The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1906-09-08
The Frying Bureau
roriginal.1

\ n6t NOR, which enOud De Ihnslape1 kne'
Drying bureau, for II was composed Of
Q number Of persons who were employ-
ID to open the letters Of prominent
people, read them and send them on TO
the persons to whom they were 3D.
dressed without exciting suspicion that
they had been tempered with. But
there II no game at which one can
play that may not be played by two.
One morning a man whom we shall
call Victor GARNER sat In his library at
his home in Paris. He was, or was
supposed to be, In high favor with the
emperor, but In those days Of chicanery
II was impossible for any one to feel
certain Of his position. A servant came
In and announced that q visitor had
called who would net give any name.
He wished to see NJ. GARNER at once.
The gentleman gave orders that ne was
70 be admitted, and q young man with
q hangdog appearance came into the
room.
well" said M. Garnisr. have yuu
got anythingT'
The man thrust his hand into an in
ner pocket and drew forth q letter and
handed IL TO NJ. Garnier. II was I'M
sealed, and M. GARNER took II from
its envelope and read IL His face
daFkened. He sat In deep thought for
some time, then examined minutely the
envelope lie held In his hand.
II Sea," be said, shat you have nu-
tilated the envelope. Was that neces-
sary"
eyes, m'sieu. Every precautiOn was
taken by the writer to provide against
the letter being opened. l have had q
number Of the dukes letters to open,
and he takes the same precaution with
all first tried, In this case, TO roll
under the pasted Dap q smooth pen
handle, but, though have become very
expert at this, I failed. Then tried
steaming the gum, but the duke uses
a gum that win not be softened By
steaming. OF course, since the gum
wouldn't soften there was no use tam
pering with the seal, though am proud
to say that no one can remove seal
more expertly than l. tried the proc
ess OF removing the stamp and cutting
two diagonal lines where II had been,
but when put In my steel hook and
endeavOred to wind the paper about II
to draw the letter through ! failed.
The paper 10 very thick and stiff, as
you Soc. was consequently reduced
to tho necessity Of making a slit at the
end Of the envelope"
But how are you going to close this
sIitf'
II will draw ono edge over the other
deity and paste It with colorless paste.
assure your exceliency II will not DO
noticed"
every well. take It away and send II
through the mail to Its address. BY
the bye. Jules, don't know how am
to come out Of this. and Il looks as II
any one appointed to the postofflce at
my request must soon be discharged.
You had better take this"
He handed tho man notes for 1000
francs
"YOur excelloncy Is generous" said
Jules.
"H'phl The service IL invaluable to
met l may form plan to prevent the
duke from arresting me. Keep a sharp
lookout ON the mail. and beware that
the members Of the cabinet nolr don't
set on to your track"
The same evening another hanRdog
looking man called on n. GARNER and
informed him that the Duke de NJ. was
at the palace OF the Tulleries engaged
at game Of cards. Ten minutes later
n. GARNER entered the card room. was
sHuslvely received by the duke and
took q hand, He had played some time
when suddenly he rose and threw the
cards In the dukes face.
''Cheatr' h0 cried. these cards are
markedf'
Others examined the cards, which
were found to be marked. though there
was no evidence who had marked
them. But this was Of minor lmpor-
lance The duke must defend his hon.
or and at once challenged his accuser
to nght. But he turned pale. he had
Intended to SGT rid OF his rival with
the emperur'a permission, on the NOR.
row and inferred that GArnisr had got
wind OF his move. he must submit 10
WeAponA CHOSEN uy mn Cnah9nNUr, ana
he know that GARNER was enc % the
most expert sworiamon In Paris.
Usually In France no one h killed and
few aEo injured In duan. But In thls
case both knew Il was one o. life and
death. and thS duke knew that his an
tagonlSt was a better swordsman than
be.
The next morning TIE papers were
full Of an account OF q duel that had
taken place - 3 O'Clock In tho morning
between the Duke Dc ~ and ~. Car
nlsr, the former having been killed.
The prominence Of tho two men,, the
faet that they were political rivals
and aspsranta for the chief place IN the
government. caused q great sensation.
But sensations. especially in France.
All have an snd. and gradually Il was
noticed that ~. Garnlsr was rapldEy
gaining favor with the emperoe. N
q months time Il was announced that
Dc was 10 receive tha poFtfOlio vaeatad
by thu DukN d NJ