Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-12-25

was dressed with his usual care and
wore the latest carnation In the lapel
of his top coat. He struck the ground
with his stick, his look of astonishment
passed, and he smiled pleasantly as he
returned Armitage's salutation
my dear Armitager he murmured
81 didn't go to Mexico after all my
good Chauvenet The place is fun OF
fevers. l couldn't take the risk"
"He is indeed a wise man who safe
guards his health" replied the other.
you are quite right And when one
has had many narrow escapes one
may be excused for exercising rather
particular care. Do you not find it
so?" Knocked Armtage.
My dear fellow. my life is one long
fight against ennui. Danger, excite
ment, the hazard of my precious life
such pleasures of late have been de-
MED me-"
But you are young and of intrepid
spirit monsieur 1t would be quite
surprising if some perious adventure
did not overtake you before the silver
gets in your hair"
"Ah! | assure you the speculation
interests me, but must trouble you TO
let NE pass" continued Chauvenet in
the same tone Il shall quite forget
that set out to make a call if | linger
longer in your charming society"
But | must ask you to delay your
call for the present. shall greatly
value your company down the road a
little way. 1t is a triflng favor, and
you are Il man of delightful courtesy"
Chauvenet twisted his mustache re-
hectively. His mind had been busy
seeking means of turning the meeting
to his own advantage. He had met
Armitage at quite the least imagina BILE
spot in the world for an encounter be
tween them. and he was not man
who enjoyed surprises. He had taken
care that the exposure of Armitage at
Washington should be teegraphed to
every part of the country and put upon
the cables. He had expected Armi-
tage to leave Washington. but he had
no idea that he would turn up at a
fashionable resort greatly affected by
Washingtonans and only a compare
lively short distance from the capital
He was at a great disadvantage in not
knowing Arrlitage's plans and strate-
gy. His own mind was curiously cum
ming. and his reasoning powers travers-
ed oblique lines. He was thus prone
to imDute similar mental processes to
other people. Simplicity and directness
he did not understand at all. He had
tod A rrl Ito ra'c nd
daring; he wished to make no further
mistakes. and he walked back toward
the hotel with apparent good grace.
Armitage spoke now in a very different
key. and the change displeased Chau-
venet. for he much affected ironical
raillery, and his companions sterner
tones disconnected him.
81 take this opportunity to give you
a solemn warning. NJ. Jules Chauvenet,
alias Rambaud. and thereby render
you a greater service than you know.
You have undertaken a deep and dan
gerous game. 1t is spectacular, 1t Is
picturesque, 1t is immense 1t is so
stupendous that the taking of few
lives seems trifling in comparison with
the end to be obtained. Now look about
you for moment. NJ. Jules Chauvenet!
In this mountain air a man may grow
very sane and see matters very clearly,
London. Paris. Berlin. Vienna-they
are long way off. and the things they
stand for lose their splendor when q
man sits among these American noun
tains and reflects upon the pettiness
and sordldness of mans common ambi-
tons"
"Is this exordium or peroration, my
dear felloww
1T is BOTH" replied Armitage sue
oinctly, and Chauvenet was sorry ne
had spoken. for Armitage stopped short
in a lonely stretch of the highway and
continued In a disagreeable, incisive
tone:
81 ran away from Washington after
you told that story at Claiborne's sup
per table. not because | was afraid OF
your accusation, but because | wanted
10 watch your plans little in security.
The only man who could have helped
me Immediately was Senator Sander
son, and knew that he was in Mon
tana."
Chauvenet smiled with a return OF
assurance.
"Of course. The hour was chosen
well"
"More wisely. In fact, than your
choice Of that big assassin of yours
He's a clumsy fellow, with more brawr
than brains. / had no trouble in shak
ing him of In Boston. where you prob
ably advised him l should be taking
the Montreal express"
Chauvenet blinked. This was pre-
sAseiy what he had told Zmai to ex
pect He shifted from one foot to an
other and wondered just how he wal
70 escape from Armitage. He had gon'