The Wagner leader. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1912-1912, 1912-03-01

he added. why he was so anxious to
have no one else here molested."
Must 1t be, monsieur" l cried, turn
ing to Richelieu. rs this the only
way?"
This is the only way" he answered.;
and then, turning to Herault, Mon
sieur,. will you permit me to say a word
In private to my friend?"
There will be no attempt at es-
cape?" asked Herault, h~esitating.
You have my word, monsieur" said
Richelieu, proudly.
True" and Herault thought for a
moment. IN. lie Due, I will withdraw
with my men to the stairfoot. In three
minutes you will descend alone and
without your sword. Is it agreed?"
1T is agreed" said Richelieu and He
rault and his men went down the
'ta aIs; t,,. amounts - ,ot,,n. =.
Brancas." said Richelieu. in a low tone.
This regency will not last a week and
so the worst that can happen to me
will be a week In prison. What / fear
Is that Charlotte, over estimating my
danger, will b. moved to make some
ridiculous sacrifice for me. OF course,
you cannot tell her Of the conspiracy,
but make her believe. If possible. that
I am In no danger"
Il shall try, monsieur" I faltered.
And tell Madame du Maine," he
continued rapidly. that everything is
prepared at Bayonne and that my alb
sence will make no difference. My
Gil is ready. and the city will declare
against Orleans"
Yes, Yes, l will tell her."
And now, goodby, my friend" and
Richelieu took my hand. you have
already performed miracles of valor in
my behal n that 1 am a prisoner now
is my own fault and not yours. l
shall never forget it,"
He drew his sword. threw it far from
him, and passed down the stairs under
the red glow Of the torches to the cap
tors who awaited him, his head proudly
erect, his lips smiling. The lights threw
airing shadows in every corner. but
their bearers stood in perfect silence
with upturned faces, admiring, breath
less. Gould / have known what was
to follow ere I should see that courtly
form again, even then, l swear it, 1
would have rushed down sword in hand
and cut our way to freedom. But it
was not to be.
stood there motionless till the tramp
OF horses died away In the distance.
Then 1 opened the door and entered.
We have heard ALL" said Louise.
"Richelieu is arrested"
And I am here" I added, gloomily.
Relieve me, we do not blame you in
the least. M. de Brancas," and Mile. de
vaiois smiled through her tears. You
did more han any other man could
nave done, monsieur"
In any event, there is nothing more
Tor US to do here" I said. Let us go.
But first. let me tell you. ~madamoiselle.
that Richelieu entreats you not to over
estimate his danger. and not to worry
on his account, since he believes he
Will be free in a weeks time"
He is trying to deceive me. mon
sleur'' n she looked at me question
ingly. You yourself know how little
ground there is for such hope"
Ihere is something which 1 cannot
tell you, mademoiselle." L answered.
but which Will undoubtedly secure his
release II 1T results fortunately. That
Is true, believe me-" and without dar-
ing to say moro, l opened the door and
led the way down the staircase.
we were socn in the street and I
accompanied them to the little door
opening on the Rue de Richelieu
through which the duke had eyaded
the regents first trap. They bade me
adieu, and Louise gave my hand a
little pressure as she left me. but not
even that could lift me from the gloom
into which I had fallen. l returned
slowly to the Rue des Saints Peres.
jacques was awaiting me and paled
'i0iDiy at sight VI my race.
What has happened, monsieur" he
asked in a frightened whisper.
"Richelieu has been arrested. He is
again in the Bastille," / answered.
But you will get him out, will you
not, monsieur" and the anxious fellow
looked at me p~iteously.
Twill try, rest assured of that" 7
said. and / smiled, with tears in nv
eyes. at his faith in me.
Sleep was long in coming to nv
eyes that night. If the conspiracy sue
ceeded, Richelieu was saved. But if it
failed, what then? ] %shuddered at the
thought. for / remembered the regents
last words to me and the look which
had accompanied them. At last 1 fell
into a troubled sleep. in which I saw
again that graceful figure that descend
ed the staircase under the red glare of
the torches. And then the scene
changed. There was the same sea of
eager, admiring faces watching in
GREATNESS silence. but the figure they
watched was going up instead of down.
and on the platform to which it was
mounting there o. a block and a
masked man with an ak. And the red
glow over it all was blood.