The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1911-12-28

and replied to the secretary.
The latter regretted excessively
that his excellency was absent: his
excellency would undoubtedly be desc
lated when he returned and found he
had missed Colonel O'Rourke.
He'll be back soon, monsieur" B
"Alas, MOI" with a shrug HE To-
en- route for Paris-possibly arrived
by this moment-on matters of state.~
And he left?"
Several days since, monsieur"
"You know nothing of this PACKAGE
Endorsed with the name of Monsieur
Chambret?"
To the contrary: the secretary knew,
1t very we'll. He could place his hand,
upon it at any moment-monsieur'
would appreciate that he burst not
surrender it without the Governors
authority.
O'Rourke drew long sigh Of relief
and was abruptly conscious of fatigue4
and desire to get away and rest.
I'm obliged to ye," he said slowly,
rising. I'll have to wait until tho
Governor returns, presume.
BY the way, are ye be any chance &C.
Quainted with Monsieur le Vicomte
des Trebes?"
But certainly; the vicomte was
great friend Of his excellency's. He
had dined with his excellency some
thing over week since, just prior to
the latter's departure.
"And take 1t ye have seen nothing
Of the gentleman since?"
"On the contrary, monsieur: the VI
comte called here but two days ago."
It appeared that he had desired some
trifling Information, with which the
secretary had obliged him.
I'VE didn't happen to leave him
alone in this room?"
The secretary, plainly much per-
picked by this odd catechism, ad-
mitted that such had been the case:
the pursuit of the desired data had
necessitated his absence from the Gov
errors room for a matter of some ten
minutes.
But ye say ye can put your hand
On this package?"
But certainly, monsieur"
would ye mind making sure 'tis
safe. 'Twould save me a deal OF
waiting, perhaps"
With alacrity and a smile that de-
precated his visitors anxiety over so
trifling matter, the secretary rose,
went to the safe and confidently
enough thrust hand into one Of tho
pigeon-holes The hand came forth
empty. A frown of bewilderment
clouded the secretary's face. 1T must
be here" he announced with convic-
ton. 1T was in plain sight and Ia
belled with the name of Monsieur
Chambret :" He turned. III
Monsieur lie Colonel will but return in
half an hour, I undertake then to
show him the packet itself. l shall by
then have found it-but assuredly!"
"Ye are very courteous, monsieur.
will return"
This he did-in two hours. Tho
packet had not been found; the sec
rotary, In a 1utter of nerves, confessed
that through some culpable negligence
1t must have been misplaced. An ex-
tended search was even then In
progress. 1t would surely come to
light before evening.
THANK We; l shan't be back" re-
turned O'Rourke grimly; and went
away, downcast for the first tinfe
since the inception of the adventure.
Faith! and to think would not b.
lieve the truth when they slapped mo
face with 1t! And all the time, belize,
twas in the vicomte's own pocket!
:" But he had no vocabulary ade-
quate to the task of expressing his
self-contempt.
Disconsolate, conceiving that he had
proven himself blind, egregious fool.
he plodded with heavy steps and q
hanging head back to his hotel; where
the browning stroke of the day was
presented to him in the shape of .
note, by the hand of black Biskri
porter.
Monsieur 10 Colonel Terence
O'Rourke. Be hand" he conned the
address. Faith, and what's this?"
III Monsieur lie Colonel O'Rourke
will do Monsieur des Trebes the hon
| or of dining with him, at seven or
seven-thirty this evening, at the Villa
! d'Orleans, st. Eugene, an arrangement
satisfactory to both himself and Mon
sieur le Vicomte may be consummat-
I'd.
"R. s. v. P.-The bearer waits"
A trap? A subterfuge? A trick 10
throw him of the scent whilst the two
blackguards escaped with their booty1
! The adventurer frowned darkly over
1t, dubious. Then, In a flush Of rock
lessness, he seized sheet Of paper
from 4 nearby desk, scrawled .
formal acceptance of the strange invi-
/ tation, and handed 1t to the Biskri boy.
AL to gain, naught to lose." he sum-
med up the state Of mind which had
dictated his response; and at six
! thirty, with brow and eye serene. he
left the hotel in carriage bound for
I the suburb Of st. Eugene-and heaven