The Lamar register., 1902-10-15

whom the princess deigned to smile.
with contempt.
Accordingly Stromboloff was de-
cidedly anxious to have the original
plan so through.
He had long head. this Russian,
and declared 1t would be folly taking
chances. The minister in Paris who
was slave to the sirens charms
might be mistaken, or in the plot with
their enemies. and. after all, this
man, with whom they believed to be
the president, might turn out to be
no other.
At any rate, 1t was their duty to
carry out the original plan up to this
point, although the invasion of France
by the Duke of Orleans could not take
place until it was positively proven
that it was the genuine president who
had been abducted.
So the question was decided.
Couat Leon. having cast aside his
doubts for the time being. became the
energetic man of action.
One last look he cast around.
The act was that of soldier who
combined caution with yalor.
The lovers still stood by the terrace
wall, looking out over the starllt har-
Dor, where steamed the many riding
lights of the congregated yachts at
anchor.
They seemed oblivious of all
around. wrapped up in the paradise
that newly-confessed love opens to
the human soul.
From this scene the count turned
grimly, conscious of his magician's
power to change it all by the wave of
his hand.
Jones was next in his mind. for
since the double nature of the man
from over the sea had become ap-
parent to the princess and himself
the Yankee had grown to be n person
of considerable Importance, whose
personality must be figured on, no
matter how certain the game seemed
to be.
But Jones was non est.
While the three confreres were de-
batting as to the best course for them
to pursue under the changed circum-
stances he had sauntered away.
The count confessed to him that it
would have pleased him better had
Jones maintained his post; for when
he had Il desperate foeman to deal
with it had always been the policy of
the great explorer to keep his eye
on him INCREASINGLY until such time
as he could cut him down.
And somehow he was possessed
with an idea that Jones had rot
moved away in an idle frame of mind.
out with a motive back of his action.
When he had seen that the presi-
dent had not moved, but was still
chatting with his companions. Count
Leon knew the chain was complete.
and that there was really no need of
this looking forward.
Villebois drew out a small silver
whistle and raised it to his lips.
Strange that such an innocent
sound should. as If by magic, trans
form a peaceful scene into one where
violence ruled.
The music still continued under
the dome and spires of the Casino, but
mellowed by distance and obtruding
walls, the sound but softly permeat-
ed the air of the garden.
Count Leon blew three shrill blasts.
There was something so startling
about them that unconsciously every
one in the extensive gardens seemed
to take it for granted they were in
tended to be signal of some sort.
Immediately n great commotion be-
gan.
Men appeared from various points,
all heading toward central hub
men who moved with haste, and yet
showing some signs of military in
struction-men who were grimly in
earnest, no matter what their mis-
sion.
Every one was on the jump-a gen.
eral futtering had taken place, as
though that signal whistle aroused
the electric waves in the atmosphere.
The princess had her eyes upon one
man. and that was the lover of Con-
! stance.
ITO be continued)