St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-07-04
THE SCARLET ARROW
Copyright, by W. C. CHAPMAN

BlauVert, bring hither Emil Chat
| lain"
The inspector made a sign to on
or his subordinates, and two stalwal
guards appeared in charge of an att
Iet1c young man, whose wrists wer
heavily ironed. At sight of the wretcl
ed figure lying in cell Is the newcome
uttered terrible cry of anguish, an
M. Claude, pointing to the girl, sal
with deliberate earnestness:
Your liberty and the life of Min
Fleurette depends upon you, Chate
lain. She is already suffering horribl
agony and will die miserably With
the next ten hours unless you inter
Vene to save her."
What do you require of me?" asket
the prisoner feverishly.
Simply this" replied the chic
grimly. "You were selected to lure m,
TO certain spot tonight and slay me
1t is unnecessary to enumerate the de
tails OF the scheme, as you are thor
oughly familiar with them. Now. Ii
few hours you will be set at liberty
and intend you to visit M. Landre
president Of the Society of Avengers
Tor the purpose of informing him tina
you have executed your commission
and thrown my body into the Seine
You will present my signet ring te
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.
4 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 Won
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 for
ten hours without medical aid and
perish horribly. And for you-there
remains the galleys or scaffoId 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 induIgently, as one
might upon an angry child.
It is agreed then, my friend" he
said suavely; ''but beware il you play
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
n following my instructions.
Before leaving the station the chief
held short conference with M. Mar
inc and the inspector.
You will release Chatelain at ten
'clock, M. Blauvert," said his superi.
n. He will return in an hour or SO
md you will detain him until you re-
GIVE further orders from me. How is
our patient, now, NJ. Martinez"
Resting quietly" replied the sur
.eon. Il administered dose of NOR
'hine sufficiently large to satisfy her
raving and she will receive a similar
uantity at stated periods, while I'M
er my care
On the day following all Paris was
brown into commotion by the an
ouncement in the newspapers that
|. Claude, head of the prefecture, had
isappeared, and that the finding OF
is coat on the banks of the Seine |
ave grounds for suspicion that the
smous chief of police had met with |
'ui play. A miniature metal arrow,
earlet In color and pinned to the gar
tent, recalled the fact of a similar
'ken having figured in several mys-
'rious murders during the past year,
nd left small room for doubt that
!. Claude was the victim Of a secret
and OF assassins. Meanwhile, the
issing man, preserving his identity
a cleyerly designed disguise,
rolled leisurely about the bouleyards
'tening to the. many conjectures Of
terested citizens as to his probable
tie. Shortly after midnight he was
oseted with Napoleon III. in the lat
rs private cabinet, narrating to the
tonished emperor the details of his !,
vestigation into the operations of
Landre.
You have managed your part with
re skill and diplomacy, M. Claude"
Id the emperor at the conclusion of
e tale. "Yet, while there appears no
uht of M. Landre's guilt, would ,
IN apply another test to wiring his :
stard soul. He believes you dead. .
ell then, we shall see what dismay !.
II seize him when confronted with
vision from the grave" !,
He walked to the western wall of :
cabinet and drew aside the tap
.ry, disclosing a small door which
threw open. !,
This is an entrance of which I !
netfmes avail myself, M. Claude" !
said. Remain in the corridor. M. :.
ndre is close at hand; l will send =
him, and when he leaves me l shall ;
Iuest him to retire by this door," :,
". Landre soon made his appear g
se in response to the imperial sum-
ms. He was a tall, dark man Of T
CANT carriage but sinister cast of y
lntenance, and certain amount of n
vous anxiety was pereeptible in his 4
nner as he bowed low and seated :.
lsef at the emperor's command.
er few moments of conversation n,
poleon signified that the audience
) at an end, and NJ. Landre arose N
go. 4.
You will leave by this door, said r.
emperor carelessly. lifting the h,
estry which overhung the western in
Ianirn howA6 again oDd oran