The Wagner leader. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1912-1912, 1912-03-01
CHAPTER xv-{Continued.)

But there must bel" / cried. 1.-The
roof-can we not escape by the roof?
Come. M. lie Due. I implore you." for.
seemingly oblivious to the sounds be-
low, he had gone to his mistress and
was whispering in her ear.
In a moment he turned to me.
DE Brancas," he said, Il am weary
of this perpetual game of hide and
seek. am tired OF forever running
away. I swore last time that / should
never do it again. Go, my friend. As
for me, l intend to stay"
I looked at him aghast. He was
smiling calmly n was holding out
his hand to me.
But to stay means to be captured"
/ stammered, not yet understanding
him. we cannot defeat a regiment,
monsieur"
That may be-" and the duke still
Sand the Bastille."
' Every likely"
And but here 1 paused.
Go on. my friend" said Richelieu,
calmly. Il read your thought. You
would say that after the Bastille the
Place de Greve and the block. Is it
not SO? But heads do not fall so easily,
de Brancas. The regent would think
twice before sending me to the axe"
Blows were raining upon the door,
and / knew that it must soon give way.
/ looked at Richelieu again, but he had
returned 10 the princess.
Very WE'LL" ] muttered, 1--WE must
stay in this devil of a hole, then, it
seems" and I folded my arms and
walked moodily toward the door.
But I paused as 1 felt a light touch
upon my elbow.
Louise, when M. lie Due told us that
he had not seen you, that you had not
returned to his hotel after the theater
last night, but that the note had been
delivered, I suspected a trap. I i'm
plored him to go, but he would not lis
ten"
II can well believe it," I groaned.
HE is capable of any madness"
l heard the door below splitting. In
another moment the soldiers would be
upon us.
"And conceive our anxiety for you,
monsieur" continued Louise, in a low
er tone.
For me?' 1 cried. And you have
then forgiven me, Louise?'
"Oh, Jean! and my arms were
were for Richelieu?"
With a crash the door gave way, and
I heard the tramp of heavy feet upon
the stairs.
Come. my friend, said Richelieu.
n together we left the room, the
door of which he closed after us.
The guards were already half way up
the stairs, but paused at the sight of
us standing there in the shadow above
them.
Good evening, gentlemen" said
Richelieu. May I ask you errand in
this house?"
"'Tis Richelieu!" cried a voice, which
I recognized as that of Herault. 'Wait
q moment, men"
He pushed his way to the front of the
crowd.
Our errand here concerns only your
self, M. lie Due" he said. I'VE are
charged to arrest you"
And of what am l accused?" asked
Richelieu.
You were ordered to join your regi-
ment at Bayonne, monsieur" answered
Herault, land you are now in Paris.
That is you offense."
Ills not a great one"
but we must arrest you neverthe-
less, monsieur. Dc you surrender. or
shall We be compelled to take you by
force?'
Monsieur" cried Richelieu, you
, have just said that your mission here
concerns only myself. If I
you without resistance have l your
word that no one else in this house
will be molested?"
You have my word, monsieur" an
swered Herault, who had not perceived
me in the dim light ofthe hall and
thought only that Richelieu was trying
to protect the princess.
"Oh, do not Go this: we may yet
escaped" 1 implored, but the duke ST.
fenced me with a smile.
"On those conditions l surrender he
said. II will come down to you. M.
Herault," and he started to descend,
but paused as he perceived a sudden
commotion at the door.
"A messenger for M. Herault!" cried
some one.
What is it?" asked Herault.
o A man forced his way up the STAIR
case and to Herault's side.
"Bernin," cried the latter. what are
you doing here?"
humbiy, that my prisoner has es-
caped.'
Escaped exclaimed Herault. I'm
possible! How could one unarmed man
defeat six guards and wade through
20 more?" .
This was not a man, it was a DEVIL,
declared Bernin. He locked. us in his
bedroom like so many pigs, having first
decoyed us there to show us how to
play a wonderful game. He broke open
the windo and dropped 40 feet into
the Seine. We had the door down in
a moment, but he was gone"
"And where did he go?" cried He
rault. "Tell me that, Bernin?''
ALIAS, 1 do not know, monsieur"
II think I can relieve your anxiety
on that score, NJ. Herault," 1 said. de-
%scending to a lower step. II wish you
a very good evening, monsieur" and /
bowed politely.
He stared at me with open mouth, as
though unable to believe his eyes.
Someone brought a torch, which cast a
red glow over the hallway and threw
into relief the faces of the soldiers
looking up at us. But he was accus-
toned to establishments, and he soon
pulled himself together.
You will pardon my surprise, M.
de Brancas," he said. at last. You
caar RI ho DocSaSSod Of an oroo1ir~
agility. May / ask how you entered
here?"
"By the door," / answered. still smil-
ing, and rejoicing that it was my turn,
IAN instant before your men appeared
at the end of the street, monsieur"
He gazed at ne for a moment longer
as I smiled down into his eyes.
"Come, M. de Brancas." he said, at
last, mounting to the step where I
stood. give me your hand. BY my