Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-08-01
CHAPTER Nv.
Desperale Tactics.

AuouC lnlS tlme MerrlcKS aLIentlou
was drawn to commotion in the
crowd, caused, as he soon discovered,
by the advance of tall figure that
pushed and pressed with determine
ton nothing could daunt.
Of course it was Jones. Mark
slapped him on the back, and the look
of anxiety upon Jones' bronzed and
rugged face at once gave way to one
of pleasure as he turned to look upon
his comrade.
mot hurt? Good! We're of at an
early hour"
For where?"
ooh! Monte Carlo" ...
Merrick looked at him-he saw
the glow Of triumph in Jones eyes,
| and did not need to be told Of the
success that had come.
"You secured it." he whispered, re-
Numbering that there might be ennis
saries of Count Leon in the crowd
| around them, and not DESTROYS Of CIV
| ing them more points than were neces-
sary.
you bet" laconically answered the
Yankee. LET us 60 in; the danger Is
| all over"
Jones apparently had something on
his mind
who set this fire going?" he asked.
Great Scott! How could tell?
The hall above was full OF smoke
when l first heard the racket. l took
care to lock your door and here is the
key"
Il have my grave suspicious. Per-
,, haps l may be wrong in this case, but
we shall soon see-we shall see. Come
up with me and help unlock the door. -
Something strikingly significant in
his voice impelled Merrick to follow.
"Ah! yes, you locked the door," said
Jones, with fine satire, and Mer
rick confessed that his word seemed
doubtful, since that door now stood
wide open. .-r
''By Jove! perhaps you were right
after all, my FRIEND he declared. "The
paper is gone"
Are you sure?"
Yes, as positive as that l stand
here"
Jones grinned.
Come, close the door if you can
and We'll examine the queer legacy OF
the man helped. Part of it we will
trust to our memory, and with that
portion destroyed none else can utilize
the paper, even though it be stolen
from u.s."
So they amused themselves by
studying the intricate problem which
the magician had left behind him
Merrick did not wholly understand the
geometrical puzzle, but the result
proved that it was a good thing, anc
results are what count. r..
It was midnight when the two
friends parted. Arrangements haG
been made for an early start, for
though the season at Monte Carlo had
hardly been fairly inaugurated, Jones
was keenly DESTROYS Of commencing
his crusade against the dragon that
yearly slew his scores, and ruined
hundreds, aye, thousands, of others.
He barricaded his door, made sure
of the window, and then law down tc
rest, with his revolver close to his
hand.
When morning came he Joined Mer-
rick at the breakfast table.
Both of the comrades were genu-
inely glad the time bad come to make
a move.
While Merrick in reality cared very
little about the successful issue of the
System" at Monte Carlo, he was hui
man enough to take some solid pleas
ure in the knowledge that Jones tri-
umph meant bitter dose for the
count.
Jones had sewed the precious plan OF
campaign in the lining of his coat
| under the belief that it would be safe
there, since they must kill him in or
der to steal his garment.
A fly took them to the gate where
their train awaited them.
Preceded by porter bearing their
small luggage our two adventures
bought an obsequious guard body and
soul, and presently found themselves
the sole owners of all they surveyed
having a comfortable smoking COM
partnent to themselves.
While Merrick was watching an ex-
citing encounter between one of the
wooden guards and stout woman
from Marseilles, who demanded her
rights as citizen of the republic in a
manner that made him think Of those
Amazc>s in history who led the mobs
during the bloody Reign Of Terror,
Jones broke in upon his reverie with
an exclamation:
"Lay low, my boy, there she comes
and to hear the tone Of CONSERVATION
which he used in making this cutlery
one might have been pardoned for be-
lieving that some terrible she dragon
was bearing down upon them, instead
of a most beautiful and charming
woman, chatting as vivaciously as
usually only French woman can,
with the gentleman at her side.
Of course, it was the princess-per-
haps she, too, was being drawn by the
alluriny glamour Of the famous gam
ing place far away at the border OF
Italy, a. else she had learned Of Mark s
going thither.
"Did you notice her companion?
asked Jones, as he cautiously glanced
along the platform to see which car
riage The lady entered.
well, he seemed a pompous, severe
old autocrat, general at least. But
then you told me she had princes and
dukes and American nabobs dangling
in her train, so why not a general?"
"Ah! not General MERCER. There