The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-04-15

eye and uncertain gestures to betray
his uneasiness. Something had evil
IDENTIFY gone wrong with my lord.
Have you heard. Celeste, of Yvard?"
he inquired. dropping into a seat.
My ears quickened at the familiar
name.
We'll. what of him?"
patches. and I know not what they con-
tained."
What" exclaimed the woman as IL
genuinely alarmed. and Learning the
bad news at first hand.
Yes. the cursed fool lost them in
some drunken brawl in the city. We
have had the place thoroughly searched
but he finished the sentence with a
shrug 70 express his failure.
What if they should reach Orleans?''
he continued evenly. My men fear
he has gone to him anyway. hoping to
play in with both for pardon. I'd feel
much safer could we only lay our
hands upon him. He is the one man
beside ourselves here who knows-who
knows, anything" the duke went on
with growing trepidation.
We'll, make yourself comfort. my
lord. I took the responsibility to de-
tain Ward in Paris"
.You?" he sprang from his chair in
dSSSIilSilLleul. 1Ou. why. HOW.
II ts,ought your safety demanded it.
My lord is 900 generous. too contiding."
She threw toward him a glance of on
Germ poor de Valence would have peril
ed his soul to win. +" You see, when we
estrusted him with this business, 1t
was so delicate a mission, l set a
watch upon htm-some of my own peo-
pie OF Anjou-and when he acted negli-
gently they reported to me. He began
a " r1-tpr TOO ~y1 SroH1, 90 f~, 80
his discretion. l now have the man
safe in Paris. What would my lord
with him?"
Du Maine fixed his old eyes upon her
for a short space. then,
1T would be prudent to put him
quietly out OF the way" he suggested.
the thin lips closing cruelty. mo, hold
him. we may nave further need for his
sword. But have a rare that he talks
to no one"
Madame had raised no objection to
the dukes cool command that an end
be made of Ward, yet I did her the
credit to suppose it was because she
we'll Knew she might do as she liked.
and he be none the wiser.
He now settled himself upon a divan
near Madame. with all the c~omplacency
of a man whose own foresight has
saved him a serious trouble, and said
after mature elaboration. gazing
thoughtfully at the sportive cherubs on
the ceiling:
We'll. it could not have been so bad
after all, for 1 observed the caution to
prepare a warning for our friends
across the frontier. and had arranged
for a friend OF ours to be entrapped by
Orleans. betraying misleading dis
patches to him. "A fine plan. think you?
Menezes o know is devoted to me,
n I have promised him q patent.
WHO did your grace say was to be
his friend?"
"Menezes."
why Menezes?"
IT have done much for the fellow;
he is not over clever: clever enough
Does my lord not remember
Menezes is a brother Of the Perrault
whom you had hanged some ear ago?
I fear you have been badly advised"
NO! I do not recall him."
The rogue who cast a stone at your
horse?"
"Ah. I bring him to mind. Short.
thing about hunger, children, Inc the
cold. Ugh! What concern have I with
the rabble? But how do you know this.
Celeste?"
II have long misdoubted him, and had
the rascal overlooked. He is Of Picardy
and his father was attached to st.
Andre. who likes not his grace, the
Duke of Name"
mo. by my faith, he hates me. All,
1 see it all. Celeste. you should have
been a man, a mans wit almost you
have. Really. so much brain is wasted
in that pretty head Of yours. Madame
will come to comprehend she does not
NOW it all-yet she torrents me till
give in. 1 think l shall take tirmer
hold, and manage my own affairs to
better advantage than she. Ugh!
What a scrape she was like to get
me in"
He gradually regained the express
sion of complete satisfaction with him
self, and prepared now to show the
masterpiece Of his work, the contract
with Antonio Of Modena. the money
lender.
Here are our financial plans; the
usury is high, but there is great risk,
so thinks Antonio; egad! perhaps he Is
right, though it is possible we may pay
him. Altogether a most excellent plan.
my own work."
Madame interrupted him, thinking
perhaps 1t was wise that she should not
be committed too far that he could not
throw the blame on other shoulders.
She took advantage Of a pause to ex-
anime the document with apparent
care.
Yes. excellent. but let us
see. Three. seven, twelve,
fourteen, twenty-three-here is some
mistake. Let us go over it again. Yes.
here 1t is. This is not your accounting.
The miserly Lombard would cozen you
of your honor If he could but sell it
again. Here is an error of nca 10000
%livres; let me correct it for you"
And while he stared at her she deftly
copied the correct amounts from the
] slip she held concealed in her hand.
She knew the figures We're his own, but
gave no token.
II doubt not you would have looked
over it more carefully before you
signed it, and these matters would
have been detected by your own eyes,
Yes, yes" he replied n%ervously,
reaching out his hand for the paper lest
she observe-what her quick eyes had
at first seen-that the contract already
bore his signature and seal. She gave
it him and he replaced it carefully in
his breast.