Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-09-05

The man tCos not John ATmi.agc. bit
Captain Claiborne.
the strap. drew of the bag and step
ped back toward the table on which
he had laid his revolver for easier &C
cess.
Mr. John Armitage"-
Chauvenet. his revolver half raised.
had begun an ironical speech. but the
words died on his lips. The man who
stood blinking from the sudden burst
OF light was not John Armitage but
Captain Claiborne.
The Precipitation on Claiborne's face
had made a paste OF the dirt from the
potato sack. which gave him weird ap-
pearaRce. He grinned broadly. adding
fantastic horror TO his visage which
caused Zmai TO leap back toward the
door. Then Chauvenet cried aloud. n
cry OF anger. which brought Durand
Into the nail at n Jump. Claiborne
shrugged his shoulders. shook the blood
into his numhed arms. then turned his
besmeared face toward Durand and
laughed lie laughed long and loud
as the stupefaction deepened on the
faces Of the two men.
The objects which Durand held
caused Claiborne 10 stare, and then he
laughed again. Durand had caught up
from hook in Amitage's room a black
cloak. SO long that it trailed at length
from his arms. it's red lining glowing
brightly whore it lay against the outer
black From the folds OF the cloak a
sword. plucked from a trunk. dropped
upon the floor with CLEAN Of its
bright scabbard. In his right hand he
held a silver box Of orders. and as his
arm fell at the sight OF Claiborne the
gay ribbons and cleaning pendants
flashed TO the door.
1T Is not Armitage; we have made a
mistaken muttered Chauvenet tamely.
his eyes falling from Claiborne's face
70 the cloak, the sword. the tangled
heap OF ribbons on the floor.
Durand stepped forward. with an
oath
"Who is the manT' he demanded
1T is my friend Captain Claiborne.
We owe the gentleman an apology
Chauvenet began.
you put 1t mildly" cried Claiborne in
English. his back TO the fireplace, his
his face Il don't know your compan-
ions, NJ. Chauvenet, but you seem in
clined 10 the gentle arts OF kidnapping
and murder. Really. Monsieur
1T is mistakel IL Is unpardonablel
j can only offer you reparation-any-
thing you ask!' stammered Chauvenet
You are looking for John Armitage,
are your demanded Claiborne hotly
without needing Chauvenet's words.
"Mr. ArmitaGe is not here. He was In
Storm Springs tonight at my house
lie is a brave gentleman, and l warn
you that you will injure him at your
peril You may kill me here or stran-
gle me. or stick knife into me IL you
Will be better satisfied that way. or
you may kill him and hide his body
In these hills; but, by God, there will
be no escape for you'll The highest
powers OF my government know that
am here. Baron Won Marhof knows
that l am here. / have an engage
ment TO breakfast with Baron Won
Marhof at his house at s O'clock in
the morning. and II / am not there
every agency Of the government will
be put TO work TO find you. Mr.. Jules
(AduNtnel. anu THESE OlneT ScOuDOFelS
who travel with you
you are violent, my dear SIR" be-
gan Durand. whose wits were coming
back to him much quicker than
Chauvenet's.
Il am not as violent as / shall be IL
I get a troop OF cavalry from Fort
Myer down here and hunt you like rab-
bits through the hills. And / advise
you to cable Winkelried at Vienna that
the game is all of"
Chauvenet suddenly jumped toward
the table. the revolver still swinging
at arms length.
You know too much"
Il don't know any more than Armi-
tage and Baron Won Marhof and my
father and the honorable secretary of
state. TO say nothing OF the equally
honorable secretary OF war"
Claiborne stretched out his arms and
rested them along the shelf OF the
,fa.Io a