Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1904-03-19
Copyright 1893

Madame not dispatch a trusted mes
senger n secure their delivery"
The feryor Of the appeal touched her
for she listened with interest.
"Oh, Madame, l beseech you, as
have obeyed you without question this
night, do not fail me as you love the
glory Of France. You may have NJ. dc
Greville informed how and where you
came by them, in case aught OF III
sLJuld happen to me this night
She took the packet.
Upon my royal word" she whisper
ed, in such a tone Of sincerity / felt re-
lieved of any uneasiness concerning
the papers.
l had a real regret at seeing her
leave the hall. Walking so regally in
front of the guard | wondered at my
Observation-Disclosures which had not per-
ceived in her every movement the
princely pride of Bourbon. ]
threw my cloak, which f%ettered me, to
one of the men, and wearing still my
mask, rc-entered the hall. They We're
already engaged In the search, ques-
tioning closely each man in rotation.
None was allowed to depart without
being questioned and examined. i
Immediately sought for Broussard. He
had gone over towards another small
door, the same through which l had
escaped the night before. lnefe were
two guards posted here.
BroUssard dawdled about with the air
OF a man very much bored, who only
waited his turn to go through a disa-
grccable ordeal that he might leave. l
fanCied his wits were actively at work
beneath SO impa ssive 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
| lHn1g 1Y4r 49,. .I,frG GO ha - Good no
again came near the door. / managed
to keep close to him. AS he stood talk
ing to the sentIics the four men came
up two by two from opposite direc-
tons, and at q sign from him, Crap
pied with the guard. While they were
thus engaged Broussard bo!ted through
the door. | drew my sword and
plunged after him.
From inside, the sentries cried out:
THE two spies have goIe this way"
n the whole mob surged out and di-
vided in chase. Some perhops were
in league with Brorsard, other were
In the service Of Nauban, | could not
tell.
The hall was densely dark; ] knew
not the way. but | had Broussard but a
few feet in front to guide me; behind,
some twenty or thirty stout varlets
strung out in pursuit, not a dozen
PAGES to The rear.
1t 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 a
couple of yards ahead and l alone OBJ
served this stratagem. When he van
ished to the right, l 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. | heard the clank of
a heavy bolt as it dropped into place.
Thinking Eroussard had sought secret
means OF escape known to himself and
fearing he would get away, l dashed
madly on, to fetch uD with a terrific
thump against a stone wall.
The shock daZed me and / fell in a
| heap to the floor. Perhops, it was as
well, for | made no further noise, But
/ listened.
The place was intensely dark, and not
a sound save the heightened beating
of my own heart disturbed it. l vas
afraid to moVe, lest | bring upon me
the crowd outside. Had not one Of the
men cried "twe spies" 1t did look as
If ! too was q confederate OF Brous-
sard, and | 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 l had
SO unceremoniously fallen into. And
BrouSSard? Where had he disap-
peared? l knew he could not be far,
for there had been no footsteps since
the door shut. l o it that he must
be in the room, and that the reasons
which enforced quiet upon me were
also powerful to him.
He was worse off though than ], for
he had doubtless heard me blunder
into the wall, and thought one Of the
marShal's men a followed him. This
Idea suggested he would probably then
lay perfectly still and wait for the
man to recover and SO out. Or, the
thought made me shiver-he might
steal up and finish me with the dagger.
AS quietly as | could l loosened my
own knife in it's sheath and got it we'll
in hand. In spite of all the caution 1
used, the sheath ratified against n
buckle. / knew my position was be-
trayed. l thought then to reach a cor
ner where l could the better protect
myself against a stealthy attack.
Immediately overhead an almost in
distinguishable blur marked a high,
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 q man flying dow the
hall In the direction we came would be
to go further to the right. Reasoning
In this wise, hoping to avoid a strug-
gle with Broussard in the dark, l
edged my way along the wall toward
the left. Inch by inch / went, holding
my sword extended at arms length in
front OF me, and lifting each DOT care
fully to avoid scraping. Every few feet
/ made a complete sweep IN all direc-
tions with my blade, to guard against
approach. Proceeding in this way, /
felt my swords point at length touch
Notwithstanding soft. Before l
had time to wonder what it was, the
sharp Miss of a blade cut close to my
cheek, and struck changing against the
the wall. / sprang back beyond reach.
"BrousSard,' n in the extreme ex-
element / spoke his name unwittingly,
"Broussard, stand still; l had no
thought to attack you. Stay where
you are, and will seek another place"
There came a voice. Who are you
10 cal ME Broussard?" cut | answered
not.
III the absence Of amy ~precaution for
assault, 1 took it that he would remain
where he was. Ther.upon / backed
into a diagonal corner, and stood stock
still.
After some period.-hours or minutes,
= knew not what, they were intermin-
uble-Broussard spoke again. His
voice sounded sharp, and unnaturaIly
loud.
who are You. and what do you
want? ! know you; Is it Nortier, Lii
reux?"
Hush, fool; dost not hear the tread
OF Vauoan's men outside? You will
call them down upon us with your bab-
BILE" They were stamping through the
passage as / spoke.
"Ah!" and there was n world Of re-
lief and incredulity in his lowered tone.
"Then you are not with Vauban? Who
are your" / made no reply
During the long period Of absolute
and profound silence which succeeded
/ had much time to reflect. L Judged