The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-02-29
ATnnDS W1TH A Story Of the
w. IL Cell am are
THE % CT NIT Conspiracy by
L LII IN i Burton Egbert
Copyright by --J. b. Lappancott Company Stevenson
J. B. Lippancott Company

he added. why he was SO anxious to
nave no n else here molested."
Must 1t be, monsieur" I cried. turn
ing to Richelieu. rs this the only
way?"
This Is the only way" he answered;
sieur.. will you permit me to say a word
IN private to my friend?"
There will be no attempt at es-
cape?" asked Herault, h~esitating.
You have my word. monsieur" said
Richelieu. proudly.
True" and Herault thought for a
with my men to thr atairfoot. In three
minutes you will descend alone and
without your sword. Is 1t agreed?"
1T is agreed" said Richelieu and He
|. rar!t and his men wen down the
"All this amounts to nothing, de
Brancas." said Richelieu, in a low tone.
This regency will not last a week and
VIII be q week In prison. What I fear
Is that Charlotte. over estimating my
danger. will be moved to make some
ridiculous sacrifice for me. OF course,
you cannot tell her Of the conspiracy,
put make her believe, II possible. that
I am In no danger"
- try, monsieur" I faltered.
AND tell Madame du Maine" he
continued rapidly, that everything is
prepared at Bayonns and that my alb
sence will make no difference. NV
men know my wishes, the town coun-
against Orleans"
Yes. Yes. I will tell her."
AND now, .goodby, my friend" and
Elcheiieu took my hand. You have
already performed miracles Of valor in
my behalf and that I am a prisoner now
Is my own fault and not yours.
shall never forget it."
He drew his sword, threw 1t far from
MIN, and passed down the stairs under
the red glow Of the torches to the cap
tors who awaited him, hfs head proudly
erect, MS lips smiling. TIA lights threw
Haring In every corner, but
their bearers stood In perfect silence
with upturned faces, admiring, breath
less. Could I have known what was
70 follow ere Il should see that courtly
FORM again, even then, I swear It, I
would have rushed down sword in hand
and cut our way to freedom. But 1t
was not to be.
/ stood there motionless till the tramp
or horses died away In the distance.
Then l opened the door and entered.
we have heard ALL" said Louise.
"Richelieu Is arrested"
And / am here" I added, gloomily.
believe me. we do not blame you in
the least, M. de Brancas." and Mile. de
saiois smiled through her tears. you
did more than any other man could
have done, monsieur"
IN any event, there is nothing more
Tor us to do here" I said. Let us go.
put hrst, let me tell you, ~madamoiselle.
mat Richelieu entreats you not to over
estimate his danger. and not to worry
on MS account. since he believes he
WIFI nc fraa IN a urAAlKt xl--
He 10 trying to deceive me. mon
sieur.' n she looked at me question
lngly. You yourself know how little
oun there is for such hope"
Is something which I cannot
tell you, mademoiselle," answered.
D u which will undoubtedly secure his
release If IT results fortunately. That
is true, believe me-" and without dar.
ing to say more. I opened the IGOR and
led the way down the staircase.
we were soon in the street and I
accompanied them to the little door
opening on the Rue de RicheAeu
through which the duke had evaded
the regents first trap. They bade me
adieu, n Louise gave my hand a
little pressure as she left me, but not
even that could lift me from the gloom
into which I had fallen. I returned
slowly to the Rue des Saints Peres.
jacques was awaiting me and paled
Vislbly at sight of my downcast face.
What has happened. monsieur?" he
asked In a frightened whisper.
"Rtchelieu has been arrested. He Is
again in the Bastille," I answered.
But you will get him out, will Won
not, monsieur" and the anxious fellow
looked at me ~piteously. r
Il Will try, rest assured Of that" 7
said, and I smiled, with tears in my
eyes, at his faith in me.
Sleep was long in coming to nv
eyes that night. If the conspiracy sue
ceede6, Richelieu was saved. But If It
failed, what then? I %shuddered at the
thought, for I remembered the regents
last words to me and the look which
had accompanied them. At last 1 fell
into a troubled sleep, in which I saw
again that graceful figure that descend
ed the staircase under the red glare Of
the torches. And then the scene
changed. There was the same sea of
eager, admiring faces watching in
GREATNESS silence, but the figure thew
watched was going up instead Of down.
and on the platform to which 1t was
mounting there stood a block and a
masked mar with an ak. And the red
glow over 1t all was blood.