The Raymer enterprise., 1912-02-08

devils
| should stand in need OF a trusty as.
sistant. l consented to Talbots plea.
| had presentiment that the work
IN front OF me was going to prove ar.
duous-for. needless to say. | should
not consider that had accomplished
my task until the plot had been frus-
trated. Proudly Talbot set of beside
me and. the moment that we left the
house. the old relations of master and
servant were. by traditional under.
standing, abrogated.
Hot work on hand, old man." said
my erstwhile servant. cheerfully.
Pretty warm, Talbot" | answered,
my hand stealing toward the automatic
Colt that always carried in my belt
holster. Talbot saw the action and
grinned. knew that grin. had seen
Talbot grin that way over dead AZ
CHAN, while parrying strokes from
mounted horseman preparatory to ad-
ministering the 'crowning mercy" with
his own pistol. So felt that II our
plans miscarried somebody would be
greatly to blame for II.
We arrived at Paris the following
morning, the train steaming up to the
outskirts OF the city, whence an ''omni-
bus" barge conveyed us through the
streets on top OF the food. | learned
that the Seine had risen to a height al.
most unknown; that the sewers were
iilling with water and an epidemic
threatened. And still the rise contin-
ued. II was with some difficulty that
| obtained an interview with President
faliieres, and 1t was necessary for me
to display his majesty's card. The
president was seated In a large room
in the Elysee, and was haggard and
pale-from having devoted all his time
to the flood victims. a sympathetic at.
tendant whispered. smiled at this
naive Interpretation.
We'll. Monsieur, how can assist
you?" asked the president. brusquely.
1T is rather question of how | can
assist you | answered. with Napo-
leon master Of subterranean Paris, how
long do you expect to uphold the re-
publlc?"
He looked at me Indignantly, then
suddenly he sank down and groaned,
burying his face between his hands.
IF we knew where he hides" he
muttered. But We are helpless. And
the troops are not to be relied on. And
1t would take days to bring loyalists
from the frontier, for half of France Is
under water"
placed the map In his hands.
His majesty King Edward VII
sends you this. and bids you use 1t for
the protection of the republic"
He looked at the map dumbly, as
though not comprehending; then rose
to his feet, his face flushed.
1T is a map"
"Of the catacombs," | answered. by
the aid OF this you will defeat his
plans. But you must act at once To.
night"
Yes" said the president. 81 know.
What shall do? This and the food
the responsibility-and nobody knows
or dreams"
Let me see the map" said, seeing
that President Fallieres was no longer
master'of himself; and for half an
hour | studied II. AT the end OF that
time its meaning was clear to me.
There were three main entrances to
the catacombs within the walls OF
Paris. One OF these three was in the
Quarter Latin: second close beside
the north wall; a third within u street
not five minutes walk from the Elysee.
And 1t was here, obviously, that the
reyolutionaries would emerge.
DO you know what these entrances
are?" asked the president.
II was easy TO find out, for in the
room was food map showing the
sewerage system. The entrance under
the north wall had evidently become
sealed since the map was made, for It
was now under the flooring of some
large railroad yards. That in the
Quarter Latin was apparently con.
nected with the cellar OF a bakers
shop - such establishments being
marked red on this map. The third
was not TO be found.
Il have it," cried the president.
That street exists no longer. 1t Is
now n city park. And | remember;
there Is an iron grating under which
drain was believed to run"
Send n company OF sappers to block
up tho basement OF the bakers shop
with masonry, ostensibly as a food
precaution," | said. Now we have
stopped all the fox's earths but one.
How many companies OF loyal troops
can you reckon on?"
Two" replied the president. They
are Alsatians."
Let them be marshaled under cover
OF darkness at the entrance to the cata.
combs In the city park. Let them
have a cannon commanding It." had
formed my plan. Looking along the
chart had discovered that in Ger.
tain spot the catacombs opened out
into vast subterranean area. II was
doubtless here that the conspirators