Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-02-01

race. buI 1 90 not think SO, Louise.
In faith. I believe 1t is he who has out
witted us this evening, and not we
who have outwitted him. But, oh. my |
life" I whispered, pressing her to me.
you care a little. them"
Go. SOL" she said, pushing me to-
wards the door. do not keep him wait
ing. Do not make him angry, if he
De not already So" and h gave me
one glance that made my heart leap
and closed the door. upon me. Some
thing OF my Joy must have appeared
In my face, for the regent, who was
standing Just outside, looked at me and
smiled quizzfcally, but said nothing. ]
glanced about with establishment, for
there was no a single guard In sight.
He noticed my glance and smiled vet
more broadly. but still kept silence.
Motioning me to follow him, he led
the way to the same room where he
had given mo audience but q few hours
before.
"sit down. N. de B%rancas,' he said,
throwing himself into the large chair
which he had occupied in the after
noon. do you know" he continued,
looking at me with q smile, II greatly
enjoy adventures such that Of this eve
ming. They give tor to the nerves
n prove that nc all men are towards.
In times OF peace, such as these, IL Is
often difficult to decide who Is brave
and who Is not. In faith, il our treas
ury We're not SO depleted 1 believe I
would risk a little war Just for the
pleasure Of settling the question In re-
gard to q few people about whom I
am undecided. I already know where
to place you. monsieur" and l red
continued, and he changed this tone
suddenly, II dare say you and Richie
lieu believed you were executing q very
clever little coup this evening. You re-
minded me Of nothing so much as OF
that ridiculous .sganerelle in NJ.
opposing his adversary with all his
might In reality plays into his hand"
Il confess, NJ. de Due" l said, that
am still somewhat in the dark"
n dcubt," he laughed. Come. I
sheer pleasure Of looking at them my
self. Did you really believe me 80
anxious to deprive Richelieu OF his
head?"
You certainly seemed violent
enough, monsieur" I said.
"Ah. we'll, and I should nave kept my
word under certain conditions. But I
am not OF q blood thirsty humor, and
all l desired was to get Richelieu out
OF the way because he interferes with
certain OF my plans, as you know. Now,
at Bayonne he will be quite as power
less to interfere with me as in the
grave. Three hundred leagues Is a long
distance, monsieur"
"Ah, ah!" 1 cried, a light beginning
to break in % me.
Well" continued h regent, II knew
very we'll that he would attempt to re-
gain Paris, for I suspected tonight's
rendezvous. monsieur, as l suspect a
great many other things" and he
glanced at me in a way which made
ms wonder If h Cellamare conspiracy
was really such a profound secret as
l the CnnEntr1fnrC hn1iny,a3 H(SN-~
quently gave orders to his guards not
to press him too closely should he at
tempt to escape, and 1 prepared a trap
for him here. He was followed from
the ome he entered Paris until he
disappeared through NJ. de Mazarin's
private entrance below there. You do
not seem to recognize the fact that I
have a we'll organized police depart
1hent. monsieur. the best that the world
has ever seen. I had esolved this: If
Richelleu could escape from this trap
and set out for BayOnne as I expected.
l should make no great resistance. If
he could not escape, he should die"
The last words were uttered in a
voice that chilled me.
AS you may guess" continued the
regent. i was not sorry when he ar
ried out his plan Of escape, for l believe
that now he will really go to Bayonne.
and he cannot return from there in
time to interfere with me. He is a
popular and, powerful man, and while
l should not nave hesitated i'm sendine
him to h block, It would have made
me new enemies, whom 1 could i'll at
ford Just at this time. Have you ever
known what 1t is. NJ. de B%rancas." he
asked, suddenly. ito be hooted and
stoned through the streets?"
mo. monsieur" answered. sur
prised at the turn the conversation had
taken and at the gloomy cloud which
had descended upon the regents face.
= known what 1t isl" he ex-
claimed: Il, regent Of France-king in
everything but name. I have been
abominated. Missed, spat upon. Even
now I am suspected. and Villeroi, the
kings governor, surrounds him with
ridiculous precautions to keep me away
from him. 1 am trying to turn the tide
the other way; 1 am trying to make
friends, hence I am lenient with you
and with Richelieu. l do not know WHY
| am telling you this he added in
announcer tone. only admire brave men,
whether they are with me or against
me. That IS all: forget this CONVERSE
ton and keep Richelieu from vexing
me too far. You may co."
l bowed and left the room with a
dazed consciousness that / had seen q
side Of the man which the world knew
little of. and as I threaded my way
through the Corridors and down the
great staircase to the street 1 pondered
afterwards. as I often did, Of the ex-
cesses Of the little suppers which he
gave nearly every night in his apart
ment, ! did not find It in ms heart to
blame him.
The increasing cold and the lateness
OF the hour had driven the people from
n streets. and even the Rue ST.