Courier Democrat., 1903-08-13

"Ercusc nc, qrill sec 4jou again to-
night" said the man. rising abruptly.
| you?" he asked When Buckforl came
in.
Bucllford could tell n story in few
words. The prefect seemed pleased at
the manner in Which, the young man
| plunged into his subject.
| Gomez he said to himself "Herc
is q fellow who knows how to talk"
| With as little delay as possible. in
clear, concise language, Wallace told
just what had happened to him. AS
he talked ON the eyes of the prefect
dilated. He scented great mystery
or crime. He would win the friend
ship of this young American. He would
unravel the mystery ll.::.svlf. What
ever honor and reward was forthcom-
ing he would reap himself.
This was laudable ambition in the
prefect. Promotion and honor in the
police service the world over comes
from success. One cannot succeed I'M
less he does something. He cannot do
anything if he let's others do it ALL
Buclford spoke OH. and then came
suddenly to a stop.
"Then what:" put in the prefect.
That's all. | left the inn and came
here to tell you. do not consider my
self capable of combating all the
criminals in Paris. | discovered the
plot by accident, and now give you the
facts SO that you can protect this fam
ily."
y blank look Of dsnlay and disap-
pointlnent came op the face of the
prefect He twirled his thumbs, he
stared at Buckford, he coughed. a
tinge of red showed on his bronze
cheek.
II regret-l very much regret, mon
sieur," said the prefect. "that your
story ended so abruptly and so weak
ly. 1t was interesting-very interest
ing, as far as it went. But you see
yourself it amounts to nothing"
Nothing. Is it nothing when band
Of nihilists or socialists or anarchists
or something plot to kill a man in
Paris!''
1T is something, surely, when we
know the man. We can then do some.
thing for his protection. But to act
on the meager information you have
given me would be simply to endeavor
to protect every man in Paris not per.
sonally known to US. Every man
whose name might be other than the
one he bears would need two police Of
f1cers. The force at my disposal will
not stretch to that extent
"But surely the police know when
prince visits Paris incognito:"
"True. That whites the thing down
somewhat" said the prefect. looking
as though ne had made blunder.
"There are at present. to the best of
my knowledge. 43 persons, all of more
or less exalted station, in Paris incos.
nito.''
"But they are not all princes"
"All but two They are English
dukes"
"But is there no Princess Marga-
ret?'
"Ah! That is something. 1 will look
that up, certainly"
"And a Princess Marie Alexia:"
Another clew. really think after
all may do something"
"And you certainly know where NJ.
jacques has his inn. That cannot run
away. Why not arrest the gang?"
"Now you are getting reckless, my
young friend. To arrest them and fail
to prove that such plot exists would
be very awkward"
"But not as awkward as to have q
prince dynamited in Paris"
The prefect shrugged his shoulders.
Il scarcely fear any such crime.
However, there is time. You say those
rascals spoke as il they were going to
give you the work to do"
"Yes, that seemed to be their inten-
ton. They wanted q man Of good ap-
pearance who was tired of life. That
proves the contemplated act to be of
great violence"
1T seems so. But since you are to
do 1t there 10 time. You can, if you