Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-26
CHAPTER ".
An 1JnsuccesSfuI Search.

| to get into the city of Paris. After hav-
| Ing been stopped on the train and turned
back because his ignorance of the language
of the country had made it impossible for
him to understand the questions of the pas
senger Inspector, he had proceeded on foot
along the road, across the meadow land
| skirting the wall of the capital. At times
he advanced to the edge OF the moat and
paused looking across to where. beyond the
| long grass and bright flowers browning
rampant and bastion, arose the neighbor-
| ing house tops. mockingly near.
But such open reconnaissance was not
without its danger; a pun of smoke issued
from the parapet, and quietly the man
moved back; at a more respectful distance
continued on his way, but ever with his
| eyes bent on the cold. gray outlines of the
stone barrier. Now he was tramping a
neglected garden patch. when suddenly
he stopped: an opening through the solid
masonry rewarded his gaze.
Save for a single sentinel, the imme
date vicinity was deserted. but as the
man drew near the half-noddng soldier
drowsy voice commanded him to halt.
| The other obeyed; looked around him
again. noting the solitary aspect Of the
place "a that early hour.
Your pass!'
An obstinate light came into the mans
eyes: If he did not advance. neither did
ne retreat ana the guard raised ms
weapon menacingly. Another moment and
the stranger would have answered for
his contempt of military authority, when
quickly he lifted his hand to his breast.
drawing forth a bit of paper. Grumbling.
the sentinel allowed him to approach.
But even the former stared first with
surprise and then with suspicion at the
paper, striving to decipher it. the silence
was broken by loud hollow reverberation
the report of a gun from the heights
of the city.
At the sound the guard involuntarily
glanced over his shoulder a lapse of
alertneSS that was but mOmentary, yet
sufficient for the stranger. Quick as a
flash he sprang upon the sentinel; ms
arm Strengthened. and the guard fell
Imply to the earth, his. gun gathering
beside him. The man stopped, grasped the
bit of paper and ran through the gate.
Turning into narrow highway he soon
lost himself in network OF thorough
fares.
For some time he continued walking at
a sharp pace, apparently with no more
definite purpose than to escape pursuit,
but at length his gait began to relax and
finally he stopped short altogether. Seat
ing himself the edge OF mutilateu
monument - the browning figure OF wmch
was Glory with its wings blown of he
opened clenched hand and smoothed out
the crumpled bit of paper:
Am Ill. Elinor helpless and In great
danger. Can you come? Edwin Rossiter.
In great danger" He had not hesitat-
eQ, ne lldu IOl lioUSAt VI hSoie"'iHS
receiving it.
And now-if Mr. Rossiter only had not
failed to send an address! Rising. Ricnaro
Strong moved on, up the height where once
the temple of Mars Is said to have stood
Near the summit he paused.
Below lay comprehensive view OF Paris,
and keenly he searched that maze, notns
where the tangle of streets huddled PC
tween the straight lines Of the broader
thoroughfares, and how amid the maze.
like silver ribbon, shone the placid
river. In fancy he traced his way
toward it. and then. descending by
lutely set his face toward the actual accom-
plishment.
AS he proceeded, the city began to show
signs OF awakening life; an animation as
spring mysteriously from the very pave
ments, and of one accord to wend their way
to a neighboring church, as If there existed
among them strange unanlmity or pur-
pose-surely no devotional senttment-draw-
ing them to the sacred edihce. For a mo-
ment Richard Strong watched them, then.
moved by a special object of his own, be-
came part and parcel Of that variegated
and chaotic inflow
The interior was filled with tobacco
smoke and In the font was tobacco from
which the elect We're at liberty TO help
themselves Glasses and wine bottles COW
cred the altar and in the pulpit woman
was speaking. her topic. the rights OF the
sex; the right not to marry; the right 10
live with any man: the right to leave him
at pleasure; the right to do anything!
without comprehending. Richard Strong
listened. He had thought that perhaps in
! that throng might be discerned an English
or an American face. but the visages ne
encountered were nondeScript. inhuman.
An save one
What would monsieur like to drinkr
grisette had drawn near. smiling.
They are going to burn up the city to-
| night. monsieur. so we might as well be
merry"
He gazed from them to her: then walked
slowly to the door. Was this Paris? A few
words beat persistently upon him. "Elinor
in danger And thinking Of the time
| that had elapsed since the sending of the
message and his arrival in the city keener
misgivings assailed him.
That afternoon he went to all the hotels
centrally located. Many were closed; a few
remained open, accommodating. however
but scanty number of guests, stranded in
Paris.
He drove where he could. urging the driv-
ers to make haste; when he walked. 1t was
with quick nervous step. Often the SEN
tinels stopped him, and In spite of his
tenacty. he was obliged to turn back. The
coming of night found him still unsuccess-
fully pursuing his search and with but one
more name on the list of hotels he had
managed to procure.
AT this place, near the Seine. a man with
a pair of boots in his hands seemed to
be the most important parsonage.
I'VE have only one guest" he explained
in broken English; "and"-with a mourn
full gesture-''he went out and hasn't come
back. These are his boots
"The gentleman and lady I am looking
for were in Paris about fortnight ago. l
have been to all the principal hotels.
Perhaps they went to one OF the small
hotels for French people,"
Richard Strong caught at the suggestion.
He knew that Mr.. Rossiter had lived in
Paris before and during the empire, and
that he understood thoroughly the Ian
guage Of the country.
Where are these places?" he asked
Everywhere"
Take me to them"
A curt refusal was the response. paris,
at night-away from the main strcets-to
go hunting about everywhere! I prefer it
here-.ndoors."
Richard Strong laid his hand on the
mans arm. Look here" he said almost
roughly. you've got to take me. Name
your own price-two hundred francs-tve
hundred-but you must co.
The man dropped a shoe: looked down
thoughtfuIly.
Whether am successful or notr'
yes"
ut is dangerous-but for 500 francs-PH
go!' he said with sudden decision. THAT
Is. aloneIt will be safer. You can stay
here-and I will return-as soon as l can
II tell you we've got to go together"
The mans face took on a sullen express
ri