The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-02-22
A TnD WITH A Story Of the
"a ODDO w L IL Cell am are
Trrr Conspiracy BY
/ III X IN Burton Egbert
Copyright b -- r 1sDDancott Stevenson
CHAPTER XIv-(Continued.)
J. B. Lippincott Company

watches were changed while you
slept"
And how long will you be on duty?
l asked, carelessly.
twelve hours, or until 10. o'clock to-
night, monsieur" he answered.
"Ah, you have long hours"
we have always long hours in the
police, monsieur"
At that moment the outer door was
opened, and a servant appeared bring
ing my breakfast.
Excellent" 1 cried, entering the
outer room AID looking at the repast
which was indeed elaborate. Il see ]
shall have no cause to complain OF M
Herault's hospitality. Have you break
tasted, li~eutenant?"
Two hours ago, monsieur"
1.-Two hours ago! Great heavens
man, your stomach must be an aching
emptiness by this time! Sit down, ]
beg OF you There is enough here for
W and some to spare for your men,"
saw that the man was indeed hun
cry n looked at my breakfast with
eager eyes. but he shook his head at
my invitation.
"Ah, come, monsieur" I said. why
should We refuse to be civil to each
other just because I am prisoner and
you are guard? 1t seems to me that
a little good feeling will make the day
pass more quickly for both of US
I-NCi IL yOu CtllilOl cat, pCa iHO VIII
pany, l beg of you, for l abhor sitting
down alone to table" and l gently
forced hin into a chair and myself
took the one opposite. He yielded
though still with a SHOW OF reluctance,
and l maintained a lively conversation
while we ate. carefully avoiding any
remark which could appear suspi-
cious, n finally succeeded in draw
ing the mar out a little. I ordered
another bottle of wine, and treated the
five soldiers to a glass apiece. a cour-
tesy which l saw they appreciated.
Breakfast was finally finished and We
arose.
What a charming view!" I cried,
sauntering to the window n gazing
down over the river. M. Herault's
house overlooks the Seine, 1t appears"
1T stands upon the bank. monsieur"
answered the lieutenant, who had fol-
lowed me.
Come, monsieur" 1 said turning to
him and seemingly taking no further
interest in the view, Il have not yet
asked our name"
Lieutenant Bernin, monsieur"
We'll. Lieutenant Bernin," ! cried. 81
foresee that we are going to pass q
very pleasant day together" and ]
turned again to an apparently careless
scrutiny of the scene I could catch
but q glimpse of the river below the
window, from which ] Judged that the
house not only stood upon the bank,
but that the upper stories projected out
over the water, after the fashion OF
many of the older houses standing
along the Seine. In a moment I saw q
possible way of escape. A drop of 40
feet to a stone pavement was not to be
thought Of; but a drop Of 40 feet into
the water was another matter. ]
turned away from the Window, ,rem-
bling lest by some motion / might be-
tray my thought. I examined the win
dow itself a~ttentively when / could dc
so unobserved, and saw that it was of
the ordinary kind, with a sash which
could be readily broken by q blow with
a chair or any other heavy object. The
problem was to keep my guards at a
distance during the moment it would
take me to break a passage and drop
into the water. 1t was a problem not
easy of solution, n I retired to the
bed room and lay down upon the bed to
think it over.
! The bed room was about 10 feet
i square, without windows and with only
one door, that opening into the outer
room. This door was of some strength
and had a bolt on the outer side, so
that by merely closing 1t and throwing
the bolt they could make me a prisoner
in this small room. If 1t were only the
soldiers who were in the bed room and
I who were outside, an instant would
suffice TO bolt the door, and 1t would be
several minutes at least before they
could break it down-more time GER
tainly than 1 should need to get
through the window. In a moment
had my plan, and 1 spent some half
hour working out all its details.
The remainder of the morning passed
quickly, and when my dinner appeared
Herault accompanied it.
Il have been taxing myself with be-
ing inhospitable, M. de Brancas," he
said, "but 1 beg Of you to believe that it
was the most urgent business which
prevented my coming to see o car
lier. A lieutenant of police never gets
time to rest or to see his friends"
"I can well believe it," l answered.
You are going to dine with me. are
you not. MONSIEUR"
IF it pleases you to have a compan-
ion"
Nothing could please me more" /
said, heartily, for l really admired the
man; and as we sat down I examined
his face with interest. 1t Yves a face
which, even animated as at this mo-
wall OF stone. The firmly set lips and
aggressive chin showed a man not
wanting in decision. and l did not doubt
that those COOL, gray eyes could become
two poniards when 1t was a question Of
obtaining a confession from a prisoner.
Il need not tell you, monsieur" I said,
after q moment, "how deeply your sys-
TEN of police espionage interests me.
[ have already had two or three proofs
of the t~horoughness OF it's work, and 1t
seems to me a wonderful organization.
DO you object to telling me more about
it?"
Not at ALL" he answered. smiling.
There is nothing secret about the gen.
raj principles of our system. What
is it you would like &c know. mon
>ieurT"
Tell me how it Is or~ganized-how 1t
proceeds" l answered.
1T was the Comte ~d'Argenson who
brought 1t to its present state Of per-
lection" began Harault. He was. as
YOU perhaps know, my predecessor. and
for Louis the Great that the thorough
| organization of the secret department
was undertaken. He had, as you have
doubt'ess heard, a great liking for
scandal. and for many years the chief
duty Of the department was to discover
intrig les and liaisons. He devoted an
hour every morning listening to the
report Of the police department. and
details Of some i've affair. These,
nothing pleased him so greatly as the
1t need hardly be said, he would
repeat in the day to his court, to the
great confusion of the parties con-
| agents were trained to a remarkable
degree of perfection, and I found my
work ready for my hand when ! en-
tered the office"
"You have, then, a great number OF
ngents?" 1 asked.
They are everywhere, monsieur"
/ anonynro1 TInrotylf with n onoiIa saThaxy