The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-02-15
ATnnnS WITH A Story Of the
"a ODO IL Cell are
TILE A1T Conspiracy BY
i III IN i Burton E gbert
copyr4shs By ---L n. Lippancott Company Stevenson
y. b. Lippincott Company

IL nau peen d question or necessity ana
not at all Of affection, but at that mo-
ment the bell rang and the second act
began. l forgot my fair companions In
the interest OF the tragedy. The laugh
Ing voice Of Mile. de Valois aroused
me.
"Ah, M. de Brancas," she said. 1T
Is evident that you have never before
seen the 'oedipe.; Here, sit beside me.
If you are very good and answer my
questions nicely I shall let you sit be-
SIDE Louise, and y will have only
yourself to blame II you do not make
peace with her. She is dying Of curl
osity to learn the lady's name. Have
you heard from Richclieu?" she asked
In a lower tone.
Il have heard only that he Is on the
road to B~ayonne,".I answered.
And you think he should remain
II believe 1t would be best for the
present, mademoiselle."
"Ah, but M. de Brancas," she said,
suppose you were Richelieu and !
Louise Dacour. Would you remain at
Bayonne? Do not answer me, I see In
your face that o would not. Listen.
Richelieu will be In Paris tomorrow
might"
Tomorrow night" I gasped.
Yes. He will doubtless go first to
his hotel, where you will meet him. So
soon as you see him give him this
note" n she handed me a little per-
ruined missive. THE note, l may as
well tell you, states that at 10 o'clock
tomorrow night I shall be at the house
OF a friend in the Rue Jean Tison, the
third house from the corner of the Rue
Bailleul. on the right hand side. Rap
three times and the door will be opened
I TO you without question. Mount the
stairs to the first floor. Louise will be
; there also. Do you understand, mon
!, sieur?"
Yes, yes" I said, and placed the
) note In my pocket.
, You do not seem to consider any
longer the danger to which Richelieu
oh, II Louise is there" I MUIR
INJURED.
u You are charming. M. de Brancas,"
! said the princess, and she gave me an
5 adorable smile. Nov take your re-
: ward. Sit by her sid and whisper a
little pink ears Of hers. She will soon
/, be smiling"
, The end Of the second act gave me
the opportunity of changing my seat.
! "Oh, mademoiselle," I whispered, as
sat down beside her. believe me,
I there are only two hands in the whole
world that / desire to kiss-those two
: which are lying In your lap"
"Who was the lady you were with
this afternoon" she asked, not deign-
, ing to glance at me. but gazing straight
In front OF her.
t Mile. de Launay." I answered.
Mile. de Launay?"
Yes"
: You know her, them"
= "Richelieu introduced us. Madame
l du Maine asked me to accompany her
= this afternoon On an errand. On our
= way back to the Tuileries we found the
! way blocked by the flooded street. She
was In haste, and as there was no
: other way, I carried her across. did
not enjoy the task, I assure you. made
e moiselle."
She glanced at me, and I thought ]
: saw signs OF %relenting in her eyes.
0 Come, Louise" cried the duchess,
1--WE must go. 1t was not to see the
'Oedipe' that we came here. We have
( accomplished u mission and must
e return"
v "Til! tomorrow, then" I whispered 10
Louise as the ladies arose, and I fan
( cied that she gave q slight affirmative
O nod of the head. I would have accom-
t panied them, but the princess waved
e me back. and I returned to my box to
v witness the remainder of the play. II
moved me strongly, and / was still
thinking over its stirring periods as
: reached the quays and crossed the
8 river. AS I turned down the Quai Male
quest I fancied I heard footsteps be-
hind me, but when I turned. saw nc
l. | OIG. 1Hc StICCL "do NCty udIh, tHS
candles, which swung here and there
I in lanterns 20 feet above the roadway
q having been e~xtinguished by a gust OF
rain earlier In the evening and no at
tempt having been made to relight
4 them.
I was stumbling along over the un-
even pavement. when suddenly half q
dozen shadows detached themselves
q from the wal in front Of me-. and al
the same instant I heard Fastening
o footsteps in my rear. Before I could
draw my sword. or even, In fact. ap-
preciate my danger, a dozen men threw
themselves upon me. A gag was thrust
into nv mouth, a scarf bound over my
eyes, my hands and feet were tied. anG
!, in a moment I was helpless. Some one
was searching my pockets.
Some more Of the Cartouche n
! I thought.
Handle him as gently as possible
7 heard a voice say. Now two of you
:" lift him Inc bring him along"
was lifted from the pavement and
= borne along for some distance. Then
was placed in a carriage, which was
driven rapidly through the streets. II
rumbled across a bridge, stopped, anc
u l heard a sentry's challenge.
1.-The Bastille again." l groaned to
myself.
. The carriage drove OF and then came
TO a sudden stop. I was lifted out and
L liNo " AooN
heard closed after me.
e "JJntie him." commanded a voice, and
In a moment my hands and feet were
free. the gag was taken from my mouth
and the scarf whisked from my eyes
A man Of middle age In the uniform
y of" an officer of the guards stood be-
fore me.
y "It is the first time I have had the
pleasure of meeting you. M. de Bran
cas-" he said, smiling. Il trust we shall
De good friends"
q 'aThe beginning of our acquaintance
does not seem to be a happy one,"
, answered. But may I ask your name
monsieur" .
y 81 am called Herault, lieutenant OF
police" and he bowed.
i. "Herault? ?" l exclaimed.
y "At your service" and he bowed
\ again.
Q monsieur" I asked. =.
. "Ah. do not use so harsh a word,
he cried. II assure YOU, monsieur, you
, are not arrested, but merely detained
- There is no charge against you and or
nv word you shall be free again day
% after tomorrow
"But in the meantime?"
|, "In the meantime, monsieur, you
~ will he my guest, and I shall strive tc
. make your stay q pleasant one"
u 7 searched his face with my eyes
but II told me nothing. With a start
7. remembered the rendezvous and my
hand sought my pocket. The note Mile
de Valois had given me was gone. In
an instant I understood. The regent
. aucfhar tran for Richie.