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

of his subordinates, and two stalwart
guards appeared in charge of an ath.
letlc young man, whose wrists were
heavily ironed. At sight of the wretch.
ed figure lying in cell Is the newcomer
uttered a terrible cry of anguish, and
NJ. 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 thai
you have executed your commission
and thrown my body into the Seine
You will present my signet ring tc
him as token of success, return here
and report to me-
At the mention of NJ. Landre's name
the prisoner turned pale. Then he
spoke in defiant accents.
Il refuse!' he said sullenly. M
Claude shrugged his shoulders.
"A foolish choice" he said coolly
by complying with my request yor
would have won freedom for yor
wretched creature and yourself, with
the stipulation that you must both
leave Paris. AS it is I repeat that she
will linger on in hellish torment fol-
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 indu!gently, as one
might upon an angry child.
1T is agreed then, my friend" he
me false! A failure to execute my
orders in the smallest degree means
death for Nina Fleurette and a heavy
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 "a short conference with NJ: 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 sc
and you will detain him until you re-
ceive further orders from me. How IL
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 I'M
der my care"
On the day following all Paris was
thrown into commotion by the an
nouncement in the newspapers that
NJ. 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
FERROUS murders during the past year
and left small room for doubt that
NJ. Claude was the victim of 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 ILL., in the lat
ter's private cabinet, narrating to the
astonished emperor the details of his
investigation into the operations OF
NJ Landre.
you have managed your part with
rare skill and diplomacy, NJ. Claude, y
said the emperor at the conclusion OF
the tale yet, while there appears nc
doubt Of M. 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
a vision from the grave"
He walked to the western wall OF
the cabinet and drew aside the tap
estry, disclosing small door which
he threw open.
This is an entrance of which
sometimes await myself. M. Claude
he said. Remain In the corridor. M
Landre is close at hand; l will send
for him, and when he leaves me 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 perceptible in his
manner as he bowed low and seated
himself at the emperor's command.
After few moments of conversation
Napoleon signified that the audience
was at an end, and NJ. Landre arose
to 60.
"You will leave by this door," said
the emperor carelessly, lifting the
tapestry which overhung the western
wall.
M. Landre bowed again and open
{no tho loor otonpod inf0 tho O1onrn If