Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-07-08


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 mufiied.
Beyond these curtains on the opposite
side of the hall was a great double
door, 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 a court ievee,
stood one side erect and smiling before
trio of sober coated figures in duiile
gray. IIk long. brown. ripping hair,
the rare lace at bis throat, the jade hilt
of his dress sword. made him as dis
among gray moths Beside him, uni
formed, his mustachios aggressive as
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, a
known agent of France, had carried
Il weight added to by the appearance of
the man before them. He had arrived
little late, a deliberateness that ac-
corded we'll with the sobriety of his err
rand
Now they but waited a 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 ngitated hour of
the fight. TAe document that is to be
on the table. Since early morning the
discussion has been bitter.
The insect hum ceased suddenly.
There was Il 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 entrances and closed the door.
praise the Most High" he ejaculat-
ed, that l am come in time. Gentle
men, as you would save the congress
from "a most shameful scandal, let not
that man pass from this room!'
There was murmur of angry amaze
ment from the group. Armand's hand
dropped to his side His face had whit
ened, and Pliarne's mustachios worked
alarmingly
Sir" interposed Dickinson sternly
1--WE receive here legate Of France"
you receive an impostoY, a villain
and a spy"
PHarne's hand went to his sword
but Dickinson stepped before him,
while the others stood stock still, blank
ness in their bearing.
IAN insultv cried the former And
to the very face Of monseigneur! Cen
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 say | prove"
81 know not whether we should lis
ten, sir" said Dickinson, his brows to-
gether. Heaven forbid that we should
affront such q guest. Yet the words
you have uttered demand, for his eX-
ceilency's satisfaction at least, an ey-
PLANTATION. In his name, then, speak,
but quickly and BECOME" Dickinson
was diplomat.
81 shall be brief" returned Galloway.
''This man, whom you believe French
nobleman, Is Louis Armand, an adven-
turer lately arrested in Virginia, now
in the secret service Of the British. The
message he bears is forgery convey
ing the offer of aid only on impossible
conditions calculated to discourage hope
and quench the fervor for independ-
ence."
A low exclamation that was very like
an abjurgation burst from Dickinson
lips, and his eyes flashed first on the
speaker and then upon Armand.
The color was come back to the young
Frenchmans face.
"In my own country, gentlemen" he
laughed, I'VE have asiles for such poor
miserables. However-my reputation.
how dear 1t is to mel You will proceed
I beg"
1t was admirably done A quaver OF
relief spread abroad.
'cThe document in the case" said Gal
loway and handed Dickinson the writ
ing executed by Lord Chetwynde at the
Halifax prison; IAN agreement duly
signed accepting this traitorous mis-
sion"
Having delivered 1t over, he rubbed
his hands together softly.
IAN arrant connection, to be surel'
rallied Pliarne. What could be easier
A signatureq OF course, of course. Blu
his-zounds Such effrontery passe!
belief. AN adventurer arrested In Vir
ginia.' forsooth2 Vert ever in Virginia