul before you. There is only a little
life in the trembling of the arms and
legs and the froth On his chin" The
king looked disgustedly out of the win
dow and the aides-de-camp followed
his example.
His majesty rose to leave.
But the general stamped his foot and
exclaimed.
Sire. you are mistaken! Don't go!
Don't go! I, too, had my doubts. But
doubt, as our poets say, is more than
conviction, it surpasses truth itself! I
beg you to remain? This man is moth
ing more than an abnormally skillful
impostor He acts well. For
you are admirable, sir" he said, turn
ing to the prisoner, and glazing at him
so closely that the mans eyes reflected
the image of the vindictive old officer
The fellow made no sign.
Nevertheless" remarked the king,
everything seems against such a pos
sibility. This bewildered, unfortunate,
filthy wretch
The general tore off the idiots collar,
nuttering between his teeth: It's a
good idea. 1 am going to see. viii he
have taken that precaution, too? He
is a courtier, he wouldn't have had
time
The collar fell in rags, and beneath
the rags the skin was black with dirt.
"Sire,' insisted the disconnected gen
eral. 81 demand that this man be de-
tanned on this same spot, and I ask for
the honor Of few minutes conversa-
ton with you"
Follow me-" replied the king. They
left the room together.
81 swear that l am not mistaken,
sire!" growled the general.
"You are simply obstinate" said the
king.
mo, no! I beg your majesty to have
patience. There are other methods,
one especially"
(WHICH"
well, sire, we have a Frenchman to
deal with. The man will not betray
himself He has studied his role too
we'll for that You know that heroic
race, spontaneous and frivolous, never
theless + *''
They turned down a corridor and
talked with lowered voices. One could
hear only hurried Whisperings, then,
after a few moments. the sound Of a
carriage being driven rapidly away.
The carriage returned, bringing back
some one, and the king and the bear
again entered tie room where the idiot
continued to drivel pathetically.
With the exception Of the king, who
leaned back in his chair with a dis
gusted expression on his face, every
one watched the spy, and the king
incredulity gradually spread to the Off
GERS, secretaries and the very grena-
diers on guard.
During the absence Of the king and
the general, the poor imbecile had
smashed a chair, wept and laughed al
ternately and shouted with all the force
of his lungs. A gOOse-quill stuck in an
ink pot had scared him. They had kept
O. l>Iyf r..
and, forgetting everything at last, he
stood rocking his head gravely from
side to side 1t was enough to make
ones heart ache.
Sire" said the general, eve are go
ing to c0nfound this spy. He is we'll
known at Versailles as a court gallant.
Now, there is a lady Of Hailberstadt,
who was once ady-in-Waiting to the
Queen Lecsynska, and she knows all
the faces of the French court by heart.
have sent for her, your majesty, and
with your permission we will confront
the marquis with her"
Let her enter"
Two guards opened a door, and the
share" quiet and distinguished, en-
tered softly with a feline step.
Madame, do you know this French
man?" asked the king.
The woman looked at the prisoner
searchingly.
mo. sire"
VERY we'll" broke in the general;
eve will call you again if we need you.
! Kindly go out Of the other corridor"
In order to do this it was necessary
to cross the room and pass near the
| prisoner. A fly, which had been buzz
ing round the room aimlessly, lit on a
curtain, and profound silence reigned.
Just as the woman passed the idiot, she
! stumbled cried out, fell
1t was too much; the idiots express
sion changed. Madame, allow me-
! He stopped short.
A perfect tumult broke out in the
room The king jumped to his feet as
pale as death. The woman disap-
peared.
"FooI!" someone murmured-st.
Louis Star.
SIX gm,y vef: mSevG hink