The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-03-28
And where arc these horses?"

And where arc these horses?" I
asked.
I'm my stables here
"Then, my dear friend" / cried.
spring to my feet, consider 1t done.
At 10 o'clock tonight Mile. de Valois
and yourself will set u from Paris.
In two days you will be safe at Mons,
that Is, If are permitted to pass
the frontier"
Trust me for that" said Richelier.
"A thousand pistoles will accomplish
wonders. The only thing I do not un"
derstand. my friend. Is how you will
manage to get Charlotte into the car
riage with me-"
IN. lie Due" I queried, do you
imagine for a moment that the thought
Of this marriage pleases her?"
mo more Thar 1t does myself
Would she not. then, welcome an
opportunity of escaping it?"
"Oh, l believe SOL" cried Richelieu.
well, trust me, NJ. lie Due, you shall
offer her that opportunity tonight.
But we have no time to lose and there
is much to do. Leave the details of the
plan to me-"
II do not understand, but / trust you
fully, my friend" said Richelieu, and
asked no further questions.
A relay of horses was started to st.
Quentin and a second to Compeigne,
" await tie dTTlNdl VI the CdTIldSc
containing the duke and his companion.
The lightest and most comfortable car
rtage In his stables was brought out
and thoroughly overhauled. l myself
saw that 1t was piled with cushions
and equipped with everything that
could add to the comfort or convent
ence Of the travellers. / provided for
every possible contingency Of which I
could think, n personally interviewed
the man whom Richelieu had selected
to drive until I was satisfied that he
was thoroughly acquainted with the
road and that he was no coward. The
tumult caused by the discovery Of the
plot had quieted down, and on inquiry
I found that the gates of the city were
again open day n night, so that
Richelieu would have nc difficulty in
passing the barrier. We decided that
the carriage should take the most di-
rect route and trust to speed, as 1t was
important above everything that IL
should reach the frontier ahead Of any
of the regents emissaries. Richelieu
collected together all the money he had
and stored it in the coach. l added
a sword, a brace Of pistols, and a mus
ket, and a similar equipment to the top
of the coach for the use of the driver.
Tothe rear was strapped a case con-
To the rear was strapped a case con-
/ could think of nothing more.
All this had taken time, and evening
had come before the final arrangements
were completed. Then Jacques lighted
the candles and summoned us to din
neT, a luminous which i was not sorry
to obey, for the days work had wearied
me greatly. He had provided a feast of
great elaborateness as q farewell to his
master. but Richelieu seemed too ner-
vous to enjoy it. AS for me, / was so
certain of success that l felt no great
anxiety.
Come, this will not do" 1 remon-
strated, seeing that he was merely
playing with the food. you must eat,
my friend. You will have need of cour-
age before you reach Mons, and l know
of nothing which so tends to make a
coward or a man as an empty stom-
ach."
You ere right he answered, but
If you knew the anxiety / am suffering
at this m you would not expect
me to eat. Do you really believe we
shall succeed?"
m. lie Due" I said, earnestly, sue
cess will depend largely upon yourself.
l agree to bring you into the presence
of Mile. de Valois. If o can persuade
her to flee with you, well and good, we
succeed; but If o cannot do this, we
must retire defeated. Come, / drink to
your success"
And l to yours he answered. For
give me, de Brancas, for again think
ing only of myself. l hope with all my
heart that you will be successful"
l bowed with trimming eyes, for he
had touched me closely.
1T may be long before we dine to-
gether again, monsieur" l said. May
l assure you of my devoted friend
ship"
Il have no need of such assurance"
and Richelieu arose from his chair and
no n tn thu ailn IF pafnn "I hnta nj
ready had a hundred proofs Of it, in
return for which / nave done so lit
tle.'
"Oh, do not say that" and faced
this man whom l had come to love with
a great tenderness. What should /
have O in Paris but for you?"
And as / looked into his eyes I knew
that here was one whose heart was
brave and loyal.
Too moved to say more, we continued
the meal in silence, each busy with his
own thoughts. Mine were Of Louise
Dacour, and l wondered what the flu
ture had in store for us. A sudden
thought occurred to me.
Mile. Dacour may choose to accom-
pany the princess" l said.
And II she does, you will join us,
will you not, de Brancas? ?" asked Rich
ellen, quickly. Believe me, my friend,
nothing would please me more than to
have you with me, but l was loath to
ask you to leave Paris while she re-
manned behind"
/ consented, and it was agreed that
I should join the duke at Brussels with
in q week if Mile. de Valois took her
companion with her. And if, / added to
myself, the regent did not see fit to
wreck upon my head the wrath which
he would doubtless feel towards Rich
elieu. But of this l said nothing.
CONTINUED Next Week)