River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-05-02

great friend of his excellency's. He
had dined with his excellency some
thing over a week since, just prior TO
the latter's departure.
And | take it We have seen nothing
of the gentleman since?"
ION the contrary, monsieur: the vi
Lomte called here but two days ago.
IT appeared that he had desired some
trifing Information, with which the
secretary had obliged him.
"Ye 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
ernor's room for matter of some ten
minutes.
But We say We can put your hand
on this PACKAGE"
But certainly, monsieur"
Would We mind making sure it's
safe. 'Twould save me a deal of
waiting, perhaps
With alacrity and smile that de-
precated his visitors anxiety over so
trif1ing a matter, the secretary rose,
went to the safe and confidently
enough thrust hand into one of the
pigeon-holes. The hand came forth
empty. A frown of bewilderment
clouded the secretary's face. "It must
be here" he announced with convic-
ton. 1T was in plain sight and la
belled with the name Of Monsieur
Chambret y He turned. IF
Monsieur lie Colonel will but return in
half an hour, undertake then to
show him the packet ITSELF I shall by
then have found it-but assuredly!"
"Ye are very courteous, monsieur.
| will return"
This he did-in two hours. The
packet had not been found; the sec
rotary, in flutter of nerves, confessed
that through some culpable negligence
it must have been misplaced. An ex-
tended search was even then in
progress. 1t would surely come to
light before evening.
Thank We; I shan't be back" re-
turned O'Rourke grimly; and went
away, downcast for the first time
since the inception of the adventure.
Faith and to think l would not be-
lieve the truth when they slapped me
face with it! 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
he plodded with heavy steps and a
hanging head back to his hotel; where
the browning stroke of the day was
presented to him in the shape Of a
note, by the hand of a black Biskri
porter.
Monsieur lie Colonel Terence
O'Rourke. Be hand" he conned the
address. Faith, and what's this?"
IF Monsieur lie Colonel O'RourKe
will do Monsieur des Trebes the hon
or of dining with him, at seven OF
seven-thirty this evening, at the Villa
satisfactory to both himself and Mon
sieur lie Vicomte may be consummat
ed
"R. S. v. P.-The bearer waits.
A trap? A subterfuge? A trick tc
throw him off the scent whilst the two
blackguards escaped with their booty
The adventurer frowned darkly over
it, dubious. Then, in flush of reck
lessness, he seized a sheet of paper
from a. nearby desk, scrawled {
formal acceptance of the strange invi
tation, and handed it to the Biskri boy
'All to gain, naught to lose," he sum
med up the state of mind which haC
dictated his response; and at six
thirty, with brow and eye serene, h
left the hotel in carriage bound TO.
the suburb Of st. Eugene-and HEAVIER
knew where besides!