The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-19
XIII-Continued.
Told by Juliette de Nevers.

LAST. HAND IN THE GREAT. GAME.
For a moment Maxine spoke in a
low voice with a young man at the
door. Then the young man went, away
and in an instant returned to usher
into the room an elderly, Official-look-
ing parsonage.
If only I could. have escaped two
MINUTES sooner! But there no actual
indiscretion in my being here, with
my carriage waiting at the door. |
rose, babe Maxine adieu in a formal
note which 1 had intended to put into
the safe.
AT seven. then, Monsieur lie Conte,
added, as if reminded him of an
appointment; and I knew that he
would take it SO. He would come to
my house, and should see him for
a few minutes before leaving for the
theater Then I would tell him what
l had hoped to tell him now-about
the beautiful English girl who had
called upon me-the fancee of my
friend Noel Brent. That would pave
the way for Miss Revelstoke and help
me to make him believe in me if Count
Ipanoff tried to take such revenge as
lay still in his power.
Then l had to go-there was moth
ing else for me to do And at last
I had time to keep my promise to
Miss Revelstoke.
My brain was clearer noW-noW
that the treaty was in the safe at the
foreign office-and I could think. lon
my way to the chief of police I de-
vised story which should render one
of the enemy's trump cards useless.
It would depart but little from the
truth; and, thanks to the revelations
made to me in malice by Ipanoff, it
would exactly fit in with the tale
which Noel Brent had told to the JUICE
CONSTRUCTION. It would, in fact, sup
plement his.
I was sure of an audience with the
chief Of police, who is a gentleman
and a patron of the theater-when
he finds time.
A gallant man is the chief of po-
! lice! His first words to me were in
congratulation upon my success in the
new play last night. This gave me
the cue I wished for. It was well,
I said, that / had not to act the part
for the first time tonight, or I should
fear to disgrace myself, so much anxi-
ETY. had I suffered since seeing the
papers and reading what had hap
pened to a friend of mine who was
accused of a murder which he could
not possibly have committed.
| .'You say he could not possibly have
committed it, .dear mademoiselle %
smiled the chief. You are a stanch
partiZan.'
But Mr. Brent was at my house
when the murder was committed" I
said, quickly. ct is hard for me to
come and tell you this, because if the
COmte de Ribaumont, to whom l am
engaged, should come to know it, he
would not easily forgive me. Monsieur
Blanchard, if I tell you the whole
truth frankly, cannot you save me
from exposure, yet at the same time
free the man whose innocence I can
prove to you? It would kill me to
break with the Comte de Ribaumont..'
Dear mademoiselle,. trust me to do
the best for you,' said the chief,
moved already, as could see, by the
tears in my eyes and the touch of
my hand on his arm. you have been
frank. I will be equally so. I should
have communicated with you on the
subject of the accused Englishman, as
/ was aware of what took place be-
tween you at the hotel, but received
a request from very high quarter
indeed to hold my hand for the mo-
ment. How comes it, if you are en-
gagged to the Comte de Ribaumont,
that you made the statement you did
at the Elysee palace concerning this
Monsieur Brent ?'
ut is that which have come to tell
you-that, and much besides l
answered. II throw myself upon your
mercy. You shall have all my
confidence:
In England I had what might be
called a slight Irritation with Noel
Brent, who is popular in society," We
exchanged letters, which were little
foolish-nothing more. Yet when
I became engaged to the Comte de
: Ribaumont, only short time ago Git
was to have remained a secret until
next year, on account of my profess
sional engagement), I was distressed
that such letters should be in another
mans possession. I would not be
} satisfied with being told that they were
, burnt, at my request T wrote and
asked Mr.. Brent to bring me the let
! tiers and I would meet him at the
81 Elysee Palace hotel to take them from
him. =
: He came under another name.''