The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-12-20
THE STRANGER
AND THE PRINCESS
Copyright. 1900, bv Se,oord W. Hopkins.
BY SEWARD w. HOPKINS
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papers"
$50 it has leaked out. has it? Have
you the papers handy. madame? l
left home early and have had little
time to read this morning There may
be something in the papers to change
my plans"
Eager to please this agent of police,
who held she knew not how many Sc
crets against her, Nine. du Barry hus-
tied around the room and brought him
that mornings copies of two papers.
Sitting near the door, so that the wo-
man could not escape. Buckford found
the articles referring to his escape
from the depot and read them with a
certain grim satisfaction and yet with
dismay.
1t was evident from the tone of the
article in each paper that it had been
practically decided that he was guilty
of the murder of NJ. de Bullion. The
articles had evidently been inspired by
the spitefui police authorities who
could not forgive an American for es-
Gaping from their celebrated Palais de
Justice.
The connection Of NJ. Monroe. the
rich American. with the case was
dwelt upon at length. His successful
ho0dwinking of Magistrate NJ. SENEGAL;
his appearance at the depot in dis
guise: the entire plot as it appeared
to the police-it was all in print.
An interview was published in which
the American minister expressed his
hope that his countryman was inno-
cent. But there was nothing said
about any vigorous effort in his behalf.
| 1t was limited that Buckford, desper-
benefited by NJ Monroe's courage and
interest, had murdered him and rob-
| bed him to gain money to effect his
escape from France and also leave be-
hind no one who knew the secret Of
his manner of escape.
When Buckford read this, his lips
pressed together white and thin.
| A reward was offered for the recap
ture of the prisoner, dead or alive.
He would not escape again. The po-
lice would see to that.
AS Buckford read and digested this
article the whole force of the awful
truth came upon him.
He was suspected now of two MUIR
ders.
His escape from the Palais de JUS
tice had so eXasperated the authorities
that he felt sure no appeal to them
would lead to a search for the truth.
Even if he was not executed for the
murder of NJ. de Bullion, he would
certainly suffer at the hands Of the
vengeful police.
The position of the American repre-
sentative left no great hope that his
country would act vigorously in his
behalf. And he knew that nothing ex.
cept the most vigorous action would
avail anything.
The reward offered for his recapture
was so large that no matter to whom
he might show himself in Paris he
was almost certain to be turned over
to the police.
Monroe was the only friend he could
have trusted, and Monroe was dead,
and he was accused of numbering him.
He might, with a stupendous nerve
and confidence in French justice, go to
the prefecture and tell the whole story.
But he had already told two stories at
the prefecture, and both had been
doubted. He had no wish to try again.
There was but one thing open to him
escape from France.
Then there came to him a longing
for revenge, great thirst for the
punishment of the men who had
brought this terrible disaster upon him.
And with this sentiment was min.
gled strong desire still to aid the
Prince of Deneslia, his American wife
and the beautiful Princess Marie.
In his own extremity he did not for
get them.
How was he TO manage to encompass
his own safety. elude the Paris police,
bring the conspirators against the
prince to grief, wreak just vengeance
upon his own tormentors and finally
secure such proof of his own innocence
as would forever free him from the
charges now lodged against him at
the Palais de Justice?
With watchful eye on the tigerish
Nine. du Barry he pondered this mo.
mentous problem.
He could not go to America. Even II
he reached there in disguise he could
never resume communication with
members of his family. And in Amer
lea he could neither punish his own en-.
emies nor defeat those of the prince.
He recalled the conversation on the
upper floor. The quartet of rascals in.
tended to follow the prince to Denes.
liza.
If he could reach Deneslia, he might
with God and fortune on his side, reach
the prince in time to save him, punish
his own enemies, and, with the assist
ance of so powerful an ally as the rul.
er of Deneslia would be, he might re.
establish his integrity with the Pari,
sian authorities.
To Nine. du Barry, sitting there pant.
ing with fear lest this police agent
should, after all, turn on her and carry
her OF to the dreaded Palais de Jus.
tlce. there was nothing unusual in the
manner of the man who sat near her
reading.
He seemed merely TO be perusing an
article containing police news of more
than ordinary interest.