Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-07-18
CHAPTER XIV.-CoNT1NuED.

seen since left my lodging, the sur
prises I had found awaiting me here,
had driven my own fortunes, my own
peril, out of my head, until this mo-
tnert. Now, at this question, all re-
turned with rush. MY heart heaved
suddenly in my breast. strove for a
SAVIOR of the old hardihood; but for the
moment I could not find a word.
"Well?" he said lightly, faint smile
Hitting his mustache. "You do not
speak. You left Auch with him on the
twenty-fourth, M. de Berault. So
much I know. And you reached Paris
without him last night. He has not
E. en- you the slip?" with sudden ami
ration.
No, Monseigneur," I muttered.
''Ha! That is good" he answered,
Sinking back again in his chair "For
the moment-but knew l could de-
pend on you. And now where is he?"
he continued. What have you done
with him: He knows much and the
s>'cEer know it, the better. Are your
p ople bringing him. NJ. de Berault?"
mo, Monseigneur," l stammered,
with dry lips. His very good humor,
his benignity, appalled, me- I knew
how terrible would be the change how
fearful his rage. when I should tell
him the truth. And yet that I, Gil de
Beranlt, should tremble before any
man! I spurred myself, as it were.
TO tn, task. mo, Your Eminence,"
said, with the courage of despair. u
have not brought him. because I have
Set IN Free
Because you have-what?" he ex-
claimed. He leaned forward, his hands
on II, - arm of his chair; and his gilt
terinS eyes, growing each instant
smaller. seemed to read my SOUL
Because l have let him co." I re-
peated
And Why" he said, in voice like
the rasping of file
Because I took him UNFAIRLY" i
answered desperately. Because, Mon
seisneur, I am a gentleman and this
task should have been given to one
who was not. I took him, if you must
Know I continued impatiently-th
fence once crossed, I was growing
poluer-'by logging a woman's steps
and winning her confidence and betray-
Ing it. And, whatever I have done
oil in my life-of which you were good
enough to throw something in my
teeth when was last here-I have
neve" done that and will rot!"
And so you set him free?"
Eyes"
. After. you had brought him to
Auch?"
Eyes"
And in point Of fact saved him from
falling into the hands of the COM |
mandant at Auch?"
YES I answered desperately.
Then what of the trust placed in |
you. sirrah?" he rejoined, in terri.
Die voice; and STOPPING still farther
forward, he probed me with his ewes.
You who pirate Of trust and conf
dence. who received your life On parole
and but for your promise to me would
nave been rarrion this month past,
answer me that! What of the trust I
placed in your
The answer is simple" I said
shrugging my shoulders with touch
or my Old self. II am here to pay tn,
penalty"
49, And do you think that do not
know why?" be retorted, striking his
one hand on the arm of the chair with
force which startled me. Because
you have heard. Sir, that my power
Is gone! That I, who was yesterday
The kings right hand, am to-day dried
up, Withered and paralyzed! Because
but have a care! Have a care!" he
continued not loudly. bit in voice
like dogs snarl. You, and those
others! Have care say, or you may
lind yourself mistaken yeti"
AS Heaven shall judge me-" an
swered solemnly, "that is not true.
Until reached Paris last night knew
nothing of this report I, came here
with single mind, to redeem my
honor by placing again in your Emil
nence's hands that which you gave me
on trust
For a moment ne remained in the
same attitude: staring at me fixedly.
Then his face somewhat relaxed. "Pe
good enough to ring that bell,' he
said.
1t stood on a table near me. l rang
1t and velvet-footed man in black
came in and gliding up to the cardinal
placed a paper in his hand. The car
dina! looked at it while the man stood
with his head obseQuiously bent; my
heart beat furiously. Very good," the
cardinal said, after pause, which
seemed to me to be endless. LET the
doors be thrown open.''
The man bowed low and retired be.
hind the screen. I heard little bell
ring somewhere in the silence and in
moment the cardinal stood up. "Fol-
low me-" he said, with strange flash
OF his keen eyes.
Astonished, stood aside while he
passed to the screen; then 1 followed
him. Outside tie first door, which
stood open, we found eight or nine
persons-pages, a monk, the major
domo and several guards waiting like
mutes. These signed to me to precede
them and fell in behind us and in that
order we passed through the first room
and the second, where the clerks stood
with bent heads to receive us. The
last door OF the antechamber few open
as we approached; a score Of voices
cried, Place! Place for His Emf
n ne4 & We passed without pause
through two lines Of bowling lackeys
and entered-an empty room! WI N
u Tho ushers die not know how to look