The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-03-18

~ ~ ASAAAASS Ato SAASy NV
livered to NJ. Jerome de Greville be-
fore tomorrow's sun arises. He keeps
his lodging in Rue st. Denis. at the
sign of the Austrian Arms. Can
Madame not dispatch q trusted mes
senger and secure their delivery?"
The fervor of the appeal touched her.
for she listened with interest.
ooh, Madame, I beseech you, as I
have obeyed you without question this
night, do not fail me as you love the
glory Of France. You may have NJ. de
Greyille informed how and where you
came by them, in case aught Of i'll
should happen to me this night"
She took the packet.
Upon my royal word" she whisper
ed, in such a tone of sincerity I felt re-
lieved of n uneasiness concerning
the papers.
I had a real regret at seeing her
leave the hall. Walking so regally in
Observation-Disclosures which had not per-
ceived in her every movement the
princely pride of Bourbon. I
threw my cloak. which fettered me. to
one Of the men, and wearing still my
mask. re-entered the hall. They were
already engaged in the search, ques-
tioning closely each man in rotation.
" Il dllOMGo I oSpaAl lilo
being questioned and examined. 1
Immediately sought for Broussard. He
had gone owe towards another small
door, h same through which 1 had
escaped the night before. There were
two guards posted here.
Broussard dawdled about with the air
of Il mar very much bored, who only
waited his urn to go through a disa-
greeable ordeal that he might leave. 1
faneied his wits We're actively at work
beneath so impressive an exterior. He
had spoken privately to several men,
one at a time, in careless fashion, and
then tapping the legs of the tables, and
kicking the chairs as he passed, he
again came near the door. l managed
to keep close to him. AS he stood talk
ing to the sentries the our men came
up two by two from opposite direc-
tions, and at a sign from him, Crap
pied with the guard. While they We're
thus engaged Broussard bolted through
the door. I drew my sword and
plunged after him.
From inside, the sentries cried out:
THE two. spies have gone this way"
and the whole mob surged out n d.
vided in chase. Some perhops were
in league with B%rossard, other We're
in the service Of Vauban, I could not
tell.
The hall was densely dark; I knew
NJ lite Way. DuI 1 Aau brouSsdIu Jul
Few feet in front to guide me; behind,
come twenty or thirty stout varlets
strung out In pursuit, not a dozen
PAGES to the rear.
: II had happened that there was a
door which stood half open. and Brous-
sard being hard pressed doubled by
this and darted in. He was but q
served this stratagem. When he van
ished TO the right, I slipped in behind,
Just as our foremost pursuers swept
by. The great noises they made and
the resounding echoes effectually pre-
vented their notice Of a cessation OF
sounds from US. Nor did they pause to
listen. Crushing through the narrow
passage their pressure slammed the
door behind us. 1 heard the clank of
a heavy bolt as 1t dropped into place.
Thinking Rroussard had sought secret
means of escap Known to himself and
fearing he would get away. l dashed
madly on, to fetch up with a terrific
thu1np against a stone wall.
The shock dazed me and I fell In a
we'll. for I made no further noise. But
/ listened.
!. The place was intensely dark. and not
a sound save the heightened beating
of my own heart disturbed 1t. I was
afraid to move, lest l bring upon me
the crowd outside. Had not one Of the
men cried two Spies" 1t did look as
If I too was a confederate of Brous-
sard, and I could not have explained.
The echoes of the chase died away,
and all was still. My mind and ears
were very busy then trying to make
out what sort OF a hole this was 1 had
SO unceremoniously fallen into. And
peared? ! knew he could not be far,
for there had been no footsteps since
the door shut. / took it that he must
be in the room, n that the reasons
which enforced quiet upon me were
also powerful to him.
He was worse off though than I. for
he had doubtless heard me blunder
into the wall, and thought n Of the
marshal's men had followed him. This
idea suggested he would probably then
lay perfectly still and wait for the
man to recover and go out. Or, the
thought made me shiver-he might
steal up and finish me with the dagger.
AS quietly as I could I loosened my
own knife in its sheath and got 1t we'll
used, the sheath ratified against a
buckle. / knew my position was be-
trayed. I thought her to reach a cor
her where l could the better protect
myself against a stealthy attack.
Immediately overhead an almost in
dlSltngulSf1aDie dur marked q nlgh,
square window, some seven feet from
the floor. There was but one. In all
probability the door lay directly OPP
posite. That being true, the natural
inclination of a mar flying down the
hall In the direction we came would be
to go further to the right. Reasoning
in his wise. hoping to avoid a strug-
gle with Broussard In the dark, I
edged my way along the wall toward
the left. Inch by inch I went, holding
my sword extended at arms length in
front of me, and lifting each foo care
fully to avoid scraping. Every few feet
I made a complete sweep In all direc-
tions with my blade. to guard against
approach. Proceeding in this way. I
felt my sword s point at length touch
Notwithstanding soft. Before I
had time to wonder what 1t was, the
sharp Miss of a blade cut close to my
cheek, and struck changing against the
the wall. I sprang back beyond reach.
"Broussard,:, and in the extreme ex-
element l spoke his name unwittingly,
'Broussard. stand still: I HAD no
thought to attack you. Stay where
you are. and I will seek another place."
There came a voice, Who are you
to call me Broussard7" but I answered
not.
In the absence of n precautlon for
assault. 1 took 1t that he would remain
where he was. Thereupon I backed
into a diagonal corner. and stood stock