Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-23
Continued from page ii


@Why, then, | agree, of course.
Regarding yourself always as my prison
er; binding yourself to surrender. here, at
the time appointed
The German drew long breath. He
answered, after pause, Il am speaking to a
gentleman, | imagineo"
"Raoul Alphonse de Villours Dagobert.
"Ah, ah. You are Count Dagoberto We
have been wanting you.
"Your answer, Monsieur
"An hour of lifeo That is a precious gift.
Well, pledge you my word that | will fulfil
your conditions.
"That is sufficient.
Dagobert cut the cords with the edge of
his saber
a am numbed, and cannot move for a
minute or two" said the German, making a
wry face.
"Take Your time. am going out"
He left the hut, and he perceived the old
peasant, whose wrinkled face had CHASTITY
hue, gliding toward him.
"You have turned him off, eho" he whis-
pered hoarsely. his teeth chattering.
Eyes"
"There is no blood on your sword. Cap
tain"
Il wiped it on his uniform. Take my adj
vice and make yourself scarce. The Prus-
slams over yonder are coming this way at
daybreak. If you are wise YOU will not delay
a moment. They will make a frightful ex-
ample of you
THE peasant ran off there and then, his
legs shaking under him, and Dagobert
went away silently, thoughtfully, to see If,
as he believed Adolphe would meet him at
the appointed place outside the village. He
reached the road under cover of the dark
ness, and waited. In about fifteen minutes
he saw Adolphe coming along very slowly.
"Well?' said he, advancing.
Adolphe started violently: then exclaimed
in tone of strong excitement, "The inexpli-
cable has happened, my Captain
"You gave that officer my note?'
eyes. He was five minutes reading it.
Then he said, Return by the way you came.
If you meet this ferocious Count Dagobert
of yours, tell him shall be delighted to see
him
capital! That means that you are freeo'
apparently
"Turn off, then. When you strike the
brook, follow it until you come to our little
bivouac.'
Zone moment l.
"Blood of Paul! what is the matter with
you now?' snarled Dagobert in voice that
made Adolphe shudder.
3Pardon me, my Captain he persisted,
nevertheless. "What are you going to do?'
a am going to see this German officer to
thank him for this pleasant exchange of
courtesies. And if those spoilt children of
mine have lighted fire, went on Dagobert,
needless of the agonized, questioning face,
"tell them to put it out, and to follow me
almost at once from this place of hornets
nests"
Adolphe went off, half treasured. He was
so weak, so dazed, that he seemed to be NOV
ing in a dream.
A ND few minutes later, Dagobert, a
prisoner. was brought face to face with
the Prussian, who still sat at the table in the
kitchen, with the onions and the hams and
the cobwebs, and his papers before him along
side his plumed cap and spotless white
gloves, and his subordinates standing by ex-
pectantly.
He put up his feet against the edge of the
table, tilted his chair, and folded his arms
He certainly was undeniably handsome in
his sky-blue tunic.
Il will not say that am astonished to see
you, he drawled, looking at the Frenchman
with his eyes half closed.
Dagobert nodded sternly at the compll-
ment
4NIax, you inferred that was fool. Are
you still of that opinion
IL think it high time that we got to bust