Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-03
MADEMOISELLE LUCILLE
BY ROY NORTON
Drawing by Armand Both

4 resumed our walk after a sun tanned young
officer had halted us at the corner of the Rue Beaux
Arts and Rue Bonaparte and inquired the way to
the Boulevard Saint Michel. " A man who can find
his way through camp the blacklist night or un-
erringy head toward the oasis in the desert becomes
lost when he is thrown into unaccustomed surround
ings. The most efficient General have ever known
a whose judgment in battle was unerring and
swift, made tdn1 pas at his first presidential recep-
ton that nearly caused him disgrace. He bundered
as badly did Lepard Vialon, and l when we
detached for special duty in America" His
eyes twinkled with recollection. and he laughed
softly and stroked his white goatee
1T after the Algerian campaign where we
became known The Captains Three; yes, some
time after Come to think of it, we had had some
pated in that Spanish Moroccan affair, and again
turned to Paris before we were given this singular
duty, fit for detectives and secret service men
than u.s. but who may question the ways of the
French department! Certainly not l, who know
that it seldom blunders.
.Villalon had become an enthusiast ordnance
and explosives and was giving instructions to the ca
diets at St Cyr was dancing attendance at the
Presidents palace, and Leopard was chatting under
garrison duty, when we three were summoned to the
war office. We met in the antechamber and Won
dered what was to answer. In the old days We had
been called many occasions to expiate reckless
acts of our youth; for suppose we were what they
called u.s. trio of daredevils, always slipping along
the edge of discipline and escaping rating only be-
cause we performed feats that would have cost less
fortunate their lives; but we had grown crcum-
spect, hence vaguely questioned one another as to
the cause of our summons.
IKE three culprits we were ushered into the pres
Il ence of Monsieur Dupre, less than the Minis
ter of War and at sight of him spirits and
were convinced that had we to account tor some
exploit superior officer would have been there
with him.
He smiled and studied us curously as saluted.
So he said you are the Captains Three, the
who by frightened army of Arabs at Sid ell
Hama, have been rated for dueling and yet time and
again have ventured where other men dared not and
mraculousy returned? So you the men!
"Vilalon and stood like statues; but Lepard in
souciant and handsome, had the temerity to laugh
His Excellency the Minister of War; is pleased to
fatter and reprove us in the same BREATH, he said,
and laughed again
Monsieur Dupre joined in motioned to seats,
and we breathed easier His first question terse
and to the point:
What would the Captains Three think of
one in which others of national secret service
have failed? Would they attempt to learn some
thing of which France, menaced by the Germans
stands in need!
There was clatter of belts, rustling of uni
forms, and before him stood three who smulta-
neously answered. At your service, sr!'
He smiled at enthusiasm IN answering that
call which none may disregard, the summons of
patriotism.
America he said after we had again resumed
seats, has in her possession an explosive more
powerful than any known to another nation in the
world. That inventive genius, Hudson Maxim has
discovered and developed something that France
must have. So carefully guarded is her secret that
has been able to gain knowledge OF IT..
browning momentariy at a bundle of reports he
held in his hand, he threw them on his desk with
gesture of contempt saying So far the Germans
have been successful than ourselves. We
have learned that this explosive is manufactured in
plant standing in Government reservation and
guarded by the employees, assisted by squad of
soldiers Although accessible no outsider has been
able to enter it. We want plans photographs of
the machinery employed knowledge of the process,
and an analysis of the ingredients. | am told by