Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-05-25

teroom was barely furnished
with paduasoy chairs and {
" small slim legged table. A higl
desk used betimes by the colony's CHIEF
justice of the supreme court was at ono
end, with doors on either side. The 9th
err end of the room opened In narrow
arches between pillars into the wide
paved hall Of the statehouse. Across
these pillars was stretched heavy
cloth curtain, through whose folds
sounds from the corridor reached dull
and muflled.
Beyond these curtains on the opposite
side of the hall was great double
floor, and through the heavy oak came
voices In debate and an occasional high
note like the metallic rap of gavel.
But In the anteroom this became only
distant hum like that of settling bees.
Armand, clad as for court Ievee,
stood one side erect and smiling before
trio of sober coated figures in dufile
gray. His long, brown, ripping hair,
the rare lace at his throat the Jade hllt
Of his dress sword, me ~, rs dis;
tinct rs some brilliant hued insect
among gray moths. Beside him, uni
formed, his mustachios aggressive rs
ever, short, wiry and alert, stood Phi.
arne.
The sober coated gentlemen, the dele
gates appointed to meet the secret mes
senger to the congress, had made their
bows to the great man, all but Dickin-
son, their leader, openly radiant with
the presumed bearing of his mission.
NJ. Pliarne's proposals for ammunition
purchases had recently been considered
In committee, and the announcement of
the ENJOYS arrival, coming from him, q
known agent Of France, had carried
n weight added to by the appearance OF
the man before them He had arrived
n little lutte, a deliberateness that ac
corded well with the sobriety of his err
rand.
Now they but waited pause in the
debate to throw wide the doors that
opened to the floor.
On the other side of those doors RACES
what is to be the last agitated hour OF
the fight. The document that is to be
the birth certificate Of nation lies up.
discussion has been bitter.
The insect hum ceased suddenly
There was forward movement of the
group in the anteroom toward the cur
tains.
"Stop" echoed an intense voice be-
hind them. stop" Joseph Galloway
stepped into the room from one of the
side nptronna a nd n1nca1 tho l,o,,
"Praise the Most High" he ejaculat-
cd, that l am come in time! Gentle
men, as you would save the congress
from most shameful scandal, let not
that man pass from this room"
There was murmur Of angry amaze
ment from the group. Armund's hand
dropped to his side. His face had whit.
ened, and Pliarnes mustachios worked
alarmingly.
"Sir," interposed Dickinson sternly
1--WE receive here a legate OF. France!"
You receive an impostor, villain
and spyw
Pliarne's hand went to his sword,
but Dickinson stepped before him,
while the others stood stock still, blank
ness In their bearing.
Gan INSULT" cried the former. "And
to the very face of monseigneur! Gen.
tlemen, you have cause enough to know
the politics of this meddler who has
forced his way into this presence"
II am an honest man." retorted Gallo.
way. "My errand here should demon,
strate that. And what l say prove"
II know not whether we should lis
ten, Sir" said Dickinson, his brows to-
gether. Heaven forbid that we should
affront such guest. Yet the words
you have uttered demand, for his ex-
cellency's satisfaction at least, an ex-
PLANTATION. In his name, then, speak,
but quickly and BECOME" Dickinson
was diplomat.
II shall be brief" returned Galloway.
"This man, whom you believe French
nobleman, is Louis Armand, an advcn-
turer lately arrested in Virginia, now
III the secret service of the British. The
message he bears is Il forgery convey
Ing the offer of aid only on impossible
conditions calculated to discourage hope
and quench the fervor for independ-
encc."
A low exclamation that was very like
an abjurgation burst from Dfclsinson's
lips, and his eyes flashed first on the
speaker and then upon Armand.
The color was come back to the young
Frenchman's face.
"ln my own country, gentlemen" he
laughed, 1--WE have aslles for such poor
miserables. Howcver-my reputation,
how dear 1t is to me! You will proceed,
Ibeg."
1t was admirably done. A quaver of
relief spread abroad.
"The document in the case" said Gal