The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-04-24
! At Swords Points;
OR.
A SOLDIER OF THE RHINE.
BY ST. GEORGE RATHBoRNE
Copyright. by SMITH. York.

"Ah! you do not know what won
ders love has wrought ere now" she
said, slowly, and just at that moment
Paul had a faint glimpse of the natural
woman beneath the coquette.
Such remarkable women have
lived at all times since the days of
Cleopatra and Anthony, and their pass
age through the world is always
strewn with the shipwrecks Of mortal
hopes.
The countess smiled mockingly.
"Ah! know where your love has
strayed. I have watched you and the
white-faced doll you fancy. Listen!
l have implicated the sweet and unso-
phisticated Hildegarde with the polit-
ical plots that keep the pot boiling and
seething. Long ere you left the gar
den paper / sent to her was in the
hands Of the secret officials of Bis
marck."
Paul started as If shot.
He began to understand the villainy
of which Jealous and INSCRIPTIONS
woman might be guilty.
What did that paper contain? de.
mand that you answer mel" he cried,
showing signs of excitement at last.
Apparently cipher which could be
easily read, and which Hildegarde was
Instructed to pass on to the next agent,
who would carry it swiftly over the
border to Paris"
"And the cipher-what was 1t
about?" savagely.
oh! a simple recapitulation Of the
number Of men available whom Ger.
many could place on the border, and
some hints as to the best line of march
French army could take on the road
to Berlin"
Paul hated her at that moment worse
than he had hated any one in all his
life.
She read his thoughts. teYou mean
to betray me to the authorities?"
1t would only be fair. In that way
l might save your intended victim"
All! you do not dream what hor-
nets nest you would bring down about
your ears if you attempted that. And
do you think they would believe you,
whose name was signed to the note
gave Hildegarde? At this very mo.
ment agents are watching this house,
believing I have come here to have a
secret conference with you about DO.
litical matters" =
Il am lost!" he groaned.
Wait. There is chance Of escape. !"
You mean you have terms to pro-
pose."
Fly with me. I can outwit even
Bismarck's bloodhounds. We can reach
Russia, where we will be safe. Only
promise that you will be faithful to
me while life lasts. It is all / ask
all / care for. With that can well
say good-by to the world
Eagerly she waited for his answer.
1t came speedily enough.
Paul folded his arms, he drew him
self up to his full height. and looked
her sternly in the eyes.
Before would reward such base
treachery would thrust my hand into
the fire and let it burn to the stump
His words completed her demoraliz-
alton, and she threw aside the mask.
you cast the offer Of my love away
like tattered glove. Well, shall
live for revenge, Monsieur Paul. You
will curse the stupidity of this hour.
I shall find means to wiring your proud,
cold heart. No man ever treated me
as you have done, and it has aroused
all the devil in my nature. 1 shall
have a terrible revenge, do you hear
me, a revenge best suited to such an
insult. And now will relieve you
of my hateful presence, but you can
depend upon it. you are already a
marked man among the Kings sol
diers, and a guard will remain to
watch your future actions. Mine you
were, and no other shall possess what
fortune has denied to me-" and, with
flashing eyes, in which he saw murder
rampant, the adventures glided from
the room and was escorted by him to
the lower door of the house.