River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-06-18


do | know you are speaking the
truth?"
Look down and behold the sign"
replied M. Claude in the same cautious
tone.
The girl glanced rapidly at her COM
panion's hand which was held under
the edge of the table. In the open
palm there cleaned the scarlet out
lines of small arrow.
Very well, Monsieur" she said. II
see you are one of us. What is your
message?"
'You are to come with me to a
house in the Rue du Temple, where
your lover, Emil Chatelain, awaits us, .
returned NJ. Claude. There is work
on hand and your help is needed. Fol
low me quietly and at once, for the
traps are abroad and for aught we
know may be watching us here
Nina Fleurette made a gesture of
assent, and M. Claude, with a quick
glance around to assure himself that
their movements were not observed,
arose and passed swiftly through the
rear door, the girl following at his
heels. AS they emerged on the street
into which the alley opened, the chief
led the way to a cab standing at the
edge of the pavement and opening the
door signed to his companion to en-
| ter. She did so and as soon as M.
Claude had followed her the driver
whipped up his horse and started off
at rapid pace.
On the afternoon of the second day
after his visit to the Lapin Blanc, M.
Claude entered a police station in the
Rue de Jerusalem, and bowed formally
in response to the salutatiOn of the
inspector in charge.
Good day, M. Blauvert," said the
chief "Have you taken Emil Chate-
lain, according to my Instructions"
Your orders were carried out
promptly, M Claude" replied the in
spector. ''Chatelain was decoyed by
message to a quiet spot where he
was seized, forced into a cab and
brought here without the knowledge
of any of his pals. We gathered him
in only three hours ago, so that he is
not likely to be missed from his regu-
lar haunts until tonight"
you have done well" commented
the chief. in what condition is the
prisoner, Nina Fleurette, whom I de-
livered to you last Tuesday night?"
"She suffers terribly" returned
Blauvert. ''The supply of morphine
she carried was taken away from her.
AS she is a habitual user of the drug
she has ragged and wept alternately,
beseeching us to give her few grains
of the stuff, but acting under your in
structions DR.. MARITIME not only re-
fused but declined to administer any
medicines that might alleviate her dis
tress."
Tell DIR. MARITIME wish to see MIN"
said the chief CURLY.
In a few moments the police sur
geon, tall, well-built man of so, with
iron-gray hair and beard, made his
appearance.
Il sent for you to make some in
quiries as to the condition of Nina
Fleurette. inmate of cell Is, M. Mar
tine" said the chief.
"Ah, yes,' responded the surgeon.
Number Is, a bad case, M. Claude.
She is partly delirious and unless re-
lief of some kind is given her death
can only be a question of hours"
"How long can she live in her pres
ent state?" demanded the chief.
The surgeon pursed his lips and
meditated. 81 would like to visit her
again before answering" he said.
Come then, Inspector Blauvert and
/ will accompany you," said the chief.
They proceeded to the door which
gave admission to the narrow stair
way leading to the cells beneath, and
as it swung open a faint moaning be-
came audible.
THAT is No. 15," remarked the sur
geon. 'An hour ago she was Shrek
ing violently, but l presume she is
almost exhausted now"
Reaching the cell in which the girl
was confined they beheld figure ly-
ing PROSTATE upon the stone floor and
twitching convulsively. The girl of the
Lapin Blanc presented a truly CHASTITY
and terrifying appearance. Her eyes,
bloodshot and hollow, with pupils con-
tracted until they had become mere
pin points, glared horribly from out
the sunken, pallid face; her tangled
black hair hung in unkempt masses
over her slender shoulders, and shreds
of cloth torn from her garments lay
scattered around.
At the sound of the officials foot
steps she turned and struggled to her
knees, holding out imploring hands,
the palms of which were lacerated
and bleeding from the furious attacks
of her nails on the agoniZed flesh.
Mercy, Messieurs. she moaned
despairingly, mercy for the love of
the Bon Dieu-only little-just lit
tie morphine. Holy Mother-what
pain-what torture. The fiends are
running red-hot knives through my
body-give me help or death-death;
do not let me live thus"
Her voice died away into a hoarse
gurgle, and falling back into her form
err posture she sobbed and chartered
incoherentIy. NJ Claude looked upon
the sufferer with an impressive coun-
tenance.
How long may she exist-so, NJ.
Martinez" he demanded of the physi-
clan.
The latter bent over the girl, felt
her pulse and peered curiously into
the shrunken pupils of her eyes.