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


Blauvert, bring hither Emil Chate-
lain"
The inspector made sign to one
of his subordinates, and two stalwart
guards appeared in charge of an ath-
letic young man, whose wrists were
heavily ironed. At sight of the wretch
ed figure lying in cell Is the newcomer
uttered terrible cry of anguish, and
M. Claude, pointing to the girl, said
with deliberate earnestness:
your liberty and the life of Nina
Fleurette depends upon you, Chate
lain. She is already suffering horrible
agony and will die miserably within
the next ten hours unless you inter
vene to save her"
What do you require of me?" asked
the prisoner feverishly.
Simply this" replied the chief
grimly. You were selected to lure me
to certain spot tonight and Stay me.
1t is unnecessary to enumerate the de-
tails of the scheme, as you are thor
oughly familiar with them. Now, in
few hours you will be set at liberty
and l intend you to visit NJ. Landre,
president of the Society of Avengers,
for the purpose of informing him that
| you have executed your commission
and thrown my body into the Seine.
You will present my signet ring to
him as token Of success, return here
and report to me-"
At the mention of M. Landre's name
the prisoner turned pale. Then he
spoke in defiant accents.
Il Refused" he said sullenly M.
Claude shrugged his shoulders.
"a foolish choice" he said coolly.
''By complying with my request you
would have won freedom for yon
wretched creature and yourself, with
the stipulation that you must both
leave Paris. AS it is l repeat that she
will linger on in hellish torment for
ten hours without medical aid and
perish horribly And for you-there
remains the galleys or scaffold as a
reward for some of the crimes you
have committed"
''I'll do it," Chatelain said savagely,
''for her sake, not for my own, curse
you!"
NJ Claude smiled indulgently, as one
might upon an angry child.
ct is agreed then, my friend" he
said suavely; ''but beware if you play
me false! A failure to execute my
orders in the smallest degree means
reckoning for you to pay in the near
future. And please to remember that
possess an exceedingly long arm that
will reach out and secure you sooner
or later, should you be tempted to err
in following my instructions"
Before leaving the station the chief
held short conference with M. Mar
tine and the inspector.
"You will release Chatelain at ten
o'clock, M. Blauvert," said his superb
or. "He will return in an hour or so
and you will detain him until you re-
! ceive further orders from me. How is
your patient, now, M. Martinez"
Resting quietly" replied the sur
geon. Il administered dose of NOR
phine sufficiently large to satisfy her
craving and she will receive a similar
quantity at stated periods, while un-
der my care"
On the day following ali Paris was
thrown into commotion by the an
nouncement In the newspapers that
M. Claude, head of the prefecture. had
disappeared, and that the finding of
his coat on the banks of the Seine
gave grounds for suspicion that the
| famous chief of police had met with
| foul play. A miniature metal arrow,
scarlet in color and pinned to the gar
ment, recalled the fact of a similar
token having figured in several mys-
terious murders during the past year,
and left small room for doubt that
| NJ. Claude was the victim of a secret
band of assassins. Meanwhile, the
missing man, preserving his identity
| in cleverly designed disguise,
strolled leisurely about the boulevards
listening to the many conjectures of
| interested citizens as to his probable
fate. Shortly after midnight he was
closeted with Napoleon III. in the lat
ter's private cabinet narrating to the
astonished emperor the details of his
investigation into the operations of
M. Landre.
''You have managed your part with
rare skill and diplomacy, M. Claude, ;"
said the emperor at the conclusion of
the tale. Yet, while there appears no
doubt OF NJ. Landre's guilt, / would
fain apply another test to wiring his
bastard soul. He believes you dead.
Well then. we shall see what dismay
will seize him when confronted with
vision from the grave"
He walked to the western wall OF
the cabinet and drew aside the tap
estry, disclosing a small door which
he threw open.
This is an entrance OF which
sometimes avail myself, M. Claude"
he said. Remain in the corridor. M.
Landre is close at hand; | will send
for him, and when he leaves me l shall
request him to retire by this door"
Nj. Landre soon made his appear
ance in response to the imperial sum-
mons. He was a tall, dark man OF
elegant carriage but sinister cast OF
countenance, and a certain amount OF
nervous anxiety was perceptlble in his
manner as he bowed low and seated
| himself at the emperor's command.
After a few moments of conversation
Napoleon signified that the audience
was at an end, and NJ. Landre arose
4 %r