The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-06-19

horror he sprang back into the cab
met, falling in swoon at the emper-
or's feet. When he recovered his
senses he found himself lying on a
sofa, while Napoleon, seated at the
table, was eying him with sardonic
SMILE
Il trust you are better, NJ. Landre,"
said the emperor. "Your nerves must
be badly unstrung. What was there
lurking in yonder corridor to occasion
your alarm? looked, but saw nothing
save darkness?"
1T was" began NJ. Landre, and
then stopped short. Your majesty
will pardon my weakness" he said
confusedly, but indeed I am hardly
master of myself. l have not been
feeling we'll of late"
"You need rest, NJ. Landre," said the
emperor smoothly; rest undisturbed
by dreams of political intrigue and
plots, domestic and foreign. Your en-
erSy and ambition form too heavy a
burden for you. Go home, NJ. Landre,
and sleep-if you can"
| A hint Of something ominous in his
Imperial masters remarks grated un-
pleasantly on NJ. Landre's nerves, and
IN obedience to a ,~motion of the en-
peror's hand he left the cabinet hasti-
ly by the door at which he had en-
| tered.
Scarcely had the sound of his foot.
| steps died away when Napoleon sum.
moned his chief of police from his hid
ing place.
There remains but the punishment
of the traitor NJ Claude" said the en-
peror. His guilt is sufficiently es-
tablished."
The chief glanced keenly at his i'm
perial masters countenance, which
bore look of intense gloom and
| anxiety.
If am not mistaken, SIRE" he said,
the arrest of NJ. Landre in connection
! with his traitorous conduct would I'M
| doubtedly expose a condition Of af-
fairs which must cause much unsav-
DRY comment in France and abroad?"
1T is So assented the emperor
| YEARLY; but how can such an expos
| ure be avertcd?"
BY letting him decide his own fate.
SIRE responded the chief m. Lam
dre's position is that of man between
two fires. He cannot leave Paris, for
he is watched by my men day and
night. Even if he could fly he would
not obtain a welcome in Prussia A
rnnaO91o 10, of,,l tn
ers only as long as he is undetected
| by those he deceives. Remains then
! for him either the scaffold, as a pen
atty for traitor to his sovereign and
country, or the galleys for completely
in the murders wrought by the Society
| Of Avengers Confronted with these
| specters of ruin and disgraceful death,
it is probable that he would prefer to
| solve the problem with his own hand
If your majesty wills it so, l myself
will lay the proofs before him."
You say we'll, NJ Claude" replied
the emperor. Go then, and conduct
this affair to it's ending, according to
your own discretion
An hour later M. Claude entered
the magnificent mansion occupied by
M. Landre at Auteil, just without the
gates of the city. In answer to the
| inquiry Of the chief, the servant who
admitted him stated that his master
had not yet retired and was alone In
the library.
M. Claude assembled the stairs and
without knocking opened the door and
stepped into the apartment NJ. Ian
DIRE, gazing upon the stern features of
the man whom he imagined to have
been done to death by his orders, ut
tered scream of horror, and stood
rigid where he had arisen from his
chair. NJ. Claude's voice, cold and i'm
placable, broke the silence.
Traitor and assassin" he said in
slow, measured accents, lit was no
visitant from another world that
struck terror to your craven heart to-
night. NJ. Landre. your day of subter-
fuge and villainy has come to a close.
and the darkness gathers fast around
you. Your plots are laid bare and the
hour Of retribution has arrived. Be-
hold the tokens"
He thrust his hand into his breast
and brought forth bundle of papers
which he placed upon the table.
There lie the duplicates of your
reasonable correspondence with Prus-
sia," continued the chief, "and here Is
the token that marked the victims of
your murderous band"
A small arrow-shaped piece of scar
let metal rang sharply on the floor at
NJ Landre's feet.
ERE the dawn rises in the east"
spoke NJ. Claude solemnly, the mem
bers of the Society of Avengers will be
in the grasp of the law awaiting their
doom. As for you, this house is sur
rounded by police, but there will be
no attempt made to arrest you for
half an hour. At the expiration of that
time will return for you-should you
still be alive"
The perspiration trickled down NJ:
Landre's forehead and he trembled
violently, but no reply came from his
quivering, pallid lips. NJ. Claude, pro.
ducing a brace of loaded pistols,
tossed one of them on the table.
1.-The alternative!" he said grimly,
pointing to the weapon.
Then with his eyes still fixed upon
NJ. Landre, he stepped into the corri-
dor and closed the door behind him.
The chief slowly descended the stairs,
but. ere he reached the middle land
ing a muf1led report from the library
rang through the air, followed by a
heavy fall.