River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-06-18
TIE SCARLET ARROW
Copyright, by w. C. CHAPMAN

hand pointing menacingly. The
features of the phantom were those of
a murdered man, and uttering a cry of
horror he sprang back into the cab
met, falling in a swoon at the emper-
or's feet When he recovered his
senses he found himself lying on
sofa, while Napoleon, seated at the
table, was eying him with a sardonic
smile.
Il trust you are better, M. 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 M. Landre, and
then stopped short Your majesty
will pardon my weakness" he said
confusedly, "but indeed l am hardly
master of myself. I have not been
feeling well of late
you need rest, M. Landre," said the
emperor smoothly; rest undisturbed
by dreams of political intrigue and
plots, domestic and foreign. Your en-
ergy and ambition form too heavy a
burden for you. Go home, M. Landre,
and sleep-if you can"
A hint of something ominous in his
imperial masters remarks grated I'M
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, M. 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.
eff I am not mistaken, sire" he said,
'the arrest of M. Landre in connection
with his traitorous conduct would un-
doubtedly expose a condition of af-
fairs which must cause much unsav-
Dry comment in France and abroad?"
"It is So" assented the emperor
YEARLY; "but how can such an expos
ure be averted?"
"By letting him decide his own fate,
SIRE" responded the chief. IN. Ian.
dres 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
renegade spy is useful to his employ
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 80, I myself
will lay the proofs before him."
you say we'll, NJ Claude" replied
the emperor. Go then, and conduct
your own discretion"
An hour later NJ 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. M. Ian
DIRE, gazing upon the stern features of
the man whom he imagined to have
been done to death by his orders, ut
tered a scream of horror, and stood
rigid where he had arisen from his
chair. M. Claude's voice, cold and Inn
placable, broke the silence.
Traitor and assassin" he said in
slow, measured accents, ''it 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 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-
STA" 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
M. 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 l will return for you-should you
still be alive
The perspiration trickled down M.
Landres forehead and he trembled
violently, but no reply came from his
quivering, pallid lips. M. Claude, pro-
ducing a brace of loaded pistols,
tossed one of them on the table.
"The alternative!" he said grimly,
pointing to the weapon.
Then with his eyes still fixed upon
M. Landre, he stepped into the corrl-
IL