The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-04-04
CHAPTER xx-{continued.)
J. B. Lippincott Company

enough to undertake his expedition 2"
asked Richelieu, as we arose from ia
BILE.
I laughed at him.
you shall see If it comes to a ques-
ton Of using our swords" I said. And
then I remembered the bandage n my
hand went to my head. Il cannot wear
this ridiculous thing, 1 must remove 1t"
and I started to do SO.
mot for a moment" cried the duke,
s%pringing to my side and selling my
hands. Who can tell what hurt it
would do you? Leave it there. Jean,
or I swear I shall not go a step outside
this house tonight"
But" and I stopped. 1 could not tell
him that it was fear Of Louise's laugh
ing eyes which moved me.
Richelieu understoodsin an instant.
ut Is an honorable wound" he said,
received in an honorable cause. Why
seek to hide it? 1t is the sight of
wounds like that which moves a wom-
ans heart. They will find your pale.
bandaged head very interesting. Jean,
believe me-"
And SO I left the bandage where It
was.
Nine o'clock came. the carriage was
waiting, we entered it, and drove by a
circuitous route to the back of the Pa
la1s Royal gardens. Here we left 1t,
and instructed the coachman to drive
slowly up and down until he should be
called. That done, I led the way under
the shade Of the chestnuts towards the
palace. Richelieu asked no questions,
but 1 could see he was pale with
anxiety. We mounted the low wall en-
closing the little park which we had
entered once before under the guidance
of Mile. Dacour, dropped down on the
other side, and turned to the right.
"Ah, ah," whispered Richelieu, Il be-
gin to see. You hope to gain entrance
by the secret staircase. But can you
find the springT"
same low tone. II was watching Mile.
Dacour closely when she opened the
door for US, and know about where II
IS" AS I spoke I felt along the wall
but my fingers detected nothing. II
was near here. Have patience" l said,
for 1 could feel his hand on my arm
trembling with suspense. Again ran
my hand over the wall, pressing gently
on two or three small irregularities, but
without result. Come, I will try again.
and a. third time I examined the wall
this time more carefully and over 6
larger area. All, I have it," I e&-
claimed as I felt a yielding under my
fingers, and the door swung inward.
1T was time" said Richelieu, for as
we entered another door near by
the walk, even as we pushed the dool
ehut after US. We were In intense
darkness, but I knew the way, ane
guiding myself by the wall, turned
without hesitation towards the narrow
hallway, Richelieu following close be
hind. his hand in mine. We found thu
hallway without difficulty and passed
along it cautiously until we reached tn
end, and slowly felt our way up tn tn
t Meod nras wall w sld5Sst f sfgpSsd II y: pack o
wait a moment" whispered Rich
elieu, as I began to feel for the spring
whose approximate rosition'1 had ais
seen. Does Charlotte know OF Thu
visit
tunity to warn her of It. else l doub
not she would nave sent some one t
guide us and so saved US all thi
trouble"
But" Richelieu objected. "perhap
she will not be alone; per
haps she will resent an intrusion o
III kind"
Very we'll" I answered, losin
wavering, which was SO unlike tn
duke, we can yet turn back, open tn
door, return to the carriage, drive t
your hotel, and secure a good night
rest before attending the wedding to
morrow morning"
L OlHlNS liz Nv AN SebNA ~
alieu, after a moment. ri am so un
strung 1 scarce know what I am say
Ing. Open the door If you can fin
the spring.
felt along the boards for two e
doubtless seemed an age to Richeliel
Ind I could hear him breathing un
evenly and shuffling his feet behind m
For Gods sake, de Brancas," he sal
At last, In a trained whisper, max
- L NJ a. {LoN @n,, I>~~
I felt myself beginning to tremble
sympathy with him, and pulled myse
up with a jerk, recognizing the fax
that it was absolutely necessary II
one of US to keep his head.
"a little patience" I whispered; 9Th
spring is more difficult to find than tt
pther, and it is so devilishly dark here
Again ran my hand up and dow
the wall. It was made Of mario
boards fitted closely together. BAG
Ind forth I passed my hand over
ind just as I was beginning to despa
felt a slight inequality. I pressed
nd the door opened against US. v
ttepped back out Of the way, and in
moment We're in the closet. The do
hut behind US Of its own accord.
The door which opened from Il
closet into the room beyond was n
lightly closed, and through this openil
we could make a partial survey OF t
room. 1t was empty in so far as '
could see, and L was about TO sugge
that we make a cautious scrutiny
the remainder Of 1t, when a sound as
etifed sobbing startled me.
What is that?" I whispered.
my God, do you not know what
ls?" exclaimed Richelieu. TT Is Cha
ptte-Charlotte weeping over h
soming sacrifice. Stay here, my frient
and before I could do aught to prove
him he had opened the door. stepp
through it. and closed 1t behind hi
[ heard a startled exclamation fro
the princess. and at the sarne insta
mother sound which sent a cold shi>
down my back. Some n was ascan
Ing the spiral staircase with assur
and regular tread. The footsteps paxa
tor a moment without the door. til
there came a click, a breath OF air, g
a smell as Of a candle newly {
tinguished. I drew back into one CT
ner of the closet, and as ! did 80 t
unknown person stepped into it a
closed the secret door behind him.