The Holly chieftain., 1902-10-17

It had been some time. you see.
since his last encounter with the
black hosts, and perhaps his good
right hand really itehed to get 70
work again. No French explorer Who
came back from Africa was ever will
ing to remain quiescent 1t home
'.But-there il something more, II.
le Count, something mysterious. some
thing that may even stagger you in
your plans" said the princess In her
quiet yet convincing way.
The other looked ut her In q trou-
bled manner and allowed his hips to
form the words:
''Le Diable!"
It fully expressed his state Of mind.
for he felt that with the passage of
every second the game was slipping
further from his hands.
''I am one who suspects, who never
takes things for granted. To-day q
letter came from \ friend in Paris. q
gentleman high in the councils Of the
government One little Item In it at
tracted my attention-it was that he
A1u JUDI uCou 0IlSA40AA6 = B(6t0 COuu'
ell at the home Of the president, who
was not we'll enough to drive out. 1
looked at the date-it was yesterday.
Monsieur. ! was surprised. Either my
friend, the minister, had made q mis-
take or else we were blind. for at the
hour he declared he talked with
Frances chief executive in his own
Paris home, behold. you and were
watching the president here at Monte
Carlo!"
The soldier staggered as though he
had been actually struck-indeed, he
received blow that was of far great
er moment than physical one would
have been, since the foundation of his
faith was knocked away. -
He began to realize that perhaps
the secret police were more capable
of making discoveries than he had
been willing to admit, and that the
same style Of tactics could not be en-
ployed against these shrewd adver-
saries that he had used 80 success
fully when coping with swarms of
ferocious blacks.
One CLEAN Of hope fickered still.
and caused q .sickly smile to flash
over his dark face.
"Perhaps-the minister was mis-.
taken in the day. He may have in
tended to saS Monday, when we
know monsieur was still in Paris.
Yes, that is the explanation OF the
problem"
The enchantress smiled. and when
he saw the expression of her face he
knew she was about to knock away
even this feeble prop which he had
seized upon so eagerly as q means of
keeping up hope.
Il have Just received = message" /"
"From Parish"
Eyes"
She placed printed form in his
eager hand and his hungry eyes pc
rused its brief message with an agil-
ity that speedily put him in posses
sion Of the facts.
The wording was very precise and
to the point:
1.-THE president IL in Paris to-day,
Wednesday. have just conversed
with his excellency."
No wonder. after reading this, that
the counts hand dropped a. though
palsied to his side-no wonder his
amazed eyes turned on the quarter
where the man who played the role
of president stood chatting and
laughing with his aides-no wonder
his breath came thick and fast from
between his set teeth. For where
victory had seemed ready to perch
he now saw miserable defeat staring
him in the face with all its terrible
penalties attached.
do you believe. now?" demanded
the modern DelilAh. exulting In the
thought that 1t was her iinesse that
had accomplished this thing, and not
his proud master mind.
He bowed his head.
What else can 1 say7 We have
been deceived. All the while they,
those wolves Of Paris. knew what we
intended doing. They have sent
dummy to represent the president
travelling incog. It is SO very simple,
so easy-why, sometimes men actual
ly assist in deluding themselves. poor
FOOLS"
Then the game is rung OF, the
curtain falls on tableau with virtue
triumphant and vice probably pun
ished, as usual"
Her sneer went home, for 1t caused
him to glance once more toward the
young couple, 10 absorbed In one an