The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1908-07-25

door ana, ~ AlQhnO Dluulng the dppll-
cant enter, 1t swung open to admit
the square, athletic form of M. Claude.
BE seated. M. Claude" responded
the nobleman. waving his hand with
airy grace. II expected this visit,
though I did not anticipate that you
would do me the honor Of waiting up
ON me personally"
The chief bowed and seated him
self at the opposite side Of the table
Then" he said. II presume that
you are aware of the object with
(which have called upon your"
! The marquis nodded a cool assent.
There need be no concealment be-
tween US, M. Claude" he replied. II
know that your duty requires you to
arrest me, and I do not complain.
have played for high stakes-and lost
Were our positions reversed am sure
you would meet misfortune as calmly
as do myself. I have always recog-
nized you as q brave man and gallant
foe, qualities in which most of the
members of your party are sadly de-
ficient, including the grim puppet
whom Fate has seen At to make ruler
of our poor France"
Il thank you for the compliment"
returned the chief, but / must beg
of you not to exercise too much IL
cense in speaking of my imperial mas
ter"
Words. idle words, my dear
| Ia Cd he In
disdainfully. II will not provoke
you further. but surely you can make
some allowance for the bitter utter
ances of one who has thrown the dice
for the last time in an unlucky gamer"
/ M. Claude was silent, and the mar
quis continued.
Before accompany you, l have
one final request to make that may
prove somewhat Of strain upon your
courtesy"
Anything that is In my power and
does not conflict with my official du-
ties am willing to do" was the chiefs
response.
| D'Aldano laughed softly.
"Platitudes are unworthy of you, M.
Claude" he said, ironically. II am ad.
dressing you now as a man, not a
Napoleonic agent. Understand, am
not proposing that you should allow
me to escape. / know that this house
is surrounded and one blast on the
whistle you carry would bring a score
of allies to your side. Therefore. be-
fore make my proposition I will take
due precautions to insure us from any
intrusion Of the kind"
A shade of menace in the tenor Of
his companions light. testing tones
grated on the chiefs ear, and he was
about to rise, when D'Aldano's right
hand, which had hitherto fingered un-
der the cover of the table, came into
view grasping a silver mounted pistol,
the muzzle of which was leveled in a
direct line with M. Claude's heart.
M. Claude leaned back and shrugged
his shoulders philosophically.
II think you are acting very fool.
ishly, most noble marquis" he said
coolly. There can be but one end
to this as far as you are concerned.
whatever fate may have in store for
me-"
"You may change your opinion
when / inform you Of my DESIRE" re-
sponded D'Aldano, sternly. "Hark We,
M. Claude. Whether l am guilty or
not in your estimation OF attempting
the death of the aspiring parvenu who
now usurps the throne of the Bour-
bons, you will at least admit that the
word Of a D'Aldano once given is
sacred. My honor has never and
never will be doubted"
The chief bent his head In token Of
assent and the marquis continues:
Very well. l wish to inform you
that have sworn never to be held a
prisoner at the mercy Of common ad-
venturer like your present master To
yield to him would only mean a
shameful death in the end; II not at
the hands of the public executioner,
then a fate like that of dog, by
poison or knife stab in the dungeons
Of Paris. All. NJ. Claude, 1t is not
necessary for me to tell you, who
know the secrets Of the chateau, how
many black, foul murders have taken
place In the past when victims Of
Napoleon's power gasped their last
breaths in the dread silence Of the
night, helpless and unshriven-"
The marquis voice faltered and he
paused for an instant, but the hand
J that grasped his pistol did not tremble
and light Of unfllnching determine
ton shone steadily in his eyes.
For those hapless ones who per-
ished in last nights tragedy have
naught but pity in my heart. The
guilt OF bloodshed weighs not upon
my shoulders but rather on those Of
the man whom the adherents OF the
rightful sovereign OF France sought
to destroy and whose baneful exist.
!, ence made such a catastrophe DOS
sible. AS for you, M. Claude. you are
but machine owned and operated
by a tyrant. Also your reputation
proclaims you a model of honesty
and strength Of purpose. And for that
reason / am minded to bestow upon
YOU an honor that will ha valued BY