The Washington herald., 1912-07-21


really wished to retire-he joined the
Double-Four. Now. perforce. he comes
out of retirement 1t Is true, he comes
out in a new guise. His teld of activity
lies In a different sphere, but he is still
Peter Run Just the same-stili the most
delightful scamp who has been given to
recent fiction. and not altogether scamp
at that
His adventures are told by the master
OF all tellers of mystery tales Nine
stories-each story complete in ITSELF
have been published. And here is the
tenth and last story Of the series. y
~HE Marquis de Sogrange arrived
in Berkeley Square with the
= gray dawn of an October morn
ing, showing in his appearance and
dress few enough signs OF his night
journey.
'sThey telephoned me from Charine
Cross" Peter said, that you could moi
possibly arrive until midday"
"They had reason in what they told
you," Sogrange remarked, as he leaned
back in a chair and slipped the coffee
which had been waiting for him in the
Baron de Grost's study. The train it.
self never got more than mile away
from the Care du Nord. The engine
driver was shot through the head and
the metals were torn from the way
Paris is within a year now of second
and more terrible revolution"
"You really believe this?" Peter ask
ed. grayely. :. :,
1T is a certainty" Soerange replied
To-day the railway strike has paralyz-
ed France. To-day our country lies alb
solutely at the mercy of any invader.
"You believe, then" Peter asked,
that these strikes have some definite
tendency"
Sogrange set down his cup and smil-
ed bitterly. In the early sunlight, still a
little cold and unloving, Peter could see
that there was a change IN the man.
His attitude, indeed. was almost defect
ed. He was like a man who sees into
the future and finds there strange and
grewsome things.
81 do more than believe that" he de-
clared. Il know it 1t has fallen to
my lot to make a very definite discov-
cry concerning them. Listen, my
friend. For more than six months the
government has been trying to discov-
er the source of this stream of vile po-
litical literature which has contaminat-
ed the French working classes. The
government has failed. The Double
Four has succeeded"
"You have really discovered their
source?" Peter exclaimed.
Without a doubt" Sogrange assent
ed. Two millions of money have been
spent to corrupt that very class which
should be the backbone of France
Through the fingers of one man has
come this shower of gold, one man
alone has stood at the head of the great
organization which has disseminated
this loathsome disease. Behind him
well, we know"
The mani"
'It is fitting that you should ask that
question" Sogrange replied The
name of that man is Befnadine, Count
Won Hern"
Peter remained speechless. There
was something almost terrible IN the
slow preciseness with which Sogrange
had uttered the name of his enemy
something unspeakably threatening IN
the cold glitter of his angry eyes.
up to the present" Sogrange con-
tinued, 81 have watched-sympathet-
ically. of course, but with certain
amount of amusement-the duel be-
tween you and Bernadine. 1t is no
longer a matter of polite exchanges. II
is a duel Ia outrance."
"You mean" Peter began.
Il mean that Bernadine must die,
Sogrange declared.
There was a brief silence
Isn't this little exceeding the u.s.
tai exercise of our powers" Pete,
asked, slowly.
mo such occasion as this has ever
yet arisen" Sogrange reminded him
"Bernadine has fled to this country with
barely an hour to spare. His offense
is extraditable by a law of the last GEN.
fury which has never been repealed. He
is guilty of treason against the repub-
lie OF France. Yet they do not want
him back, they do not want trial
have papers upon my person which. II
] took them into an English court
would procure for me warrant for
Bernadine's arrest 1t is not this We
desire; Bernadine must die. No fate
could be too terrible for man who has
striven to corrupt the soul of nation.
'It is justice" Peter admitted.
''The question remains" Sogrange
continued, by whose hand-yours OF
mine:"
. feter started uneaSuS-
Il fear that it is" Sogrange replied
"We had brief meeting of the execu-
tive council last night, and it was de-
eided, for certain reasons, to intrus
this task into no other hands"
you or Ip Peter repeated, slowly
at will not be sufficient, then, that we
find Bernadine and deliver him over to
your country's laws?"
1T will not be sufficient" Sograngt
answered. sternly. From those he may
escape. For him there must be no es-
cape"
''Sogrange." Peter said, speaking ii
low tone. Il have never yet killed a
human being"
Nor ]" Sogrange admitted. Nor
have / yet set my heel upon its head
and stamped the life from rat upor
the pavement But one lives and one
moves on Bernadine is the enemy oi
your country and mine He make:
war after the fashion of vermin. No
ordinary cut-throat would succeed
against him. 1t must be you or !. v
How shall we decide." Peter asked
"The spin OF a COIN" Sogrange re-
Piled 1T is best that way. 1t is best
too, done quickly"
Peter produced sovereign from his
pocket and balanced it on the palm OF
his hand.
'Iet it be understood" Sogrange
continued. that this is dual under.