Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-03-07
ODDS WITH = Story Of tn:
THE n nc A1T Conspiracy by
L LIE NE ~ i Burton Egbert
Copyright by --J. B. 1ippancott Company Stevenson
j. B. Lippincott Company

nalre you. You must some day show
me this game with which o beguiled
my soldiers"
with pleasure" laughed. ut is
an excellent game"
And what is it called?" he asked.
Perhaps L already know it,"
II do not think SO. monsieur. 1t is
called Prisoners Chase If properly
played. in the end the prisoner es-
apes"
Well. you are free. NJ. de Brancas."
said Herault. still looking at me. My
orders were to detain you only until
Rlchelleu was safely arrested. AS he
mas agreed to accompany us, we need
not trouble o further. 1 see now"
he dded, why he was so anxious to
nave no one else here molested."
Must 1t be, monsieur" l cried, turn
lng to Richelieu. rs this the only
way?"
This is the only way" he answered;
ana then, turning to Herault, Mon
sieur. will You permit me to say "a word
in private to my friend?"
There will be no attempt at es-
cape?" asked Herault. hesitating.
You have my word, monsieur said
Richelieu. proudly.
True" and Herault thought for a
moment. m. lie Duo. l will withdraw
win my men to the stairfoot. In three
minutes you will descend alone and
without your sword. Is it agreed"
1T is agreed" sale Richelieu and He
rault and his men went down the
stairs.
All this mounts to nothing. de
Brancas." said Richelieu, in a low tone.
This regency will not last a week and
so the worst that can happen to me-
VIII be a week in prison. What I fear
IS that Charlotte. over estimating NV
danger. Will be moved to make some
ridiculous sacrifice for me. OF course,
you cannot tell her Of the conspiracy.
but make her believe, If possible. that
1 am in no danger"
u shall try. monsieur" I faltered.
And tell Madame du Maine" he
continued rapidly. that everything ia
prepared at Bayonne and that my alb
sence Will make no difference. NV
men Know my wishes, the town coun-
against Orleans"
Yes; Yes. will tell her."
And now. goodby. my FRIEND" and
fiichelieu took my hand. You have
already performed miracles of valor in
my behalf and that l am a prisoner now
shall never forget it,"
He drew his sword. threw it far from
him., n passed down the stairs under
the red glow of the torches to the cap
tors who awaited him, his head proudly
erect, his lips smiling. The lights threw
.S oAAouoWS III every corner. but
their bearers stood in perfect silence
with upturned faces, admiring, BREATH
less. Could I have known what was
70 follow ere l should see tina courtly
FORM again. even then. 1 swear it. I
would have rushed down sword in hand
| was not to be.
! STOOD there notionless till the ra1np
o. horses died away in the distance.
Then opened the door and entered.
have heard ALL" said Louise.
.Rlchel1eu is arrested"
And l ana here" 1 added, gloomily.
Belleve me. we do not blame Won in
Ine least, M. de Brancas,'' and Mile. de
vaiois smiled through her tears. ..You
dld more than any other man could
nave done. monsieur
IN any event. there is nothing more
LOT us 70 DO here" l said. Let us go.
5ut ffst. let me tell YOU. madamoiselle
mat Richelieu entreats you not to over
estimate his danger. n not to worry
on mis- account, since he believe. he
VIII be free In a weeks time"
he is trying to deceive me. MON
slenr, ana she looked at me question:
lngly. You yourself know how little
ground there is for such hope"
There is something which / cannot
tell you. mademoiselle." answered
but which will undoubtedly secure his
release II IT results fortunately. That
IS true, oeileve me-" and without dar-
ing to say more. 1 opened the door and
led the way down the staircase.
We were soon in the street and
accompanied them to the little door
opening on the Rue de Richelieu
through which the duke had evaded
lne egents first trap. They bade me
aaieu, 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. 1 returned
SLOWLY to the Rue des Saints Peres.
Jacques was awaiting me and paled
vislply at sight of my downcast face.
what a happened. monsieur?" he
In a frightened whisper.
I.Icneileu mas been arrested. He is
But 0 will get him out. will YOU
not, MONSIEUR" n the anxious fellow
looked at me piteously.
- VIII try. rest assured OF that. I
said. and | smiled. with tears in my
eyes. at his faith in me.
sleep was long in coming to my
eyes that night. If the conspiracy sue
ceeded. Richelieu was saved. But If it
rallied, then? 1 shuddered at the
thought. for l remembered the regents
last words to me and h look which
q accompanied them. At last h fell
into a troubled sleep. in which 1 saw
again that graceful figure that descend
ed the staircase under h red glare Of
the torches. And then the scene
changed. There was the same sea Of
eager. admiring faces watching in
silence, but the figure they
watched wal going up instead Of down.
n on the platform to which It was
there stoOd q block and a
masked man with an Ak. And the red
CHAPTER XVI.