The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1902-01-10
IooNTINUED.l
CHAPTER VIII.

- there were subjects the men,
ton or which she dreaded even more
than that of the missing prisoner
"Oh, monsieur, have mercyw she
walled. Il am but poor, weak wom-
anv'
Madame" said Buckford sternly,
"your history is one OF crime. l shud-
der even when look at you and think
of the misery you have caused in this
world"
ALAS! 1t is not all true. l 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 l en-
emies, then, who denounce me to the
ApoliceT
Buckford laughed easily He saw
now that he was gaining ground.
Enemies! Madame, / have learned
more in three days from your friends
than ever hoped to know"
"My friends. Name them! Tell me
one secret of mine which my friends
told the police, and 1 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, "do you hap
pen to know a NJ. Vandal? Well, / got
from his own lips a portion Of the sto-
in your house last night"
mon Dieu! That Vandal! And he
is to become my husbandw
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, ii was but a short time ago 1
overheard a conversation between him
and your other friend-shall l call him
simply Casparin ?-about young girl
of Deneslia he was to marry"
"Vandalr
mo other. 1t was as reward for
service done for Casparin. The girl is
young and beautiful"
ooh, oh! This is too much. II is
well sometimes to receive visits from
the police. They learn everything"
1--WE do that. indeed" said Buck
ford. "And NJ Reber? You know him
wellr'
"Reber! That fool! He muddles
things. He got fool Of an American
mixed up in an affair that
81 knOw-the prisoner who escaped
and came to your house"
"Alas, he did come, l admit, mon
sieur But | swear l do not know at
the present time where he is
Buckford leaned forward and in his
most impressive manner said:
"But | know, madame. The plans Of
your friends have not all succeeded. l
have been through your house, mad
anne. and the prisoner is gone"
Madame heaved a great sigh Of re-
lief.
Good. Then l am not under ar
restT
mot for that"
"Oh. OH Then am still 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. | came here TO
find that prisoner l 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 adj
VICE"
HT am ready, monsieur" said Nine.
du Barry, with a SILVER. 1t was i'm
possible to foretell what advice this in
Nscrutable 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, believer
"Ah! Am not! All for the honor Of
France"
"Ah, France is indeed safe when her
honor rests in such hands! Then know,
madame, that this Casparin, who as
sumes title to which he has no right,
IS really a spy In the service of Ger
many"
is"-
"Quite true, madame. M. Vandal Is
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-"
"I wonder that he did not, madame.
It 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, 1 forgot, mon
sieur. that 1 was talking to one Of the
policeP'
"But you need not fear to speak.
What were you about to say concern.
ing the prisonerT
'sWhy, Ii seems that he was as bad
as his enemies. Why they want to kill
him / do not know. But the police