The Washington herald., 1912-07-21

You take gloomy view of my coun-
try's future" Sogrange declared.
why should one refuse to face
facts?" Bernadine replied "One does
not often talk 50 frankly, but we three
are met together this evening under
somewhat peculiar circumstances. The
days of the glory of France are past
England has laid out her neck for the
yoke of the conqueror. Both are DOOM
ed to fall. Both are ripe for the great
humiliation. You two gentlemen.
whom l have the honor to receive ss
my guests he concluded, filing his
glass and bowing toward them, in
your present unfortunate predieament
represent precisely the position OF. your
two countries
ave Caesarr' Peter muttered grim
ly. raising his glass to his lips.
Bernadine accepted the challenge.
'It is not I, alas why may call my
self Caesar" he replied. although it is
certainly you who are about TO die"
Sogrange turned to the man who
stood behind his chair
IF I might trouble you for little
dry toast?" he inquired. "A modern
but very uncomfortable ailment," he
added. with a sigh. Ones digestion
must march with the years, ! suppose.
Bernadine smiled.
"Your toast you shall have. with
pleasure, marquis he said, but as for
your indigestion. do not let that trou-
bic YOU any longer | think that | can
promise you immunity from that an
noying complain for the rest of your
life"
"You are doing your best" Peter de-
clared. leaning back in his chair, TO
take away my appetite
Bernadine looked searchingly from
one to the other OF his two guests.
"Yes," he admitted. YOU are brave
men. You Peter, Baron de Grost, |
have hated all my days. You have stood
between me and the achievement OF
some of my most dearly-cherished
tasks. Always ! have said to myself
that the day of reckoning must come
1t has arrived As for you, Marquis de
Sogrange. if my personal feelings to-
ward you are less violent, you still rep
resent the things absolutely iniunical to
me and my interests. The departure
of YOU two men was the one thing ne
cessary for the successful completion
of certain tasks which | have in hand
at the present moment
Peter pushed away his plate.
You have succeeded in destroying
my appetite, count" he declared. Now
that you have gone so far in expound
ing your amiable resolutions toward
US. perhaps you will go . little further
and explain exactly how, in this emf
| nently respectable house, situated. i un-
derstand. in an ernincntly respectable
neighborhood. with police station
within a mile, and a dozen or so wit
nesses as to our present whereabouts,
you intend to expedite our removal? ??
Ask the baroness how these things
are arranged"
They turned toward her. She fell
back in her chair with little gasp. She
The fear has come to her, too Ber-
nadine murmured. softly. 1T may
come to you, my brave friends. before
"It is possible" Peter answered. his
hand stealing around to his hip pocket.
''but in the meantime, what is TO pre-
VENT
The hip pocket was empty. Berna-
dine mocked him. =.
ITO prevent your shooting me IN cold
blood. suppose" he remarked. Moth
ing except that my servants are toe
clever. No one save myself is allowed
to remain under this roof with arms II
their possession. Your pocket was
probably picked before you had beer
in the place hve minutes. No, my dear
baron. let me assure YOU that escape
will not be so easyI
Then something happened to Pe;e'
which had happened to him barely a
dozen times in his life. He lost hi
temper and lost it rather badly. With
out an instaut's hesitation. he caught
I'D the decanter which stood by his side
and flung it in his hosts face. Berna-
dine only partly avoided it by tfrustins
out his arms. The neck caught his
forehead and the blood came streaming
over his tie and collar Peter had fol-
lowed the decanter with a sudden
spring. His fingers were upon Berna-
dimes throat and he thrust his head
back Sogrange sprang TO the door to
lock it. but he was too late The room
seemed full of nen-servants. Peter
was dragged away, still struggling
fercely -,
"Tie them up" Bernsdine gasped
swaying in his chair. Tie then, up
do YOU hear? Carl. give me brandy
l He swallowed half wineglassfui ot
the raw spirit His eyes were red With
fury:
Take them TO the gun room, ne or
dered. three OF you to each OF them,
mind. I'll shoot the man who lets eitner
escape.
Blu, Peter and Sogrsnge were both OF
them too wise to expend any more OF
their strength in a useless struggle,
They suffered themselves to be conduct
ed without resistance across the white
stone hall. down a long passage, and
into a room at the end, the window and
fireplace OF which were both blocked
I'D. The floor was of red flags and
the walls whitewashed. The only fur
niture was a couple of kitchen chairs
and a long table. The door was Of
stout oak and fitted with a double locN
!, The sole outlet, so far as they could
see. was a small round hole at the tor
of the roof The door was locked be-
hind them. They were alone.
The odd trick to Bernsdinc! Peter
exclaimed hoarsely. wiping a spot. o'
! blood from his forehead My deaf
: marquis, | scarcely know how to apollo
gize. 1t is not often that l lose my
temper so completely.
Sogrange strolled around the room
subjecting it everywhere to close scru
. tiny. The result was hopeless. Their,
was no method Of escape save through
the door