The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-12-20
CHAPTER VIII.

FSxY1N in moment to Buckford that
49, there We're subjects the men
ton Of which she dreaded even more
than that of the missing prisoner.
"Oh, monsieur, have mercy" she
walled. Il am but poor, weak wom-
an"
Madame" said Buckford sternly,
''your history is one of crime. 1 shud-
der even when look at you and think
of the misery you have caused in this
world"
ALIAS! 1t is not all true am not
so bad as they say"
"Heaven! If you were but half as
bad! Oh, madame, l assure you we
know you well, but even the police do
not think you are quite as bad as your
enemies would declare"
Enemies! My enemies! Have 1 en-
emies, then, who denounce me to the
police?'
Buckford laughed easily. He saw
now that he was gaining ground.
Enemies! Madame, 1 have learned
more in three days from your friends
than l ever hoped to know"
"My friends! Name them! Tell me
one secret of mine which my friends
told the police, and will assist you in
any work you want-that is, monsieur,
| of course, with an eye to my own safe
ty."
Better and better.
why" said Buckford, edo you hap
pen to know NJ. Vandal? Well, got
from his own lips portion of the sto-
ry of the murder.that was committed
in your house last night"
mon Dieu! That Vandal! And he
| is to become my husband"
Buckford laughed long and Iowa
meaning, insinuating laugh.
MY dear madame" he said, pardon
my rudeness, do, but it seems incom-
prehensible that woman of your in
telligence should be so easily gulled.
Vandal to become your husband!
Why, it was but a short time ago I
overheard a conversation between him
and your other friend-shall call him
simply Disqualification young girl
Of Deneslia he was to marry"
"Vandalw
mo other. 1t was as q reward for
service done for Casparin. The girl is
young and beautiful"
ooh, oh! This is too much! 1t is
we'll sometimes to receive visits from
the police. They learn everything"
"We do that, indeed" said Buck
ford. "And NJ. Reber? You know him
well?"
"Reber! That fool! He muddles
things. He got fool of an American
mixed up in an affair that
Il know-the prisoner who escaped
and came to your house."
"Alas, he did come, 1 admit, mon
| sieur! But l swear l do not know at
the present time where he isl
Buckford leaned forward and in his
| most impressive manner said:
"But l know, madame. The plans Of
your friends have not all succeeded.
| have been through your house, mad
anne, and the prisoner is gone"
Madame heaved a great sigh of re-
lief
Good! Then 1 am not under ar
rest?"
"Not for that"
ooh, oh! Then I am still-I am
madame, listen to me. We do not
start out with only one charge in our
| guns. We are ready at any moment to
turn from one quest to another, as cir
cumstances demand. I came here to
I find that prisoner. / learn that he Is
gone. Now, have other matters to at
tend to, and it will be greatly to your
advantage, madame, to follow my ad-
vice."
~ am ready, monsieur" said Nine.
du Barry, with a SILVER. 1t was i'm
| possible to foretell what advice this in
scrutable agent of police might give
her. But-there was that murder in
her house, and how many other crimes
there is no guessing.
Madame. you are a true French
woman, believe"
France"
"Ah. France Is indeed safe when her
honor rests In such hands! Then know,
madame, that this Casparln, who as.
sumes title to which he has no right,
is really spy in the service of Ger
many"
Mon Dieu! Is it so? Then Vandal
isl
"Quite true. madame. NJ. Vandal ia
acting In accord with spy and OF
course is subject to the law"
Then seize him, monsieur. Oh, that
serpentlike scoundrell He claimed,
monsieur, that he loved me-"
II wonder that he did not, madame.
1t would have been one virtue among
his hideous faults"
"Oh. but you cannot know half!
They would have killed that prisoner
too. But then that makes little differ
ence to him. You-oh. forgot. mon
sieur, that I was talking to one of the
policep'
But you need not fear to speak.
What We're you about to say concern-
ing the prisoner"
why, it seems that he was as bad
as his enemies. Why they want to kill
him l do not know. But the police
want him-oh, how the police want