Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1908-08-05

uooF anu, ~ Aldano bidding the appii-
cant enter. it swung open to admit
the square. athletic form OF NJ. Claude.
BE seated. NJ. Claude" responded
the nobleman, waving his hand with
airy grace. Il expected this visit.
though 1 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, Il 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 L do myself. have always recog.
nized you as 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 fit to make ruler
of our poor France"
Il thank you for the compliment"
returned the chief, but l must beg
or you not to exercise too much III.
cense in speaking of my imperial mas
ter"
Words, idle words, my dear
Claude" replied the marquis. smiling
disdainfully. Il 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 tho mar
quis continued
Before 1 accompany you. have
one final request to make THAI may
prove somewhat of a 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.
DAldano laughed softly.
"Platitudes are unworthy of you, NJ.
Claude" he said. ironically. Il am ad-
dressing You now as a man, not =
Napoleonic agent. Understand, I am
not proposing that you should allow
me to escape 1 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 l make my proposition / 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 I'M
der the cover of the table, came into
view grasping silver mounted pistol
the muzzle of which was leveled in
direct line with NJ. Claude's heart.
M. Claude leaned back and shrugged
his shoulders philosophically.
Il 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 I inform you of my desire" re
sponded D'Aldano. stern!y "Hark We
M. Claude. Whether | am guilty Oh
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 i'm token of
assent and the marquis continued:
Very well. wish to inform you
that ! have sworn never to be held n
prisoner at the mercy of a common ad.
venturer like your present master. To
yield to him would only mean
shameful death in the end: IL not at
the hands OF the public executioner
then fate like that of a dog. by
poison or knife stab in the dungeons
Of Paris. All, NJ. Claude. it is not
necessary for me to tell Won. who
know the secrets OF the chateau. how
many black. foul murders have taken
place i'm 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 tho hand
that grasped his pistol did not trembe
and light OF unninching determine.
ton shone steadily in his eyes
For those hapless ones who per.
ished I'm last nights tragedy I have
naught but pity in my heart. The
guilt of bloodshed weighs not upon
my shoulders but rather on those Il
the man whom the adherents Of the
rightful sovereign of France sought
to destroy and whose baneful exist.
ence made such catastrophe POS.
sible. As for you, NJ. Claude, you are
but a machine owned and operated
by a tyrant. Also your reputation
proclaims you a model of honesty