Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-06-03

justice of the supreme court was at one
end, with doors on either side. The 9TH
er 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 cAsidor reached dull
and muffled.
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 court leyee,
stood one side erect and smiling before
q trio of sober coated figures in duffle
gray. His long, brown, ripping hair,
the rare lace at his throat, the jade hilt
Of his dress sword, made him as dis
1nct as some brilliant hued insect
among gray moths. Beside him, uni
formed, his mustachios aggressive as
ever short, wiry and alert, stood PHI
arnc.
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
weight added to by the appearance Of
the man before them. He had arrived
little late, 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
on the table. Since early morning the
discussion has been bitter.
The insect hum ceased suddenly.
There was a 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, chat 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 roomy'
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 a legate Of Francew
"You receive an impostor, villain
and spy!'
Pliarne's hand went to his sword
but Dickinson stepped before him
while the others stood stock still, blank
ness in their bearing.
can 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"
81 am an honest man." retorted Gallo
way. ''N1y errand here should demon
strate that. And what I 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, adven
turer lately arrested in Virginia, nov
in the secret service of the British. TIL
message he bears is forgery convey
ing the offer Of aid only on impossible
conditions calculated to discourage hop
and quench the fervor for independ
ence."
i A low exclamation that was very Xix
an abjurgation burst from Dickinson
lips, and his eyes flashed first on tn
speaker and then upon Armand.
The color was come back to the youn
Frenchman's face.
'In my own country, gentlemen" h
laughed, 1--WE have asiles for such poo
miserables. However-my reputation
how dear it is to me! You will proceed
I beg"
1t was admirably done. A quaver o
relief spread abroad.
"The document in the case," said Ga
loway and handed Dickinson the writ
ing executed by Lord Chetwynde at tn
Halifax prison; San agreement dull
signed accepting this traitorous mis-
sion"
Having delivered it over, he rubbe
his hands together softly.
"An arrant concoction, to be sure!
rallied Pliarne. what could be easier
A signature? OF course, of course. Blu
his-zounds! Such effrontery passe
belief. AN adventurer arrested in VII
ginia,' forsooth? Vert ever in Virgini,
you Tory?"
"No," answered Galloway coolly.
] A heavy reverberating voice, passio
thrilled, doomed through the door b
yond the curtains, and the sound Z
hand clapping followed it In far, We
vet tumult.
"'Tis the Declaration!" exclaime
Pharne. '.The Declaration! IT'S b,
tore them for signatures. They wi
decide in an hour. And you listen
this SNUG poltroonp'
The sweat broke upon Dickinson
forehead. Through nil these month