, 1912-04-04
PIER XVII.
PLorTERs

really seen Picard and Brett
mann talking together. The
spontaneously might have
dated from the sailing Of the Laura.
and again 1t mightn't.
M. Ferraud. who overheard the major
part of the conversation later In the
day. was convinced that Picard had
Joined the crew Of the Laura for no
other purpose than to be In touch with
Breitmann. There were some details.
however. which would be acceptable.
He followed them to the Rue Fesch.
to a trattoria, but entered from the
rear. NJ. Ferraud never assume any
DISCUSSES. but depended solely upon his
adroitness In occupying the smallest
space possible. So, while the two con
spirators sat at a table on the side
walk, NJ. Ferraud chose his inside. I'M
der the grilled window which was d.
rectly above them.
Everything is in readiness" said
Picard.
Thanks to you. duke
Tonight you and you; old boatman
Pietro will leave for Atone. The ad-
VI III u He DhIly VIII stdTl edTlN
tomorrow morning. No matter what
may happen he will find no drivers till
morning. The drivers all understand
what they are to do on the way back
from Evisa."
A cart rumbled past. and the listener
missed n few sentences. What did the
drivers understand? What was going
TO happen on the way back from Evi
sa7 Surely Breitmann did not intend
that the admiral should do the work
and hen be held up later. The old
American sailor wasn't afraid of any
one. and he would shoot to kill. No.
no; Breitmann meant to secure the
gold alone. But the drivers worried
NJ. Ferraud. He might be forced to
change his plans on their account He
wanted full details. not puzzling ON
ponents. Quiet prevailed once more.
women in affairs of this sort are
always in the way said Picard.
NJ. Ferraud did not hear what Brett
mann replied.
flake my word for It," pursued Pi-
card. this one will trip you, and you
cannot afford to trip at this stage. We
are all ready to strike. mar All we
want Is the money. Every 10 francs
of 1t will buy n nan We leave Mar
settles in your care. The rest of us
will carry the word IN to Lyons, Dijon
and Paris. With this unrest in the
government. the army scandals. the
dissatisfied employees and the idle we
shall raise n whirlwind greater than
80 or II. We shall reach Paris with
half a million men,"
Again Breitmann said something
lowly. NJ. Ferraud would have liked
to see his face.
But what are you going to do with
the other womanT'
Two women: NJ. Ferraud saw the
ripple widen and draw near. One wo-
man he could not understand, but W O
simpliied everything. The drivers and
two women.
1.-The other?" said Breitmann. "She
is of no importance"
NJ. Ferraud shook his head.
"Oh. well: this will be your private
affair. Captain Grasset will arrive
from Nice tomorrow night. Two
nights later we all should be on board
and under way. Do you know. we
have been very clever. Not a suspicion
anywhere of what we are about"
do you recollect NJ. Ferraud?" in
quired Rreitmann.
THAT little fool Of a butterfly hunt
err" the duke asked.
M. Ferraud smiled and gazed laugh
ingly up at the grill.
aua 60 NO fnnlr ubruDtIvl .Ha ia
a secret agent. and not n W. have
we made that is unknown to him."
"Impossible!"
NJ. Ferraud could not tell whether
the CONSERVATION in Picard's voice
was real or assumed. He chose to
believe the latter.
"And why hasn't he shown his
handp'
HE is waiting for us to show ours.
But don't worry" went on Breitmann
81 have arranged to suppress him
neatly"
And the possible victim murmured.
81 wonder howT
Then we must not meet again until
you return. and then only at the little
house in the Rue st. Charles"
agreed. Now I must be Of"
Good luck!"
N. Ferraud heard the stir Of a sin
gle chair and knew that the great
grandson was leaving. The wall might
have beer transparent. so sure was he
Of the smile upon Picard's face. a sin
lister specializing smile. But his imag
nation did not pursue Breitmann.
whose lips also wore a smile. one Of
irony and bitterness. Neither did he
Lear Picard murmur "DupeI" nor
Breitmann mutter Fools"