St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-07-04
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NINE. Higault nodded dejectedly. q
have ofttimes marveled," she said slow
~, that the emperor remains blind tc
the dangers that surround him."
mot altogether blind, Nine. Rigault.
dissented the chief. There are Ger
tain things that for reasons Of state
his majesty does not wish to see
Therefore, as said before, we must
proceed cautiously. Tonight, by viz.
tue of the information you have fur.
nished, I will visit part of the city
where some disreputable allies of M.
Landre make their headquarters.
Then l will bid you adieu for the
present, M. Claude" said Nine. Ri
gault, rising. With the copies of NJ.
Landre's Prussian correspondence that
l obtained safe in your hands, my task
is finished
Accept my eternal gratitude, Nine
hlgauit," returned the chief, with a
polite bow, as the little lady smiled
brightly and made her exit from the
room.
In those days the quarter known as
the "Cite" was the rendezvous of all
the scum of Paris. Close to the walls
OF the Palais de Justice there existed
labyrinth of streets where criminals
OF all kinds Iurked after nightfau. 1t
was in these grewsome regions where
dark and winding alleys led to filth
encrusted stairWays that a mass of
bandits, human vermin, swarmed. It
was there that hideous crimes were
planned and the perpetrators of the
deeds sought refuge from the officers
of the law.
The hour of midnight was close at
hand when M. Claude, cunningly dis
guised, and assuming the reckless air
of a half drunken loafer, entered the
Wine-shop of the Lapin Blanc, one of
the most notorious lairs of the Cite.
and situated in the center Of the Rue
Aux FeVes. The tavern consisted of
a large low room furnished with eight |
broad tables secured by chains to the
whitewashed walls. These tables were
lined before bar upon which stood a |
number of jugs and drinking vessels.
bound with iron. At the back of the
room a door opened upon long alley
which stretched as far as the eve
could penetrate into the darkness.
The three tables nearest the en-
trance were occupied by several noisy
ruffians engaged in playing cards and
Thinking from the pewter measures
hat stood before them. At the last
able in the rear of the room, a young
girl sat alone, with her head buried
n her hands
1t was toward this solitary female
hat M. Claude's eye wandered instant
y. Crossing the floor with swagger-
ng strides, he seated himself beside
Ter and placed his hand on her
houlder. She started and looked IN.
evealing a face that had once been
beautiful, but whose features were
low indelibly stamped with the coarse
ines of dissipation, although the own
r could scarcely have passed her seq.
year.
What do you want?" she oueried
n hoarse, cracked voice. as she
azed sullenly at the disturber of her
everie.
Don't be afraid responded nj
laude, jovially Drink with me nv
eauty, and forget your troubles. I'm
OF bad sort, Nina Fleurette. as
QUILL find out when you've known me
while" Q
1 don't know you," returned the
Irl suspiciously. who are you and :,
here do you come from?" !.
"All in good time" replied the chief :
Here comes the wet for our throttles =
rink and then we can talk better" !.
He caught up the jug of brandy that =
Id made its appearance in response
his signal to the tall, bony woman :.
no presided at the bar, and passed it $
his companion. She no longer hest. =
ted, but raising the vessel took a :,
'ep draught of its fiery contents and =
t it down with harsh laugh. :
That's the stuff that makes US all M
!ppy," she cried in discordant ac- -,
nts, as NJ. Claude grasped the jug
ID carried it to his mouth. h.
I've something important to tell n
u, Nina Fleurette," said the chief, re-
acing the jug on the table. Bend b,
UT head over till | whisper my ed
VS.; We want no spies to hear u.s." 81
The girl leaned toward him ana NJ.
aude muttered something In al I'm. pl