The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-04-04
CHAPTER XX-(Continued.)

XX-(COntinued.O
Are you sure that you are strong
enough to undertake his expedition"
asked Richelieu, a. we arose from ta-
bic.
/ laughed at him.
You shall see If ii comes to q ques-
tion of using our swords | said. And
then / remembered the bandage and my
hand went to nay head. II cannot wear
this ridiculous thing, / must remove it,"
and / started to do so.
mot for a moment" cried the duke,
s%pringing to my side and seizing my
hands. who can tell what hurt it
would do you? Leave it there. Jean,
this house tonight"
But" and l stopped. ] could not tell
him that 1t was fear of Louise's laugh
ing eyes which moved me.
Richelieu understood in an instant.
1T is an honorable wound" he said,
received in an honorable cause. Why
seek to hide 1t? 1t is the sight Of
Wounds like that which moves a wom-
ans heart. They will find your pale.
~bandaged head very interesting, Jean,
believe me-"
And so 1 left the bandage where it
was.
Nine o'clock came, the carriage was
waiting, we entered 1t, and drove by a
circuitous route to the back of the Pa
lais Royal gardens. Here we left it.
and instructed the coachman to drive
slowly up and dow until he should be
called. That done, I led the way under
the had Of the chestnUts towards the
palace. Richelieu asked no questions,
but l could see he was pale with
anxiety. We mounted the low wall en-
closing the little park which we had
entered once before under the guidance
of Mile. Dacour, dropped down on the
other side, n turned to the right.
"Ah, ah," whispered Richelieu, Il be-
gin to see. You hope to gain entrance
by the secret staircase. But can you
find he spring."
Il believe So" l answered, in the
same low tone. II was watching Mile.
Dacour closely when she opened the
door for US, and know about where 1t
is" AS I spoke 1 felt along the wall,
but my fingers detected nothing. 1T
was near here. Have patience" / said,
for l could feel his hand on my arm
trembling with suspense. Again / ran
my hand over the wall, pressing gently
on two or three sma Irregularities, but
without result. Come, l will try again"
and a third time 1 examined the wall,
this time more carefully and over q
larger area. "Ah, I have it," l ex-
claimed as l felt a yielding under my
fingers. and the door swung inward.
1T was time said Richelieu, for as
we entered another door near by
opened, and hurrying feet passed along
the walk, even as we pushed the door
shut after us. We were In intense
darkness, but I kne the way. and
guiding myself by the wall, turned
without hesitation towards the narrow
1~.A hA
hind, his hand in mine. We found the
hallway without difficulty and passed
along it cautiously until we reached the
end, and slowly felt our way up the
little winding staircase there. The
wooden wall which former the back OF
the preserve closet stopped us.
Wait a moment" whispered Rich
whose approximate position l had also
seen. Does Charlotte know Of this
visit
NO" I answered.; II had no oppor-
tunity to warn her of It, else l doubt
not she would have sent some II to
guide US and so saved us all this
trouble"
But" Richelieu objected. perhaps
she will not be alone; per-
haps she will resent an intrusion Of
this kind"
Very well,' I answered, losing
patience a little at this unexpected
wavering, which was so unlike the
duke, we can yet turn back, open the
door, return to the carriage, drive to
your hotel, and secure a good nights
rest before attending the wedding to-
morrow morning"
Forgive me, de Brancas," said Rich
ellen, after a moment. Il am SO I'M
strung I scarce know what / am say
ing. Open the door If o can find
the spring"
l felt along the boards for two or
three minutes without result. 1t
doubtless seemed an age to Richelieu,
and I could hear him breathing un-
evenly and shutting his feet behind me.
For Gods sake. de Brancas," he said
at last, in a strained whisper, make
haste! This Is more than l can bear"
I felt myself beginning to tremble in
sympathy with him, and pulled myself
up with a jerk, recognizing the fact
that 1t was absolutely necessary for
one OF us to keep his head.
"A little patience" I whispered: this
spring Is more difficult to find than the
other, and it is so devilishly dark here"
Again l ran my hand up and down
the wall. It was made Of. narrow
boards fitted closely together. Back
and forth l passed my hand over it,
and just as ] was beginning to despair
felt a slight inequality. I pressed 1t
and the door opened against us. We
stepped back out Of the way, and in a
moment were In the closet. The loo
shut behind us Of it's own accord.
The door which opened from the
closet into the room beyond was not
tightly closed. and through this opening
we could max a partial survey Of the
room. It was empty in so far as we
could see. and I was about to suggest
that we make a cautious scrutiny Of
Tho rarnatn1nr ~ ryhap IN on.yn 90 ~
stiied sobbing startled ne.
What Is that?" l whispered.
MY God, do you not know what II
ls?" exclaimed Richelieu. 1T is Char
lotte-Charlotte weeping over her
coming sacrifice. Stay here. my friend"
and before I could do aught to prevent
him ne had opened the door. stepped
through It, and closed it behind him.
heard a startled exclamation from
The princess, and 1T the same instant
another oun which sent a cold shiver
down my back. Some one was ascend
ing the spiral staircase with assured
mi regular tread. The footsteps paused
FOR a moment without the door. then
there came a click. g breath Of air, and
a smell as Of p candle newly ex-
ttnguished. I drew back into one cor
her Of the closet, and as / did so this
unknown person stepped into II and
closed the secret door behind him..
CHAPTER XXI.
WHERE HONOR WINS.