The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-06

It was evident that my summons had
annoyed, perhaps frightened, him.
CHOW, Monsieur v, what does this
meant he clustered, as 1 closed the
door behind him.
CIT means, Monsieur lie General, that
I have question to ask you, but that
I do not expect you to answer 1t for
nothing.'
GARNER was visibly relieved to discov-
or that I had not sent for him to ex-
tort blackmail. But his reply was not
encouraging. -s
IT fear that you have given yourself
trouble uselessly. It is not my inten-
tion to sell any, information Of kind
which cannot be given openly.
I knew the man I was dealing with
too well to take this answer as final.
"Without doubt you are right to
remind me that man like yourself
ought to be approached with great
deal of circumspection, I returned,
with a mixture of politeness and irony
Carriers face flushed. "
~ mean what I have said,' he af-
firmed. "You must not suppose that
you are dealing today with Colonel
GARNER. In my position one has re-
sponsibilities to which there attaches
itself sentiment Of honor, you under
stand, M. wy
My experience has not taught me that
men become more scrupulous by being
promoted from the rank of colonel to
that of general, but only that they be-
come more greedy. I replied
IT understand of course that one does
not buy old coins at the same price
from a general officer as from a field
officer.'
CARRIERS face assumed a look Of in
decision. It,
General, if anyone had asked me
formerly from where had procured my
Roman coins, what do you suppose my
: answer would have beenY''>
GARNER tugged thoughtfully at his
mustache, as he frowned over refusal
which was, at the same time' proof
that he could trust me-.
| information you are in search off,"
: be said, throwing himself into a chair.
, I thought the battle was: won, as l
responded: >,
To my surprise, GARNER bounded out
of the seat into which he had just
, HAs to that-impossiblel he ex-
claimed with vigor. "That is our Sc
. cret-ours, you understand.
, l listened to this declaration with
secret dismay. It revealed to me that
the fate Of Dreyfus was in some man
ner connected with the interest of the
3 heads Of the French army; in short,
t with Carriers own; and from his tone
arch plotter.
There was still chance that he
l might be willing to part with the Sc
l cret if he could be assured that it
), would not be used against him.
"Suppose required this information
on behalf of a, friendly monarch, who is
, himself soldier, and who might be
!, willing to pledge his word that it
: should not be made use OF to your dis
advantage9'
h GARNER gazed at me as tho he would
j. my eyes.
of real regret; Htwice impossible! );
And, as tho anxious to convince me
t that his refusal was not unfriendly, hi
a added: cit is not a question Of
Boulanger this time.'
0 Percieving that I could not press hin
L further without showing my own hand
n reluctantly allowed GARNER to de
J. part. He had in reality told me more
: than he suspected.
In the first place.. he had convinced
|: me that the kaiser's suspicious were
8 not idle, by his reception Of my hin
u that W as acting for foreign power
l. If the ferocious sentence on Dreyfu
had been inspired by spite against a.
q unpopular officer, or by, a desir
to- find a. Sfea?fgoha ta for %ere,F bl Ges
o an episode in the secret duel be
r, tween the church and the Freemasons
l. as the champions of Dreyfus were in
o clined to believe, there would hav'
been no meaning in that regretfu
is ''twice impossible!' If GARNER .ha'
J. refused to sell his secret to a foreig1
J. power, I knew him well enough to tee
. assured that it must be because tina
!. power was in some way interested t.
l. defeat Carriers conspiracy.
j. But the real clue had been placed
n my hands by those concluding words
y cit is not question OF Boulange
, this time.'
Is Such a. phrase constituted riddl
= which few men in Europe were bette
- able than myself to decipher. ,.,,
1T on a wave Of popular favor, VIII
- had seemed likely at one momen
l. to overturn the republic and replac
% it by military dictatorship with him
10 self at the head He had faile
% because he was a mere adventurer, VIII
=, represented no principle, and VINO lacKe
y that personal prestige with the arm
- which is only acquired by successfr
2 leadership in war.
Nevertheless his career had reveale
J. the weakness of the republic, an
" proved that all that was necessary t
~ ~ bring about it's downfall was an allianc
20 between the military caste and som
10 pretender with more substantial claim
- than those conferred by the shouts c
~ the Paris mob. > =
~ Every one who knows anything c
10 France knows that the soldiers hav
y. long chafed under the ascendency of tn
L. lawyers, which is necessary cons'
- quence of republican institutions. Br
~ Carriers words, If interpreted thel
- rightly, showed that the lesson Of Bo.
II langer's failure had been laid to hear
W. and that this time the military conspi
r. acy which undoubtedly existed ha
IT IT found really formidable fgureheat
i; 10 In short, it was question not of mil
It tary dictator, but of a monarch; not {
~ Boulanger, but Of a Bourbon or
Bonaparte.
=. I found myself on the brink of di
q. covery of first-rate Importance. For til
r. success Of such a military revolution {
81 that indicated only two things SCENE
~ necessary a candidate and an occasio